Leigh Botts was only in second grade when he started writing Boyd Henshaw, author of Ways to Amuse a Dog. Leigh was a big fan of the book, so he wrote to the author again (and again) the following year, hoping to get a response that he could post on his classroom bulletin board. He eventually hears from the writer—and a pen-pal friendship begins to bloom.

Even though Mr. Henshaw's responses are not as frequent as the boy's letters, Leigh learns quite a bit. He learns writers need to write (often) to become better at what they do. He learns to develop his own unique voice. And he learns that writing about his struggles—his parents' divorce, missing his dad, a bully at school—can help him deal with some of the pain he's feeling.
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​​​​​​​ Ink sketches and letter entries make this poignant piece fresh, approachable, and a joy to read.