Literacy Matters Vol. 25 Winter 2025

Felix explores planet Earth: With six letters from Felix and a fold-out world map. Langen, A. & Droop, C. (1997). Abbeville Press. Illustrator: Constanza Droop. ISBN: 978-155-8598867

Dear Mrs. LaRue. Letters from obedience school. Teague, M. (2003). Blue Sky Press. Illustrator: Mark Teague. ISBN: 978-0439206631 A dog sent to obedience school uses

Traveling bunny, Felix sends handwritten letters back to his owner, Sophie, from different places on the planet and the universe. Both maps and letters printed on a page or pulled out of letter envelopes make reading this book an interactive experience highlighting the benefits of communicating with loved ones while traveling. This book easily integrates into geography lessons and encourages journal or letter writing.

persuasive letter writing to try to get out of obedience school. Illustrations and letter context display humor that can entice readers to write letters for persuasive purposes.

Mercedes and the chocolate pilot. A true story of the Berlin airlift and the candy that dropped from the sky. Theis Rave, M. (2002). Sleeping Bear Press. Illustrator: Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen. ISBN: 1-58536-069-4

The night monster. Mishra, S. (2016). Taradi Tales Picturebooks.

Illustrator: Sanket Pethkar. ISBN: 978-91-8190-331-0 In this story, hauntingly attention-getting

With attention-grabbing watercolor art, readers learn about the true story of life in Post-WorldWar II in Berlin, Germany, during the Russian blockade when an American airlift mission supplied starving Germans with food between 1945 and 1948. Aside from the historical events, letter writing is an essential theme. The main character, Mercedes, receives what she wants because she dares to write a letter to the famous American pilot who dropped candy treats for the children in blocked-off Berlin. Her letter leads to a life-long friendship with the pilot. This book models writing purposeful letters to solve a challenge and to connect with others. It also demonstrates that letter writing can lead to life-long friendships bridging physical distances.

illustrations address children’s nighttime fears and demonstrate how to overcome them. Avi writes letters to the night monster and receives letters back from the monster (actually coming from the older sister). This book contains lift-the-flap features to keep children interactively engage with the story. It motivates readers to process emotions by writing about them.

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Dear Dinosaur. With read letters to read! Strathie, C. (2017). Scholastic Children’s Books. Illustrator: Nicols O’Byrne. ISBN: 9781407159294 Max writes inquisitive letters to a dinosaur in a

Dear Primo. Tonatiuh, D. (2010). Harry N. Abrams.

museum. Some of the letters that go back and forth between Max and the dinosaur can only be read by opening or lifting a flap. Max’s persistent writing for answers demonstrates writing as a practical approach to gaining desired information.

Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh. ISBN: 978-0810938724 In this Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book, two cousins, one living in the United States of

Dear Dinosaur: T. Rex on tour. With real letters to read! Strathie, C. (2018). Scholastic. Illustrator Nicols O’Byrne. ISBN: 978-140-716-4700 In this sequel to “Dear Dinosaur,”Max and his

America and the other in Mexico, become best friends by writing to each other about their lives. Readers learn about the similarities and differences between the two cultures. This story motivates writing to pen pals to connect with others beyond time and space limitations. Books to Foster Journal Writing Diary of a worm. Cronin, D. (2003). Joanna Cotler Books.

pen pal dinosaur remain in close contact through postcards and letters and share hopes, dreams, jokes, and dinosaur trivia information with each other. Meanwhile, the dinosaur travels from museum to museum around the world. This picture book can motivate readers to also engage in pen pal writing.

Illustrator: Harry Bliss. ISBN: 978-800 60-00-1506 In this humorous story with illustrations of

Postcards from a vacation. LaRue across America. Teague, M. (2011). Blue Sky Press. Illustrator: Mark Teague. ISBN: 978-0439915021 A dog sends letters from different stopping

little photos of the worm’s life experiences, readers learn about the little worm’s perceptions of his life. It demonstrates how short entry points, lists, drawings, and speech bubbles can be helpful ways to support diary or journal writing.

points on a trip across America to persuade someone to help him escape the ordeal of having to travel with cats. Illustrations and events make readers laugh while learning about features of persuasive letter writing and being encouraged to write cards and letters from a trip or weekend event.

Diary of a spider. Cronin, D. (2024). Harper Collins.

Illustrator: Harry Bliss. ISBN: 978-0060001551 Spider’s humor-stricken diary entries,

supported by his drawings and photos, give children an insight into his life in school, the gym, with his grandparents, and as a student of web spinning. It models how to use drawings, dates, and pictures in a journal entry.

| 22 | Literacy Matters | Volume 25 • Winter 2025

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