(2) 4-6 Modern-day twelve-year-old Mason begins seeing a therapist to help him deal with the struggles of seventh grade. Things get worse after his father unexpectedly moves away and the tween starts being bullied at school for quitting the baseball team. Mason's therapist suggests he write a letter to someone, anyone, and he chooses Albert Einstein. Though Einstein doesn't write back, Talia, a seventh-grade girl living in 1987, does. So begins their correspondence, which spans many months and the entirety of this fast-paced epistolary novel. The mutual support that forms through their letters helps them face issues of bullying, family difficulties, identity, and, for Talia, sexism. Antisemitism is dealt with at length, from specific accounts of the Holocaust (via a survivor who speaks at Talia's school) to ways it has looked different at various points in history, which will be highly relevant for contemporary readers. Technological changes over the intervening decades feature prominently as well. Weighty issues (also including alcoholism and its impact on families) are handled skillfully, and the narrative takes several unexpected turns that add fun and intrigue despite the overall serious tone.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Gila von Meissner. With Hanukkah fast approaching, Oliver writes an email to Santa: "I'm Jewish. And that means you don't have to come down my chimney on Christmas Eve. I just wanna make sure you know." Santa writes back with what he thinks is reassurance, but then missteps in wishing Oliver a "Happy Chrismukkah." The correspondence continues ("that's not my holiday") in informative and humorous ways. Cheerful cartoony illustrations, blue-heavy for Oliver's settings and red-and-green for Santa's, include seasonal motifs and clever details. The Jewish family's varied skin tones, along with other non Christmas observers and diversity among the elves, are added pluses for representation.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(2) PS In a story inspired by her own childhood, Ejaita introduces us to cousins Olu and Greta. Although they live in different countries and on different continents--Olu in Nigeria; Greta in Italy--and have never met in person, they are good friends. They talk over the internet, mail packages to each other, and are connected through their related hobbies, games, and interests, which span time and place. Their interactions are described in spare, accessible text ("They cannot get to one another by walking") and pictured in eye-catchingly distinctive digital and pencil illustrations. The identical black background palette for both settings serves as a visual representation of the cousins' connectedness, while rich hues and bold textures inspired by the cultures of their respective homelands beautifully explore their activities and backgrounds. The final image in the book gives readers a hint that the pair may someday meet, with an illustration of two young people taking a selfie together.

Reviewer: Maija Meadows Hasegawa | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(2) 1-3 Translated by Alexandrea Mallia. Illustrated by Kazue Takahashi. In this appealingly illustrated chapter book, Mayu, a city-dwelling first grader, spends a holiday with her grandparents in the country and becomes enthralled by the adjacent woodland. When she discovers a private mailbox deep in the forest, she posts a letter, and soon she has become pen pals with the mysterious Konta. They share information about their families, and an alert reader might begin to suspect that Konta has a secret. On a glorious watercolor spread glowing with the gold of fall foliage, Konta is revealed as a fox child. Mayu is due to return home and wonders how she and Konta will be able to maintain their epistolary friendship; happily, a bird suggests a creative solution. Occasional culturally specific Japanese references, such as making a teru teru bozu doll to discourage rain, are perfect for early-chapter-book readers, whose horizons are expanding. A subtle subtext suggests that Mayu is ambivalent about her new baby sister and that time spent with indulgent grandparents, the freedom to explore nature, and making a new friend are just what is required to weather that potentially sticky family shift.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(2) YA Senior year, Filipino American teen Jay Reguero learns of his pen-pal cousin Jun's untimely death in the Philippines. Haunted by the lack of information, Jay goes to the Philippines to investigate and eventually connects Jun's death with President Duterte's (real-life) draconian war on drugs. Ribay brings this coming-of-age story to vivid life through themes of addiction, complex family dynamics, and the experiences of children of immigrants. Bib.

Reviewer: Monica Tapia Boyer | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(3) 1-3 Translated by Cathy Hirano. Illustrated by Jun Takabatake. In this friendship story from Japan, Professor Whale exchanges letters with young Wally, the grandson of a beloved fellow whale. Reminiscing about the good old days prompts the professor to resurrect the Whale Point Olympics, inviting far-flung friends (including Penguin and Giraffe from Yours Sincerely, Giraffe) to return for the fun and games. Humorous black-and-white line drawings add humor and warmth.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 4-6 Secret Cookie Club series. In their third book, the flowerpot cabin campers are back at their homes across the U.S., each dealing with their own trials. The first-person narration rotates among all the girls over the course of the school year as they keep in touch with one another via letters and packages of homemade cookies. This sweet friendship story tackles many tough issues faced by the diverse group of friends.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) 1-3 Translated by Cathy Hirano. Illustrated by Jun Takabatake. In this Japanese import, bored Giraffe sees an ad from a pelican advertising his mail-delivery service; he eagerly writes a letter for delivery to the first animal past the horizon. So begins the letters, speculations, and bloopers of Giraffe and Penguin's friendship. Takabatake's simple line drawings add humor and depth to a wonderfully fresh take on how we make friends and correct mistaken impressions.

Reviewer: Ed Spicer

(4) K-3 Unlikely pen pals Oscar, a gray ant, and Bill, a blue octopus, exchange letters and personal items over a school year. Amusing back-and-forth letters highlight their differences (location, number of legs), similarities (favorite color), and shared interests (playing table tennis, watching TV) before they ultimately meet. Spare digital illustrations are fairly static, but they cleverly incorporate the pals' accumulating gifts to each other.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(4) 1-3 Dear Molly, Dear Olive series. Illustrated by Lucy Fleming. Through emails and snail-mail, Molly and Olive (pen pals who've never met) sort through day-to-day hiccups. The girls have alternating streaks of good luck and misfortune in Magic; both face friendship problems in Trouble. The chapter books are sweet, though at times heavy-handed with their lessons. Black-and-white drawings bring the girls' misadventures to life. Discussion and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers the following Dear Molly, Dear Olive titles: Molly Discovers Magic and Molly Meets Trouble.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 1-3 Dear Molly, Dear Olive series. Illustrated by Lucy Fleming. Through emails and snail-mail, Molly and Olive (pen pals who've never met) sort through day-to-day hiccups. The girls have alternating streaks of good luck and misfortune in Magic; both face friendship problems in Trouble. The chapter books are sweet, though at times heavy-handed with their lessons. Black-and-white drawings bring the girls' misadventures to life. Discussion and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers the following Dear Molly, Dear Olive titles: Molly Discovers Magic and Molly Meets Trouble.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christiane Engel. Here and There are pen pals because Here can never be There, and vice versa. That is until There devises a clever plan to bring the friends together at a county fair. Both Here and There feature cheerful smiles, friendly eyes, and expressive arms on their uppercase first letters. Vivid colors and textures invite readers to linger over the whimsical illustrations.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Rodolfo Montalvo. George Slair, a boy, writes to his assigned pen pal, Blaise Dragomir, a dragon, in rhyme. They learn about commonalities (neither likes writing) and differences (Blaise doesn't like sweets). The class writing project humorously (if not subtly) models how different groups can become friends. Watercolor, acrylic-ink, and graphite illustrations in lush green hues add to the drollery.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) YA When Lily scribbles obscure song lyrics on her desk in chemistry, she doesn't expect a response. But Lily and her mysterious desk pen pal begin writing regularly and find that perhaps there's some (romantic) chemistry there as well. Despite a predictable plot, Lily's snarky voice is engaging, and it's satisfying to see this growing relationship lend maturity to her hectic high-school life.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(3) YA Sixteen-year-old Simon loves emailing Blue, an anonymous boy from school. But when another student sees the correspondence, the blossoming romance is threatened. Set in Georgia, this realistic coming-out story features a cast of unique, believable characters. Simon's humorous narrative alternates with his emails with Blue as Simon wonders, "Don't you think everyone should have to come out? Why is straight the default?"

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) YA With Liz Welch. Seventh grader Caitlin selects a pen pal from Zimbabwe, the most exotic place she has heard of. Caitlin and Martin correspond for six years, building a friendship and trust that widens Caitlin's world view and allows Martin to be honest about his incredible challenges. Told in alternating voices, their story would have been more compelling with stronger editing. Photos are appended.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(2) 4-6 In 1948, eleven-year-old Tate chooses country singer Hank Williams as a pen pal. It quickly becomes clear that Tate is using her letters as a therapeutic diary--and that she's an unreliable narrator. When Tate finally reveals her true circumstances (resolving underlying tension about her situation), she shows the gumption that defines her character. Deftly including historical context, Holt creates a character for the ages.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2015

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. Everyone's favorite macaroni penguin is back, here with a new school project. Tony Baloney finds his "perfect match" in new pen pal Sam, who, like Tony, rides a scooter and is the middle child. But when the two finally meet, Tony learns that friends can come in surprising packages. Confident emerging readers will appreciate the story's twist; brightly colored illustrations add friendly details.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(2) YA Ollie is allergic to electricity; his German pen pal and "fellow hermit" Moritz was born without eyes and has a pacemaker. Beneath the surface of this realistic fiction novel about friendship and alienation is something more speculative: Ollie actually repels electricity, Moritz can echolocate, and these abilities may be manmade. The protagonists' distinct, deeply memorable voices make this an affecting page-turner.

Reviewer: Sarah Hannah Gomez | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2015

(4) K-3 Bear Herman finds it hard to reply to his raccoon best friend Henry's letters about exciting new friends and experiences, but one letter prompts Herman to hand-deliver his response, setting him on an adventurous journey to visit the friend he so misses. Friends separated by a move will identify with Herman's vulnerability. Spirited illustrations and lift-the-flap letters add some interest to the rambling story.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden