This is a weird book. I think it is probably just as weird in the original Japanese.

This is the story of a bored giraffe who writes a letter to whomever is on the horizon. That whomever turns out to be Penguin.

The whole book is them writing short letters back and forth, the way penpals used to do. Simple questions, such as what do you look like are asked back and forth. Giraffe tries to piece together, from all the letters, what it is penguin looks like, so he can dress up like him, and go meet him.

And yes, the giraffe dresses the way he thinks Penguin must look like, with no neck, and black and white stripes, like a zebra, and two little wings, and floats off to Whale Island to meet him.

And that is the story. It is a little amusing, so kids might like it, but I found, like Giraffe, I was a bit bored with the beginning, and almost didn't read much further.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review

Yours Sincerely, Giraffe is a lovely story written by Megumi Iwasa with illustrations by JUn Takabatake starts with a bored giraffe living in the African savanna, with clear blue sky and an endless supply of acacia leaves. Despite having everything giraffe needed he continued to be bored, until he noticed the new mail service started by a bored pelican.

So began the journey of letters being sent throughout the savanna, giraffe's life was changing, no more boredom but instead a pounding body that was excited beyond belief. From here it moves onto another animal, and so the cycle goes. Throughout the book you see the written letters which also gives the reader information about the animals features. What I liked most about the book is that it gives children the insight to the excitement of a written letter which is something that may not have experienced in our digital society.

The book is a lesson in friendship, finding something creative to do during time of boredom, and the excitement of trying something new.

I suggest you read this and as the last words in the book say..."Who know? Maybe that very letter is on its way to your place right now."

Cute story! I loved the ending, when giraffe, penguin, seal, pelican and whale all meet! I think the idea of penpals foe kids is a great idea and this promotes the idea, I think. Illustrations were fun! Young kids will enjoy this story.

When a bored giraffe writes a letter to anyone across the horizon, a beautiful and funny friendship begins. Told in the format of a beginner chapter book, this wonderfully written story is full of whimsy and life lessons that readers of all ages are sure to appreciate! This book is a great resource for any classroom library, and will surely spark a desire in students to learn more about others and find their very own pen-pal across the horizon too!

I got bored reading this one. It seemed like it might be a little “Winnie-the-Pooh”ish, but it didn’t capture my attention.