A letter I should have written 50 years ago:

Dear Beverly Cleary,

My mom got your book called Ribsy from the library and she read it out loud to me and my brother. Our dog, Nanette, listened to the whole story, too. There was one part where Ribsy has to dress up and wear a hat and smoke a pipe and say his prayers, and it was so funny and my mom laughed and laughed until she cried. I laughed, too. But I was worried about Ribsy. I was worried he would never make it home to the people who loved him. But he did make it home. Do you have a dog? Did your dog ever get lost? This story made me feel worried, but also happy and loved. I am eight years old. Thank you for writing this book. I will never forget it and I will never forget you.

Love,
Kate DiCamillo

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