Dear Mr. Henshaw

Many people have pen pals, but not very many people have pen pals who are famous authors! Leigh Botts, an 11-year-old boy from California, has been writing letters to the well-known children’s author Boyd Henshaw since the second grade, when he first reads Mr. Henshaw’s book, Ways to Amuse a Dog. Leigh is an insightful, intelligent, and curious boy. Through his letter-writing, Leigh shares with Mr. Henshaw the different things that happen in his life, such as moving to a new city and school, dealing with lunchbag burglers, book reports, and coping with the stress that comes with his parents’ divorce. He worries about his mother Bonnie, who works for a catering business, but wishes to become a nurse. He speaks often of his father Bill, a truck driver, whom Leigh misses terribly. He also talks fondly of the school custodian Mr. Fridley, who always shows kindness to Leigh.

Mr. Henshaw encourages Leigh to keep a personal journal as a way to deal with all of the changes in his life. Leigh also discovers his own talents as a writer, and explores his own personal strengths and creative capabilities throughout the story. By the end, Leigh has improved his relationship with his parents, done better in school, and has grown smarter and wiser through his correspondence with Mr. Henshaw.

ADDED PERFORMANCE: Saturday, January 27th at 7:30 P.M.