This wordless book tells the story of a man who held political views in opposition to the government. The differences between the two stances are portrayed symbolically by people carrying signs with orange circles and an army with black squares. During a peaceful protest the man was arrested and thrown in prison.

The illustrations show us what it was like for him in solitary confinement and capture his descent from anger to despair.

His memories while in prison show us the man as an ordinary person with a loving family. It is a reminder that, "there but for fortune, may go you or I."

All kinds of people, old & young, famous and ordinary, from across the globe write letters in many different languages to the man in prison. When the prison is bombarded by these letters, the prisoner is finally freed.

The book ultimately highlights the importance of Amnesty International's Write for Rights campaign and shows us the power of letter writing to make change. It does this by bolstering hope and reminding prisoners that they are not alone. Ultimately it can force governments to release people and change their policies.

At the end of the book is a letter from the author providing more information about Amnesty International's Write for Rights campaign.

I really enjoyed Letters to a Prisoner and the point it makes simply and beautiful.
Letters to a Prisoner was inspired by the Amnesty International Program Write for Rights, a letter writing campaign to try to help people who are imprisoned for their alternative beliefs. The book is mostly wordless and shows in simple but beautiful illustrations how thinking differently can lead to imprisonment and how writing to the prisoner and his government can lead to freedom.
The book is very inspirational and easy for children of any age to understand. It promotes individual thinking and simplifies the war on freedoms that go one around the world so it is understandable in early life.
This is a book I will have for my children and will gift to others to help empathy and love grow in the next generation.

This was such a great read! I learned about Amnesty Internationals Write for Rights. What a great idea! Wordless picture book for all ages. Illustrations were wonderful!

This is a beautiful book that conveys everything without the need for words. Touching.

Letters to a Prisoner is a colorfully illustrated, hopeful story about a man wrongfully imprisoned who receives letters from around the world. Without any text (other than the author's note and a few scribbles on some letters), this is a speedy and beautiful read. I could easily see sharing this with ESL learners and the refugee kids I work with, and I hope to get a copy to pass on to my nieces.

A man peacefully protesting is unjustly arrested and thrown into prison by the opposition. The guards snatch away any letters he gets, but when word of his plight gets out, a flood of letters helps him get out of prison.

The layout of this feels a bit like a graphic novel, but the size and length also feel like a regular picture book. It really be categorized as either one. The author’s note says that this is written in honor of Amensty International’s Write for Rights that helps get encouraging letters to people unjustly imprisoned around the world. The story is told almost entirely without words (there’s one phrase from a burnt letter in several languages that floats around the world but that’s it). The two sides in the book are represented by an orange circle and a navy square so they can represent a myriad of causes and realms. Symbolism is used strategically throughout the book and is relatively easy to spot, so also useful if you're teaching that literary concept. It’s a very approachable human rights book for kids, made even better because they can actually participate in the Write for Rights if they so choose and not just be aware of the injustices but do something too. Definitely a great resource! I’ll be recommending that our elementary library purchase this.

5 stars

This graphic novel story is, more or less, told solely through pictures. There are no words to read except in one place, and then only as accessories to the story rather than the story itself. In the story a man is unjustly imprisoned. His cell is dreary and he is without hope, that is until he begins to receive letters from the outside world. Each one brings a light and spirit of encouragement which keep him going until he is free.

What an uplifting story! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy for review. I love that this book draws attention to Amnesty International's Write for Rights campaigns. These campaigns are designed to garner support for prisoners, who like the one pictured in this story, have been unfairly imprisoned because of their beliefs. What a great way to offer them hope and encouragement until such a time as they too, like this character, can fly free.

This is a gorgeous (mostly) wordless children's book that beautifully captures the importance of letters for political prisoners. Having worked in a correctional facility, I can say with confidence that the letters inmates of any kind receive are one of their most important tethers to the world outside -- and this book beautifully renders that concept. The author also includes information about how to get involved with Amnesty International's letter writing campaigns at the back, should a reader be so inspired.

I'm not sure what I expected from this book having read the description and finding out that it was only illustrations, but I've read it now (if read is the right word) and it is brilliant!! The illustrations portray so much and the whole concept of the book is executed so well, it deserves a massive 5 stars - brilliant book and very thought provoking!

A 5 Star "read."

Impactful and insightful. This is a must buy book.

This book surprised me. It is astonishing how an illustrator can tell a powerful story with only pictures. I think upper grades could use it in many ways.

Amnesty International's letter writing campaigns work to raise awareness of those that have been imprisoned unjustly throughout the globe. The idea is that if people flood the prisons or jails with letters of support and requesting for freedom that those in power will realize that the person they have taken is not forgotten--and that their injustices will not go unnoticed. It is an encouragement towards freedom.

This book, without words, share the strength of written words. I think that even if I didn't already love writing letters and the idea of how powerful they can be... well, I think that I would still love and appreciate what Goldstyn has done with this book.

A protester is placed in prison. But through the power of words, he is set free. What a powerful picture book to use with older students!

I was not sure what to expect when I began turning the pages of this book. The illustrations pull you in so deeply, so quickly, that Goldstyn clearly does an amazing job of reminding readers to stand by those wrongly imprisoned. That the only page with actual words said "We are with you" drives home the importance of giving hope to those wrongfully imprisoned.

This book has no words, but conveys a very powerful message. The Circle lovers are protesting against the square lovers. A circle lover gets thrown in jail, but birds and mice help bring him letter until he can be freed. It’s hard to explain without seeing it for yourself. At the end, the author gives information about the Write for Rights campaign from Amnesty International and how his involvement in that, inspired this book.

Wow, this wordless book tells an exceptional story. With addition of the author's note, this one will be checked out frequently to discuss the implications of standing up for what is right and how we can help those unjustly punished. A must purchase for your collection where wordless books are popular and a call to action as an appealing follow-up activity.

Wow! A picture is worth a thousand words. I am speechless. This is a book for evey classroom library.

This book is for all those who hate injustice and are willing to put pen to paper and fight for truth and liberty. This wordless picture book is full of heartbreak and punishment brought upon a man and family when they are exercising their right to peacefully protest something they strongly believe in. Then the unthinkable happens. The father is apprehended by the police and thrown into prison because of his views.

He falls into despair as the days tick on and on and he is maltreated by the prison guard daily. He has no voice and no help so he sinks lower and lower into his helplessness losing all hope of getting back to his family. He finds some comfort by feeding his stale bread crumbs to a famished mouse and a random little bird that pays him visits. Day day he becomes more desperate, his heart breaks more and he feels there is no way of ever being released.

Letters start arriving for the man through his cell window. This gives him great joy but the bully guard snatches them away and incinerates them. But little does the incarcerated man know that freedom is on the way. More and more people on the outside of the prison take up this father's just cause and start sending loads of letters to have him released. In an image of escape the man flies on wings of those letters to his home and into the arms of his beloved little daughter who embraces him with sheer joy and happiness. Such a fairy-tale ending will tug at your heartstrings .... and yes they live happily together ever after he is vindicated.

The author explains to the reader at the end of the book that he was inspired by the letter-writing campaigns of the human rights organization Amnesty International to write this book. The whimsical, cartoon illustrations are kid-friendly and the message is extremely powerful. When people work together en mass to have their voice heard hearts are moved and justice can prevail. I highly recommend this book.

This stunning book tells a compelling story without saying a word. The illustrations provide a wealth of emotional description without a single printed word. The story and it's importance crosses lines of age, gender, ethnicity, and power, teaching us all that there is nothing so powerful as the power of one's convictions. The story that inspired this book lends itself to a rich classroom discussion of concepts such as ethics, justice, humanity, perseverance, conviction, and courage. I cannot wait to share this book with children.

A fantastic book. The illustrations tell the story brilliantly. This book could be a great way to start having critical discussions about the prison-for-profit system, injustice that often happens in prisons, who ends up in jail and the social and political reasons why, etc.