Dear Mr. Blueberry
By Simon James
The Story
A girl named Emily writes to her teacher, Mr. Blueberry, insisting a blue whale is living in her pond, and the two trade letters all summer as he tries to set her straight.
Why It's Special
For the kid who insists something magical happened even when the grown-ups say it's impossible, this book takes her side.
- Big idea: A child's imagination deserves to be taken seriously, even when the facts seem to say otherwise.
- Vibes: Gentle, wry, and warm — a quiet back-and-forth full of dry humor and real affection.
Perfect For Kids Who
- love stories told through letters
- enjoy a bit of gentle back-and-forth humor between characters
- are curious about whales and ocean facts
- like to insist on their own version of things
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: Why do you think Emily was so sure a whale was living in her pond?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Mr. Blueberry felt each time he got a new letter from Emily?
- Imagination: If you found something unbelievable in your backyard, who would you write to about it?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever written a letter or a note to someone you wanted to convince of something?
- Learning together: What is one fact about whales that Emily learns in the story?
