When I was a boy, long before emails, emojis and instant messages, there was the humble pen pal – a friend you’d never met, living somewhere far away, with whom you’d exchange letters, stories and questions, generally written on paper and popped in the post where you early waited for a reply. For many adults, this was a cherished part of childhood, a way to connect, learn and practice the art of communication. Megumi Iwasa’s Yours Sincerely, Giraffe captures the magic of that experience in a delightfully whimsical tale that will resonate with young readers and nostalgic grown-ups alike.
Yours Sincerely, Giraffe takes young readers off to the sun-drenched African savanna and introduces us to Giraffe, a gentle creature who has everything he needs: plenty of food and beautiful surroundings, but he is plagued by one very persistent problem: Boredom, with a capital B. Day after day, he munches on leaves and gazes at the horizon, wondering what lies beyond. His world is comfortable but lonely and he longs for something more – he dearly wants someone to talk to, someone to share his thoughts with.
Enter Pelican, a fellow bored savanna-dweller with a bit of entrepreneurial flair who is in the process of launching his new venture, Pelican Post. Pelican Post will be offering mail delivery “anywhere in the world.” Giraffe is intrigued by the idea of reaching out to the unknown and writes a letter and asks Pelican to deliver it to the first animal he meets over the horizon. That letter, after a long and unexpectedly arduous journey, eventually finds its way to Penguin, who lives in a cold, icy land far removed from Giraffe’s warm plains.
What follows is a charming, often hilarious, exchange of letters between two very different animals who have never seen each other and live in completely different worlds. The ever-curious and imaginative Giraffe tries to picture what Penguin looks like based on his letters. He asks lots of questions, makes guesses and even attempts to dress like Penguin in preparation for a visit – even though he has no real idea what a penguin is. The equally as puzzled Penguin responds with some questions of his own, such as “What is a neck?” and “Why doesn’t he have one?” The result is a series of innocent misunderstandings that highlight both the limitations and the joys of written communication.
Overall, I found Yours Sincerely, Giraffe to be a delightful story, one that is full of charm and one that children will engage with. The story is told entirely through a series of letters between pen pals who are getting to know each other and works a treat. For young page turners, age 6+, it’s a gentle, yet humorous exploration of friendship, curiosity and the beauty of connecting with someone different from yourself. It’s a wonderful celebration of the written word and a reminder that even in a world of instant communication, there’s just something special and magical about taking the time to write, reflect and imagine.
Accompanying the story are the illustrations by Jun Takabatake. These simple line drawings that litter the pages add a bit of warmth and personality to the story, perfectly complementing Iwasa’s understated writing. The illustrations are sparse but expressive, allowing young readers to focus on the characters’ emotions and the unfolding friendship while using the illustrations as a guide to bring out the best in the story.
I feel that Yours sincerely, Giraffe is an ideal book for young readers looking at topics such as empathy, cultural differences and the importance of communication (in all its forms). It gently teaches that friendship isn’t about looking the same or living in the same place – it’s about listening, learning and being open to others.
For me, I think that Yours Sincerely, Giraffe is a quietly brilliant book that will leave readers of all ages smiling, giggling and perhaps even inspired to pick up a pen and write a letter of their own or maybe even look to make pen pals around the world. I think that it is a heartwarming tale that proves you don’t have to see someone to truly understand them – you just have to be willing to write.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £7.99 (Paperback)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
PUBLISHER:
PUBLICATION DATE:
ISBN:
PRINT LENGTH:
COVER ART: