Take a Letter

Well, it’s the middle of January and the kids still haven’t sent thank-you notes to Grammy for that cute Mutant Hellhounds Video Game or to Uncle Rudolfo for that lifelike Cross-Dressing Timmie and His Magic Camisole set. Not to worry, the Letter Writer Book and Stationery Set (Reader’s Digest Kids: $24.95) just might be the key to spur them to do the right thing.

This nifty kit comes with “The Letter Writer Book” by Nancy Cobb, a 64-page guide that covers far more than thank-you notes: It takes a nuts-and-bolts approach to letter-writing, from saying what you feel to making a formal complaint about a product or service to touching base with old friends.

No excuses allowed: The kit is complete. There’s colorful stationery with matching envelopes, a stencil/ruler, postcards, rubber stamps and stamp pad, address book and a pencil, pen and marker to work with. Even the charming cartoony box is practical: It doubles as a travel case and a laptop desk complete with hideaway drawer. The only thing you provide is stamps.

If you play it right (think bribe ), the kids might be persuaded to take care of that little backlog of thank-you notes you’ve been meaning to send out . . . since 1988.

Now that they are in the habit, the 1995 edition of FREE STUFF FOR KIDS (Meadowbrook Press: $5) is a nice complement to the “Letter Writer” kit. The updated version of this perennial guide to mail-order freebies and almost freebies (a lot of the items cost $1 plus a self-addressed, stamped envelope) gives children a chance to practice their letter-writing skills. The best part is that they get to see a concrete reward for their efforts--ranging from Garfield stickers to comic books that explain economics (somebody please send one to Alan Greenspan!) to fan packs from sports teams.

Unlike the two works above, POST CARD PASSAGES, written by Susan Joyce and illustrated by Doug DuBosque (Peel Productions: $13.95, (503) 829-6849), is not an activity book--but this clever picture book neatly ties in with the joy of writing. Restless, adventurous Great-Aunt Gladys sends niece Suellan a series of post cards from around the world, and Suellan, growing up in small-town Arizona, writes back, dreaming of the day when she will “travel all around the world and visit castles and museums and ancient cities.”

The exchange of letters and post cards keeps building; the illustrations--pencil drawings, photographs, stamps and souvenirs--nicely capture the feel of each era from the ‘50s until Suellan grows up enough to begin her travels.

Don’t forget to pack plenty of pencils.