Dear Mr. Henshaw is a novel by Beverly Cleary which was awarded the Newberry Medal in 1984. Dear Mr. Henshaw begins with the book's main character, Leigh Botts, writing a letter as part of his second grade assignment. He writes to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw. Mr. Henshaw writes back with some questions for Leigh. By writing to Mr. Henshaw, Leigh Botts must learn to accept that he cannot change parts of his life.