Dear Mr. Blueberry

by Simon James

"Dear Mr. Blueberry, I love whales very much and I think I saw one in my pond today. Please send me some information on whales." It's vacation time, so Emily has to write to her teacher to help when she discovers a blue whale living in her pond. Mr. Blueberry answers that she must be mistaken, because whales live in the ocean, not in ponds.

Throughout the summer, Emily and Mr. Blueberry exchange letters, until Emily has a happy surprise to share with her teacher. In the process, Emily learns a lot about whales. And Mr. Blueberry leans even more about imagination, faith, and love.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Fantasy, School, Writing

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Simon James is the award-winning author-illustrator of many children’s books, including such favorites as DEAR GREENPEACE, LEON AND BOB, and the Baby Brains series. His stories often concern a child’s relationship with the natural world. Simon James lives in England.

Reviews

[Renée Paule · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Emily has a great imagination and is not easily deterred.

[LaDonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not quite know what to expect with this book, especially by just reading the title. But, upon opening and reading it, I found that it is a fun way of introducing children to whales and letter writing. An unsuspecting young reader can receive both a science and language arts lesson while reading Dear Mr. Blueberry.

Check it out for yourself.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww! I love the way this book shows how Emily still has so much imagination and holds fiercely to that, yet also learning more about the real world and trying to balance the two. It's a sweet little book about whales and letter writing and the power of imagination and friendship (even if it's an imaginary friendship.) Thank you, Wendy, for the recommendation!

[Astiazh · Rating 5 out of 5]

هر چند این کتاب برای کودکان نوشته شده ولی خواندنش برای تمام گروه های سنی جذابه،قصه ای سرشار از تخیل و احساسات ناب.
داستان نامه نگاری امیلی به معلمش است که از دیدن نهنگ در حوض آب خانه شان می نویسد و جوابهایی از معلم دریافت می کند.

[Laleh · Rating 4 out of 5]

از عیدی‌های امسال من :))

[Nikta Khoraman · Rating 4 out of 5]

امیلی یک نهنگ در حوض خانه‌‌شان دیده، پس برای کمک به معلمش نامه می‌نویسد تا بتواند به‌خوبی از نهنگ مراقبت کند.
معلم هم تلاش می‌‌کند تا به او بگوید که اشتباه می‌کند و امکان ندارد نهنگ در حوض جا بشود! ولی امیلی هر بار با ذوق بیشتر درباره‌ی نهنگش نامه می‌نویسد و حالش را خبر می‌دهد.
در نامه‌های معلم درباره‌ی زندگی وال‌ها هم اطلاعاتی داده میشه.

[آیت معروفی · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب خیلی خوبیه
یه داستان خیلی خوب
یه فرم خیلی ساده
با تصویرسازی‌های دوست‌داشتنی
تنها نقطه ضعفش شروعشه.
شروع بی‌مقدمه‌اش کمی ناجوره
داستان، قصه‌ی امیه که توی تعطیلات تابستون برای معلمش نامه می‌نویسه که توی حوض خونشون یه نهنگ دیده و ازش میخواد کمی اطلاعات درباره‌ی نهنگ بهش بده تا از نهنگش مواظبت کنه.
معلم هم تو نامه‌هاش اصرار داره که امی اشتباه میکنه. در حین این اصرار کردن اطلاعاتی هم درباره‌ی نهنگ بین امی و معلمش رد و بدل میشه
داستان با پیروزی دنیای امی بر دنیای معلمش تموم میشه
دنیایی که توش یه نهنگ توی یه حوض جاش میشه و مشکل آب شور با پاشیدن نمک توی حوض

[Elliot Gomm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Mr Blueberry by Simon James

This book is brilliant to read to young children or for children in year three onwards to read themselves. It is also fantastic for teaching letter writing, which would be done in year three.
The books plot and premise is a series of written letters going back and forth between Mr Blueberry and a young girl called Emily. They write to each other about whales and how much Emily loves them and wants to have one as a pet.

This book is a great example of how to write emotion in letters, and also the working of the imagination. This book is much like many others that contain examples of letter writing. Dear Mr Blueberry is at a slightly higher reading level than Click, Clack, Moo Cow That Type by Doreen Cronin, but not quite as complex as Rumblewick and the Dinner Dragons by Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This adorable picture book is told through a series of letters written back and forth between Emily and her teacher, Mr. Blueberry. Emily is convinced there is a whale living in her backyard pond and she writes to her teacher for information and advice on how to care for it. No matter how Mr. Blueberry tries to convince her that it is impossible for a whale to live in her pond, Emily continues the letters. This would be a great mentor text for kids to write response journals in class and stories told through letter-writing.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age range: 4-6
Number of pages: 32

This is a story about a girl who is on vacation and needs to write to her teacher to find out more information about the "whale" that is living in her pond. This is a cute story that goes back-and-forth between letters writtin by the teacher and the student. This would be a good example to show that people write letters with hope of a response.

[Ms. D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story could be used to teach students the conventions of letter writing because that is the whole format of this cute story. You could also teach the importance of using the right words; in this story, the little girl, Emily, tells her teacher that she disagrees with him, but in a way that does not offend.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book to read with kids - I think it would be really fun if students could write to their own Mr. Blueberry about animals they like and see often in their neighborhood. Maybe the teacher could be "Mr. Blueberry" and respond to written letters about animals and science questions. This is a great way to learn about animals and incorporate writing at the same time.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun story about a little girl with a very active imagination. (or is it real?) She corresponds with her teacher throughout her summer vacation and he gives her some basic information about whales while she describes the antics of a whale in her "pond" (looks more like a shallow pool.) The illustrations are cute and it's an entertaining story to read aloud.

[Mindi Harms · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a young girl who writes to her teacher about a blue whale that she thinks is living in her pond. Mr. Blueberry writes her everytime trying to explain to her that whales don't live in ponds. This is a hilarious book that will keep your students laughing!

[Rosa Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know that letter-writing is losing its appeal to many, but this book is an adorable way to remind us all how fun it can be, not to mention the storyline itself...wonderful!! I think if the postal service was smarter they would make sure every library had a copy in its children's collection!!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my FAVORITE children's books ever! So very cute.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about a girl named Emily who writes a letter to her teacher. She tells her teacher about how much she loves whales and she thinks that she saw one in her pond. She wants her teacher to send her some information on whales. Mr. Blueberry responds back letting her know that whales live in salt water. Emily then puts salt into her water. Mr. Blueberry tells her that whales always know where they are and don't get lost. The story continues on with Emily and Mr. Blueberry writing back and forth to each other. The images in this picture book are done with watercolors.

I gave this book three stars because I liked the way it was set up. It teaches kids about how to write letters. The book also gave some information on whales in a way that was not too overwhelming, just simple facts.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: Lower Elementary (K-1)

I read this book a few months ago with my kindergarten class. The book is composed of a series of letters between a little girl and her science teacher. My intention was to use this book as a mentor text to demonstrate to my students how letters were written. Kindergarteners do not have a long attention span, so I liked how short and to the point the letters were. However, all of my students were so intrigued to hear about what Emily discovered in her pond. I liked how the ending is left up to readers interpretation because I was able to ask all my students whether they thought what Emily saw was real. In addition, we (myself included) learned some interesting facts about whales! Overall, I would give this book 4 stars.

[Ayrriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: This story takes place in a house. The main characters in this story are Emily, Arther (the whale), and Mr. Blueberry. The book was told in writing of letters. This tale is about an aware girl who thinks she saw a big in her swimming pond. She writes to her teacher Mr.Blueberry for advice. Mr. Blueberry informs Emily that whales don't live ``in ponds, but in salt water.''

Rating: 4

Explanation: The little girl is writing and using her imagination. is This book is fantastic for teaching letter writing to young children. The pictures in this book is series of letters written back and forth from a little girl and her teacher.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So in reality the story deserves a 5, and if I were reading my copy (Dear Greenpeace) it would be, however, my copy is not accessible right now so I took the U.S. version out of the library. The fact that Greenpeace has been changed to Mr. Blueberry (Emily's teacher) makes me sad.
The illustrations are simple. The letters between Emily and Mr. Blueberry (Greenpeace) are also simple and informative. Still the book manages to make the emotions come across, I want to hug Emily as she keeps insisting her whale is real, and slap Mr. Blueberry (Greenpeace) for being so insistent she is wrong.
The ending was lovely. I can't wait to read my version again.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl named Emily writes letters to her teacher about the whale living in her pond. Despite the gentle corrections from her teacher as to why a whale can’t possibly live in her pond, Emily persists on with her curiosity and continues to question her teacher about the behaviors of whales. A very cute story to encourage imagination, curiosity, tenacity, and peak an interesting in writing letters.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a little lump in my throat at the end. Love wins. Girl loves. Whales survive. Earnest well-meaning teacher saved, too. (Everything threatens this story: that the teacher will look too dumb, that there are too many falsehoods to hold in your head, and a lean towards cute. So I love this book because it also survived.)

The pictures are perfect.

The only thing amiss are the fonts: too clunky and formal and screaming "I'm educational."

[Shane Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read to your classroom when teaching kids about informational writing or simply just how to write a letter. Emily, the character, was also very imaginative which I'm sure the kids will enjoy and find silly.

Reading Levels:
LEXILE - AD660L
ATOS - 2.9

Traits:
Voice and Presentation

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a creative tale of a student, Emily, who writes her teacher letters. Emily writes that there is a whale in her backyard but Mr. Blueberry isn't convinced. I rated this book five stars for the organization, pictures and perspective it gives young readers. The letter styles writing isengaging.

Guided Reading L
Lexile AD 660L

Organization
Voice

[Emily Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does a great job of telling a story while including informational nonfiction facts. It's a great mentor text to introduce informational or explanatory writing But, it isn't one I would necessarily recommend kids reading on their own without a purpose, as it can be a little complex.

Lexile: 660L
DRA: 20
Six Traits: Organization

[Abby Ambrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lexile: 660L
DRA: 20
Six Traits: Organization
This is a really fun story about a girl who can't let go of her imagination. I like the unique organization of letters being written back and forth between student and teacher, and it's fun to imagine what Emily might actually have been seeing in her pond.

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe closer to a 3.5 because it’s a children’s classic now. The writing letters to a teacher about a whale in your “pond” seems a little silly, because of the writing skills needed… and might have to discuss vocabulary since the pictures don’t look like a pond, it almost looks like a well. I remember this one being in our 2nd grade lesson plans, though. Good times.

[Hannah Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a little girl who believes she saw a whale in her pond, so she writes letters back and forth with her teacher about the whale. The whale eventually leaves, but later on, the little girl finds him at the beach!
- This would be an amazing for an introduction to a post-card or letter project for the students.

[Courtney Heard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read for kids to be able to ask questions and further their communication skills and writing skills in practicing on how to format a letter.


Six +1Trait: conventions, idea
DRA Level: 20
Lexile: AD660L

[Mely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily is a very persistent and imaginative child. She sure does love her whales and has quite the story to tell her teacher, Mr. Blueberry. Written in corresponding letters, this book will surely give readers a little chuckle.