Yours Sincerely Giraffe by Megumi Iwasa Illus. Jun Takabatake

Yours Sincerely Giraffe by Megumi Iwasa Illus. Jun Takabatake. Pub Gecko Press, 2016.

This book is totally delightful. I read it twice in a row because it’s absurdity and simplicity were addictive.

Giraffe and Penguin have never seen each other. Giraffe is lonely and so is Penguin but they live over the horizon from each other. Pelican who sounds a bit like Penguin is also lonely and bored and he decides to set up a mail service.

Giraffe decides to write a letter to someone across the horizon and gets Pelican to deliver it. The letter via Seal gets to Penguin who replies. Giraffe in his letter says he has a big neck and Penguin wonders what a neck is and describes himself to Giraffe.

The letters continue and Giraffe decides he will go and visit penguin trying to look as he imagines Penguin looks. the result is hilarious. I read it to me granddaughters and they loved it. I think I am reading it again to them tonight.

The simple black and white pen illustrations are perfect. If you miss this one you will kick yourself.

Ideal read-a-loud for juniors and intermediate readers. Letter writing is an added quality of this short novel.

It’s hard to imagine someone you have never seen. Try it some time.