Messages in the Mailbox: How to Write a Letter

In Mrs. Gator's classroom, the lesson for the day is letter writing, and her students (who include animals as well as kids) pick up lots of useful pointers. The amiable alligator first explains the basic components of a letter, from the heading down to the signature or postscript. Tips for ``creative letters'' are included, among them epistles written on paper cut into various shapes or penned in invisible ink (lemon juice, that shows up when it is ironed ``with adult permission''). Leedy's cheerful pictures and sprightly writing samples done in childlike lettering illustrate her succinct guidelines for composing invitations, thank-you notes, get-well letters, tidings of felicitation (``Congratulations on your new baby. I'm sure he will grow into his ears.''), fan letters and business correspondence. A lighthearted yet informative how-to by the author of The Dragon ABC Hunt and The Furry News . Ages 4-8. (Oct.)