Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

In Dear Mr. Henshaw, Beverly Cleary gets what it is like to be a child of divorce when your dad doesn't take any interest in you. I could relate to Leigh Botts and how he felt forgotten.

I enjoyed Leigh's writing process and how he became less dependent on Mr. Henshaw for feedback as he began to write in a journal. This Newbery winner was published in 1983, yet it is still relevant to today's students. 

This book would work well with a writing unit to help students be more original writers instead of trying to copy what someone else is doing. This book shows the importance of voice and of expanding our reading lists. 

Read to a child today even if that child is you.