Publisher Description

New York Public Library, Top 10 2017The international bestselling and awardwinning illustrated chapter book for ages 6–8.Giraffe, who lives in Africa, is bored as usual. He'd love a friend to share things with. So he writes a letter and sends it as far as possible across the other side of the horizon. There he finds a pen pal—Penguin. But it's hard to imagine someone you've never seen...Giraffe knows nothing about penguins and his letters are full of questions. What does a penguin look like? Where is a penguin's neck?And so the letters begin to fly from horizon to horizon.Emerging readers will love this absurd and funny story about what connects us, and finding friendship in unlikely places.With simple line drawings—including handwritten letters—on every page, this witty and accessible story is a perfect book to start independent readers on a lifetime love of reading.Originally published in Japan where it is a much-loved classic, Yours Sincerely Giraffe is now a popular success all around the world.

• • New York Public Library, Top 10, 2017

• • Chicago Public Library, Best Fiction for Younger Readers, 2017

• • German Youth Literature Prize Winner, 2018

• • USBBY Outstanding International Book List, 2018

• • 11 Best Books for 4 to 7-year-olds, The Independent, 2016

Author Biography

Megumi Iwasa studied graphic design at Tama Art University in Tokyo. After graduating, she worked there until 1986. She lives in Tokyo, Japan.Jun Takabatake is one of Japan's best-loved children's illustrators. His illustrations have been exhibited throughout the world, and he has won many international awards, including the Graphics Prize (Bologna Children's Book Fair), a Japan Picture Book Award and the Kodansha Award for Picture Books.

Review

"This Japanese import will charm beginning readers who enjoy a bit of witty humor with their animal adventures. The pen-and-ink illustrations are simple yet have a Quentin Blake feel that rounds out the characters and their quirky behaviors." -- Starred Review, School Library Journal (US)
"The combination of short narrative, dialogue, letters, and humorous pen-and-ink drawings is a winning one." -- Starred Review, Booklist (US)
"This is a rare book: joyful, ingenuous, playfully earnest" -- starred review, Kirkus Reviews
"The letters between the characters result in an absurdly funny get-together portrayed in humorous drawings."Outstanding International Book -- USBBY

Promotional

" Yours Sincerely, Giraffe is much loved by children in Japan and it's a stayer—remaining popular after many many years. The letters between Giraffe and Penguin are full of comedy." Julia Marshall, Publisher

Review Quote

"An extremely bored giraffe becomes curious about what lies on the other side of the horizon and recruits a pelican to be his own personal courier. The pelican, equally bored and eager for new business, offers to travel anywhere and takes Giraffe's letter far across the ocean to Whale Sea. A correspondence begins between Giraffe and a penguin. As the pen pals discover more about what it's like on the other side of the horizon, each also ends up trying to solve the mystery of what the other animal looks like. The resulting letters and antics are humorous as the giraffe and the penguin imagine what life is like on opposite parts of the globe. This Japanese import will charm beginning readers who enjoy a bit of witty humor with their animal adventures. The pen-and-ink illustrations are simple yet have a Quentin Blake feel that rounds out the characters and their quirky behaviors. A highly amusing early chapter book for readers who may also be learning the art of letter writing."--starred, School Library Journal

Details