1st September World Letter Writing Day

Do you remember the last time you wrote a letter to someone to communicate and we are not talking about email or any digital letter but a physical letter on paper? To keep the letter writing tradition alive, this day is celebrated. It encourages people to devote time to writing letters and it is good for your mind. It is also known that writing is also a very good exercise and also helps in reducing your stress level. Your handwriting is like your DNA unique to you.

The day was founded by Australian author, artist, and photographer Richard Simpkin, who adores writing handwritten letters. He visits schools to give workshops on letter writing to encourage students to keep this art alive.

Over the years letters have become an art form and they stand out as a genre in literature. Yesterday at school author Kate Simpson visited to talk to the children about writing and science. One of her books, Dear Grandpa  is a series of letters between a boy and his grandfather. This is very pertinent at my school because last week when we were preparing to celebrate Grandparents Day I realised just how many of the students lived a long way from their grandparents. Yes they phone, and Zoom but how nice it would be for some of those grandparents to get a letter. Also last year while we were in lock down and doing school online, one of the activities that the students and teachers undertook was to write letters to the residents at the aged care facility next door to our school. They couldn't go anywhere either so were very grateful to receive letters from the children. Some of them wrote back to the children which was very special because these young students have very little experience of letters or cursive writing.

Today is a good excuse to look at some of the beautiful books in our library that do include letters. Of course there's ones like The Jolly Postman  and Dear Felix,  but here's some you mightn't know.

Leo, a mailman, takes in a small bird, Cheep, who missed the autumn migration of his flock.When spring comes and Cheep moves on, Leo is sad to see him go, but he also has hope, and the letter he has been longing for finally arrives. 

What do you send your alien pen pal Clunk to make it clear you do not "want" an alien pen pal? You send him your big sister. That'll teach Clunk to have a pen pal from Earth-or so our intrepid narrator thinks.

A boy writes a letter to an imagined alien, explaining all the things he will need to know about Earth and the people who live here - and adding a postscript asking what the alien might look like.

Two wonderful books with real letters that Max has written to his favourite dinosaur.

A boy writes a letter to an imagined alien, explaining all the things he will need to know about Earth and the people who live here - and adding a postscript asking what the alien might look like.

When the kids in Room 5 write to Earth asking what they can do to help save our planet, they are delighted to get a letter back.

Tino and Teeny are lovely lovelorn bunny rabbits, living just a few  
hops from each other. If only one of them could overcome their  
shyness and speak to the other!  When their efforts to woo each other with writing are ruined by a  rainstorm it looks like they may never meet. 

When Florence moves house, she's a little bit worried about starting a new school and making new friends. But luckily - through the power of letters - she makes one very special penpal friend, Panda, and he brings confidence and joy into her world. 

"Dear Gazelle, For some time now I have wanted to write a letter to say how much admire you. You are so graceful and fine. Even when you are running from tigers you are like a ballerina who is running away from tigers. think that what I'm trying to say is that I love you. XO, OX" And so begins an epic, if initially unrequited, love affair.

Has wonderfully detailed, witty artwork and a giant, glossy postcard flap to lift on every spread. Perfect for fans of The Jolly Postman - and meerkats!

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.

Now that Professor Whale has retired, he writes many letters to You, Whoever You Are, Who Lives on the Other Side of the Horizon. Seal and Pelican are busy delivering the letters and Penguin is now teaching. Although he is happy his friends are doing so well, Whale wants a special friend;, who might call him by a friendly sort of name. Like Whaley, maybe, instead of Professor.  

Bear can't imagine a whole winter without her friend, so when Bird migrates south, Bear decides to follow. She's never left the forest before, but that won't stop her from crossing oceans and mountains--and sending letters along the way. But a surprise is waiting for Bear on the beach... 

Richly told in amusing letters and lush illustrations, this adventurous story invites readers to consider just how far they'd go for their friends. 

I haven't seen this, but would like to.