Dear Mr. Dickens

In Eliza Davis’s day, Charles Dickens was the most celebrated living writer in England. But some of his books reflected a prejudice that was all too common at the time: prejudice against Jewish people. Eliza was Jewish, and her heart hurt to see a Jewish character in Oliver Twist portrayed as ugly and selfish. She wanted to speak out about how unfair that was, even if it meant speaking out against the great man himself. So she wrote a letter to Charles Dickens. What happened next is history.

Loading...
  • 32 Pages
  • 8" x 10"
  • 9780807515303
  • October 2021

Buy from Albert Whitman

  • 9780807515297
  • October 2021

Reviews

  • Not only is this historical account well written, Stancliffe’s illustrations powerfully transport readers back to the era. An important addition to libraries that fills a gap about anti-Semitism and confronting prejudice.

    - School Library Journal starred review

  • Churnin presents this well-researched, little-known episode to young readers in simple, direct language that both conveys Eliza’s pain and her determination to right a wrong and provides them with a thoughtful comparison to their own time. A fascinating bit of history and much food for thought.

    - Kirkus Reviews

  • Stancliffe’s inviting illustrations with a lush palette are interspersed with black-and-white drawings that evoke Dickens’s era. Churnin’s language also echoes the period and includes direct quotes from the pair’s seven letters.

    - The Horn Book, Book Bundles

Awards & Accolades

  • Chicago Public Library Best Informational Books for Younger Readers 2021
  • The Best Jewish Children's Books of 2021, Tablet Magazine
  • 2021 National Jewish Book Award Winner - Children's Picture Book
  • 2022 Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor Book for Picture Books
  • A Junior Library Guild Selection March 2022
  • The Best Children's Books of the Year 2022, Bank Street College
  • 2022 First Place—Children's Book Nonfiction, Press Women of Texas
  • 2022 First Place—Children's Book Nonfiction, National Federation of Press Women
  • 2024 Garden State Children's Book Award Nominee

Illustrator

Bethany Stancliffe

Activities & Resources

 

  • Accelerated Reader Points: 0.5
  • ATOS Level: 4.4