Dear Juno

This debut book from a talented pair tells a simple but moving story about communicating across distances that are not just geographical but linguistic. Juno can't read a letter sent by his Korean grandmother, but he deduces what she is trying to say from her enclosures: a photo of a cat and a dried flower. He sends her a reply: instead of writing in English, he mails her the biggest leaf from the ""swinging tree"" in his yard and some drawings, including one of him watching an airplane and hoping his grandmother will come to visit. When Juno receives his grandmother's return letter, he finds a box of colored pencils to encourage more ""letters"" and a toy airplane that lets him know she will soon arrive. Pak's story is economically told and sensitively focused through Juno's eyes. The tight construction is beautifully complemented by Hartung's blotted oil paint glazes in compositions that are both well designed and touching. Children not yet ready to read on their own (and their far-off grandparents) will find this book especially useful. Ages 3-7. (Oct.)