Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Today, at the suggestion of a friend and fellow tutor, I have decided to talk a little bit about a book that won the Newbery award. Of course, there are MANY books that have earned the Newbery, or been named a Newbery honor, since it was first given in 1922. I have read a good number in both categories. I still need to finish reading the first ever Newbery award winner, to have read all the winners to date, but that is for another day.
I read a good number of Newbery’s in my own childhood, then read or reread them as my children were young, in order to “feed” them a new title after I had read it myself. The pace of my Newbery reading has slowed considerably since my children have been adults for a good while now. I do still read the Newbery winner when it is announced annually, but not necessarily all the honors. So many books! So little time!
Recently I came across Dear Mr. Henshaw at my library on the free cart. It was published by Beverly Cleary in 1983, and was awarded the Newbery in 1984. I had read the book sometime after it was published and decided to give it a reread. I always enjoyed Beverly Cleary’s books as a child. She was a prolific writer of children’s books. Who hasn't heard of Ramona Quimby or Henry Huggins?
Dear Mr. Henshaw is the story of a boy, Leigh Botts, beginning when he is in second grade, and follows him through sixth grade. Leigh writes to the author of a book that his teacher has read aloud to his second grade class. He continues to send letters over the years to the author. Leigh is struggling with the separation and eventual divorce of his parents, as well as moving to a new town and school, and the tenuous relationship with his unreliable father. Some of the book, besides his letters to the author, include diary entries, as Leigh shares some things he would have written to the author, but, instead writes in his diary. Although Leigh and Mr. Henshaw don’t have a regular two way correspondence, the author does take the time to write to Leigh several times and offer some suggestions.
I enjoyed re-reading this book and seeing how Leigh matures. I did not know there was a sequel to this book until after I read it this year. The sequel is Strider (published 1991). I checked it out from the library and enjoyed reading about Leigh beginning high school, which included a new friend, as well as a dog. I think children can identify with some of the struggles that Leigh deals with in both books. For Dear Mr. Henshaw, interest and reading level ranges from 3rd-6th grade. If you are familiar with the Lexile scale, Dear Mr. Henshaw has a 910 Lexile measure. For Strider, interest and reading level ranges from grades 4-7 and the Lexile measure is 840. I hope you give these two books a try and share them with a special young person who might appreciate them! Happy Reading!