Pen Pal Gals: Friends Forever - by Julie Thiessen (Paperback)

“Pen Pal Gals” is perfect for ages 8-12. Sparking an interest in letter-writing just might help your child with spelling and writing skills in a fun way. It is also a way to teach thoughtfulness.

Pen Pal Gals: Friends Forever is a delightful story about two girls who become fast friends after meeting while on vacation. We get to see their friendship develop and deepen during a week of fun and adventures, and we witness their dismay when it's time to leave. Writing letters to each other seems to be a way to keep in touch, so Reese and Addie agree to become pen pals. As I read this, I was flooded with memories and emotions as I was taken back to a time of attending 4H Camp and meeting kids from other Kentucky counties. I recalled how sad I was when we had to leave until, just like Reese and Addie, we agreed to stay in touch by becoming pen pals! This book is written in an engaging manner, as author Julie Thiessen offers a realistic look at making new friends during summer vacation. There are some brightly colored illustrations to add to its visual appeal, making it a wonderful transition from picture book to chapter book, and a great suggestion for teachers and librarians! I especially liked the emphasis on making friends, working to keep them, and using letter writing as a way to do it. There are even four pages of decorated stationery to encourage young girls to write those letters! This book is perfect for the avid readers in your life, but it's also a great way to entice reluctant readers to want to read. I highly recommend Pen Pal Girls: Friends Forever and I hope that there will be more Pen Pal Gals in the future. I received a complimentary copy from the author via iRead Book Tours. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

Pen Pal Gals: Friends Forever is a delightful little book by Julie Thiessen. I really enjoyed reading this book with my daughter. It was sweet seeing Reese and Addie becoming fast friends while on a summer vacation with their families at Camp Lake Shore. They so much fun together and liked seeing what activities they did. I was entertained with this quick little book. I loved that the author added stationary in the back of the book for readers to use for themselves. Pen Pal Gals: Friends Forever is illustrated by the talented duo, Vanessa Alexandre and the author herself, Julie Thiessen. I loved seeing the characters come to life in this story. I loved seeing the colors and scenery. The pictures are a perfect addition to the story, helped younger readers follow it even more and hold their attention. Pen Pal Gals: Friends Forever will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who are between the ages of five and nine. It would be a great addition to a local or school library, as well as, on a classroom shelf. I hope that Julie Thiessen will be releasing more Pen Pal Gals books in the near future. I would love to add it to my children’s personal collection. I received a paperback copy of Pen Pal Gals: Friends Forever from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

My 6 year old daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book together! The story is captivating, and brings me back to my younger years of meeting new friends on vacation. The illustrations are lovely and capture the story beautifully! I can’t say enough good about this sweet book. I even ordered a Pen Pal Gals stationary set after reading this story because it inspired us to start writing more letters to friends and family.