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About the Book     Dear Mr. Henshaw

Dear Mr. Henshaw follows Leigh Botts, a young boy who writes letters to his favorite author, Mr. Boyd Henshaw. The correspondence begins as a school assignment but soon becomes a lifeline for Leigh as he navigates a series of personal challenges. Leigh's parents are divorced, and he struggles with feelings of abandonment and loneliness. He also deals with issues such as moving to a new school, dealing with a lunch thief, and coping with his father's inconsistent presence in his life. Through his letters to Mr. Henshaw, and later his journal entries, Leigh learns to express his emotions and begins to find his own voice.

A Newbery Medal award book and ALA Notable Book

Themes in the book Dear Mr. Henshaw

Divorce and Family Dynamics: The impact of divorce on children is a central theme. Leigh's feelings of confusion, anger, and sadness are poignantly depicted, providing a realistic look at how family changes affect young people.

Identity and Self-Discovery: Leigh's journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about coping with external circumstances. His evolution from a boy who feels unheard to one who understands the power of his own voice is inspiring.

Loneliness and Friendship: Leigh's isolation and his attempts to make friends highlight the theme of loneliness. The book also subtly explores how friendships can develop in unexpected ways and the importance of reaching out for help.

Perseverance and Personal Growth: Leigh's determination to cope with his problems, whether it's finding the lunch thief or understanding his parents' separation, underscores the theme of perseverance. His growth throughout the novel is a testament to his persistence.

Activity Ideas      for the book Dear Mr. Henshaw

Letter Writing Activity: Encourage students to write their own letters to a favorite author or a character in the book. This helps develop writing skills and allows students to engage creatively with the text.

Discussion Circles: Create small groups for students to discuss key themes such as divorce, loneliness, and perseverance. Use guided questions to facilitate deep conversations and ensure every student has a chance to share their thoughts. For fun, students could also come up with their own plans for nabbing the lunch thief.

Summarizing Activity: Have each student in the Discussion Circle groups write a summary of the discussions that took place within their groups. These should be done independently, not with whole-group input. Students can swap their summaries with others in the group to see what each person came away with from the discussions. After students have read each others' summaries, a spokesperson for each group can share the main points with the rest of the class.

Character Analysis: Assign students to analyze the characters, focusing on their development throughout the book. Leigh's growth can be a focal point, but students can also explore secondary characters like Leigh's parents or Mr. Fridley, the school janitor.