MESSAGES IN THE MAILBOX

In the style of the author's The Furry News: How to Make a Newspaper (1990), an appealing introduction to correspondence as taught to an eclectic bunch of kids and creatures in Mrs. Gator's class. Even the mechanics are amusing in this lively presentation, while the expressive characters and sample messages enliven tips on appropriate topics to write about; ways to use stamps, postcards, and creative homemade formats; invitations and thank-you notes; sympathy letters and notes of apology (``I'm sorry my brother dug up your flowers. I accidentally left the gate open''); requests, complaints, protests, and letters to the editor (there's a whole story in this group); fan letters, form letters, and even love letters. What a nifty way to encourage the written word! (Nonfiction/Picture book. 6-10)