Dear Annie

by Judith Caseley

"Getting mail is exciting for Annie, who's been receiving colorful cards from Grandpa ever since she was a baby. Now old enough to write back, she answers all his notes...Their chatty dialogue-by-mail...depicts a loving intergenerational relationship. Annie's affection for Grandpa shines through warmly, enhanced by Caseley's primitive-style paintings, bright with color and pattern."--Booklist.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 1991

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fond grandfather writes letters to his granddaughter Annie in this warmhearted picture-book from author/illustrator Judith Caseley, beginning when she is just a newborn baby. At first the letters are read to Annie by her mother, who answers them, but as the little girl grows, she eventually begins to answer them herself, and she and her grandfather become pen pals. By the time Annie shares her box of letters and postcards at show-and-tell, she has amassed eighty-six pieces of mail...

Published almost thirty years ago, in 1991, Dear Annie has a somewhat dated feel to it, given how reliant society has become on digital means of communication. Despite that fact, or perhaps because of it, there is immense charm to this tale of a correspondence between a loving grandfather and his granddaughter. I enjoyed the messages sent back and forth between the two, and appreciated the loving bond between the generations that is depicted here. I also liked that Annie's relationship with her grandfather sparks an interest in pen-pals in her fellow students. Recommended to anyone looking for heartwarming picture-books about grandparents and grandchildren and/or about getting and receiving letters.

[chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read this to my reading buddy for stufft it was very sweet

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being someone who loves books as much as she loves to send and receive mail, I thought this was an adorable book about having a grandparent as a penpal. Really does inspire me to write more often.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about Annie and her grandfather...from the time that Annie is born her grandfather sends her postcards and letters. Filled with love, encouragement, and everyday life events.

Annie keeps these little bundles of love inside a shoebox and brings them for show and tell once she is in school. Her classmates love them and decide to honor other letter writers with a special board in their classroom.

Used for "Postcards from Home" Storytime: June, 2011.

[Kelley Mcalhany]

Cute book about a girl writing letters to her grandfather. Can be used to ask about authors purpose.