Querido Senor Henshaw / Dear Mr. Henshaw

Given the homework assignment of writing to a famous author, sixth-grader Leigh Botts writes to Boyd Henshaw, the author of his favorite book, WAYS TO AMUSE A DOG. Mr. Henshaw`s reply includes some silly answers to Leigh`s questions about a writer`s life, but he also encloses a series of questions about Leigh that Leigh must answer and send back to him. At first Leigh is insulted by Mr. Henshaw`s request, but at his mother`s insistence, he takes the time to answer the questions--thus beginning an epistolary friendship with Mr. Henshaw. Slowly, Leigh`s letters reveal the difficulties of his life, especially his parents` divorce and the fact that his self-absorbed trucker father seems to have forgotten all about him. By writing to Mr. Henshaw, and later by following Mr. Henshaw`s advice to keep a journal, Leigh is able to overcome some of the difficulties in his life and also come to terms with some things that he can`t change or control. Told entirely via Leigh`s letters and journal entries, DEAR MR. HENSHAW is illustrated with occasional B&W drawings and was the winner of the 1984 Newbery Medal. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.