A Pen Pal for Max

by Gloria Rand, Ted Rand

A secret note wins Max a friend in a faraway country

Max doesn’t know what to expect when he slips a note into a box of grapes headed to the United States, so he is thrilled when he receives a response from a girl named Maggie. The two quickly become pen pals.

Then one day Max’s village in Chile is hit by a huge earthquake, and his school must be closed because of damages. When the school finally reopens, a surprise is waiting for Max from his faraway friends.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2005

Reviews

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max's pen pal relationship with an American girl brings unexpected benefits after a devastating earthquake hits Max's Chilean town. Very nice watercolors by Ted Rand.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I saw "Pen Pal" in the title, I knew I needed to stop what I was doing and read this book. Beautiful illustrations accompany a wonderful story about pen pals and long-distance friendship. Max impulsively sends a note with shipment of grapes bound for the United States via Mexico, hoping to make a new friend. Thus begins a wonderful story as he and an American girl exchange letters. If you've ever had a pen pal, and even if you haven't, take some time to enjoy this book.

[Emily Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very cute book! I loved the idea of Max writing a letter and it developing into a penpal situation.

[Nechamah Goldfarb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book.
I must be turning to mush; I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat threatening to sob, when I read this.

[Hannah Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart warming story that takes place in Chile, South America.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The boys and I wished that this was based on a true story. A quick Google search told us it's not.

[Laura Valdez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just simply loved this book!

Is full of really beautiful paintings of Ted Rand and it was written by his wife Gloria Rand, such a cute couple work.

This book is about to pen pals, Max from Chile (I think he is from the South of Chile) and an american girl (I can not remember her name).

Max does not speak english and the american girl does not speak spanish, so both of them are helped by an adult who speaks a foreign language.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timely book for the earthquake in Haiti. An American boy gets his class together to help his pen pal in Chile after an earthquake.

--grades 2-4
--Max, a child from Chile, becomes pen pals with a child from the United States hoping to learn more about the world
--He and Maggie write about what their families and schools are like and what kinds of hobbies they enjoy.
--One day an earthquake shakes Max’s village. Some homes are damaged, but his home could still be lived in.
--A while later boxes arrive at Max’s school. Maggie’s school sent care packages full of clothes, books, and school supplies!
--good for pen pal assignment or a service project

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The children featured in this book are 10-years-old, but I read it to my 3- and 6-year-old and they were very engaged. This story opened up conversations about how fruit in the grocery store does not just "magically appear," where we should go in our own home if an earthquake hits, and it reinforced the power of the written word. It also offered an honest glimpse into another culture. A valuable addition to our homeschool curriculum!

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this concept. First off, it helps children understand where their food may come from. Aside from that, I like the idea not only of a child having an "old fashioned" pen pal, but that the children were able to cross the language barrier. It reminded me of the ripple effect. It's be a great story to prompt finding a pen pal for a child or class.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not spectacular, but a simple story about a boy in Chile who gets a pen pal in the U.S. The earthquake confused me when it "entered" the story, but the end showed me where it was going. A good possibility for the Chile part of Book Time, as the story is not too hard for the children to connect to.

[Angelina Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be a great read aloud for elementary classrooms. Given modern technology and internet access, it is easier than ever for children around the world to be "pen pals."

[SL · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this because it is rare to find picture books featuring characters from Chile. This is a sweet story about a Chilean boy named Max whose friendship with an American girl named Maggie proves that people from different cultures can find common ground. The story is simple enough, but what really shines are the wonderfull illustrations. This would be a good classroom story to share with elementary aged students. One could easily discuss the concept of pen pals, friendship, kindness, and cultural differences. You could even discuss where food comes from (since Max's father works on a grape farm that ships the produce where Maggie's father--a grocery store manager--receives them.)