Dear Mr. Henshaw By Beverly Clearly ISBN-13: 978-0-380-70958-8

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Beverly Clearly

ISBN-13: 978-0-380-7095-8

http://www.quia.com/quiz/104269.html?AP_rand=1097302192

Dear Mr. Henshaw
This heartwarming book is written as a series of letters, or journal entries, instead of the usual way a book is arranged. As you read through the book, you will see how Leigh grows up, deals with school problems, and learns how much his dad loves him. This is an easy book for readers in grades 3-5.

1. Who is the main character in this story?

Ans: Leigh Marcus Botts pg 14 He gives Mr. Henshaw the famous Author his full

name

2. In what state is the setting of the story?

Ans: pg 16 Bakersfield California 1st pg 20 Pacific Grove California 2nd

3. What got lost in the Sierra Mountains during a snowstorm?

Bandit the family Dog

Ans: pg 69, 70, 71 From my map book I know Highway 80 crosses the

Sierra
Leigh “How’s Bandit.
Father I let Bandit out of the Cab. I thought he would get right back in

because it was snowing so hard, but after I chained up, he wasn’t in the Cab.
Bandit didn’t come. I couldn’t wait any longer because the Highway 80.

Note: The weather was getting bad. And the father was forced to leave the Highway fear he would get stranded during the bad weather.

4. How did Leigh solve the lunchbag problem?

Ans: From the Diary of Leigh Botts VOL. 2
Pg 94 Library to get a book Batteries and Electricity
Pg 95 He takes the 20 dollars his father gave him for loosing Bandit.

Saturday, March3
I found an ordinary light switch, a little battery and cheap doorbell
Page 96 Nice old Gentleman in the Hardware Store. “Having trouble with your

lunch aren’t you? He tell’s Leigh he needs a 6 volt battery.

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5. Why do you think Leigh's parents got divorced?

1. Ans: Pg 49, Mom never really says much about Dad, and when I ask why she

divorced him, all she says is, “It takes two people to get a divorce.”

2. Pg 63, He loves the power when he is sitting high in his cab controlling a mighty

machine. He loves the excitement of never knowing where his next trip will take

him. He loves mountains and the desert sunrises and the sight of orange trees heavy

with oranges and the smell of fresh-mown alfalfa. I know, because I rode with him until

[Leigh] came along.

3. Pg 74, Leigh “Why did you have to go and marry him?”
Bonnie Botts [Mom] “We just got married too young.” She said, “Growing up in that

little valley town with nothing but sage brush, Oil wells and jackrabbits there wasn’t

much to do.

4. Pg 75, Things weren’t too happy at happy at home; Dad and I ran off to Las Vegas and

got married. I enjoy riding with him until you came along, and—well, by that time I had

had enough of highways and truck stops. I stayed home with you, and he was gone most

of the time.”

I felt a little better when Mom Said she was tired of life on the road. Maybe I wasn’t to
blame after all.

5. PG. 76, Now Mom and went on “I didn’t think playing pinball machines in a tavern on

Saturday night was fun anymore. Maybe I grew up and your father didn’t.”

Pg. 76, Leigh. You mustn’t ever think that. Your Dad has many good qualities. We

just married too young, and he loves the excitement of life on the road, and I don’t.

6. Pg 77 Mom do you still Love Dad? Please Don’t ask she said.

7. PG 106, Leigh’s mom doesn’t want to speak to his father. She didn’t want to talked

to his dad even though she was still standing next to Leigh. He says “She washing her

hair.”

8. PG 112, Mom-Your father isn’t a bad man.
Leigh Then why don’t you two get married again
Mom—Because your Father will never grow up

9. PG 131, Finally Dad Said, “I miss you, Bonnie I had a feeling I didn’t know how to get

out of there so I got down on the floor and hugged Bandit

I’m sorry said Mom, I think she meant she was sorry Dad missed her, Or Maybe she was

about everything

10. PG 132 Bonnie is there any chance—Dad began. No, “said” Mom in a sad, soft voice.

There isn’t a change.

Too many lonely days and nights not knowing where you were, too much waiting for phone calls you forgot to make because you were whooping it up at some truck stop,” said Mom. “Too many boring Saturday night in some noisy tavern. Too many broken promises Things like that.

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6. With whom did Leigh have lunch?

Ans: Pg 114, & 115 Mrs. Angela Badger A famous Author
Pg. 115 Miss Neely the school librarian explained that the teacher discovered that the

winning Poem had been copied out of a book and it wasn’t original so the girl who

submitted it would Not be allowed to go and would I go in her place.

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7. Why do you think Leigh wanted to enter the Young Writers event?

Ans: Pg 58 Lunch with a famous Author

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8. How did Leigh get to eat lunch with the author if he only had earned an honorable mention

in the contest?

Ans: Pg. 115 Miss Neely the school librarian explained that the teacher discovered that the Winning Poem had been copied out of a book and it wasn’t original so the

girl who submitted it would Not be allowed to go and would I go in her

place.

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9. How old was Leigh when he wrote Mr. Henshaw for the first time?

Ans: 7 or 8 pg 2 Dear Mr. Henshaw I am the boy who wrote you last year When I was in

the Second Grade

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10. What did Leigh's dad get him for Christmas

Ans: Pg 44 Dad had sent what I always wanted –quilted down jacket with a lot of

pockets and And a hood that zips into the collar.
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http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1977.html

Matching game

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Beverly Cleary Biography

http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/clearybio.htm

Beverly Cleary was born in McMinnville in Yamhill County, Oregon on April 12, 1916. If you like her books, you might want to read more about her in her own memoirs, The Girl from Yamhill, published in 1988, and My Own Two Feet, published in 1995. Both books were published by the William Morrow Co. If you can't find these books, you can get them on interlibrary loan through your public library. Please ask.

She went to college and became a librarian, just like me. She and her husband, Clarence, are the proud parents of twins, a boy and a girl, who are all grown up now, of course. The Clearys live in Carmel, California. My favorite books are the Ramona Quimby books. These, with the Henry Huggins books, are considered classics in children's literature. Henry Huggins was her first published book in 1950! The settings [place where the story happens] is Portland, Oregon. Northeast Portland has a Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden with sculptures of Ramona, Henry Huggins and his dog Ribsy. You can see Ramona's statue there. There are also some pictures of Beverly Cleary and her husband, Clarence, at that WWW link. The photo you see at the top of the page comes from that page.

Her books are among the first "chapter" books we read in school, usually anywhere from second to fourth grade. I like the Ramona books because they are realistic. It's not always easy being young. Ramona and her family are very real people to me. The family faces real life problems, as in Ramona and Her Father when her father loses his job. But the family works hard to solve their problems. Anita Silvey in the magazine, Redbook says, "Cleary's genius lies in her ability to write books that have marvelous characters, plots, and setting for a second or third grade child, which is an extraordinarily hard thing to do." If you have a favorite book or would like to learn more about her, you can visit Beverly Cleary's Home Page which is devoted to Beverly Cleary and her works.

I also like Runaway Ralph, Ralph S. Mouse, and Mouse on a Motorcycle. Ralph is such an appealing little guy. I found an article I liked, Ralph Biography about Ralph Le Gerbois. Some children found Ralph! At least they thought it was Ralph. Ralph turned out to be a gerbil instead.
Beverly Cleary has won many awards for her books. She received a long overdue Newbery Award for her book, Dear Mr. Henshaw in 1984. Leigh's parents were getting a divorce and he wrote to Mr. Henshaw, the author of his favorite book, to tell him about his problems. In the sequel, Strider, Leigh and his mother are having a hard time paying their bills. When Leigh finds the dog, Strider, his life changes. This book was illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky, one of my favorite book illustrators. She also received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for her lifetime achievements in children's literature.

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I am a mother who home schools. I enrolled my son in Accredited Program. Through Larual Springs. Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Clearly is excellent book. I as a parent read the required books so I can teach my son about the material.

However, Mrs. Cleary touched on a subject I know all to well Divorce. Divorce is not easy and it never is. However, to say in a loveless marriage causes more harm in the end it two people are not happy. Leigh's mother explains, I was young and in love. I love the fact I could leave town and travel the Road.

Life changed when she had her son Leigh. The silly little things haning in a br and playing video games where childish. However, she talks about how the father travels and makes promises and breaks them. He will be on the road and not call him.

His mother left for reasons that she felt she needed to do. She never put his father down. However, she just didn't want to subject to him to further let downs. Leigh remembers the times they were left home in the Mobile park with no word. So in the end Leigh Understood his mother.

Also Leigh gave his father the dog back so he would have someone. As much as he loves the dog. He knew the dog was his fathers friends. Even though he lost him in the mountains the father made it a point with his CB radio to get him back.

Life is never, easy and its hard when a marriage falls apart and children are involved. That is why with the love of his mother and his writing Leigh manages to get through it all. With the fact he still love his father with the aid of his mother with understand. Just because you love someone doesn't mean you have to live with that person.

Especially when the mother offered him coffee, he tried to get back with her. However, she let him down gently and she was honest with how she felt with all of his

pg 133 Too many lonely days and nights not knowing where you were, too much waiting for phone calls you forgot to make because you were whooping it up at some truck stop,” said Mom. “Too many boring Saturday night in some noisy tavern. Too many broken promises Things like that.

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I recommend this book for adults to learn through a child's eyes about divorce.