This was such a great read! I learned about Amnesty Internationals Write for Rights. What a great idea! Wordless picture book for all ages. Illustrations were wonderful!

Letters to a Prisoner is a colorfully illustrated, hopeful story about a man wrongfully imprisoned who receives letters from around the world. Without any text (other than the author's note and a few scribbles on some letters), this is a speedy and beautiful read. I could easily see sharing this with ESL learners and the refugee kids I work with, and I hope to get a copy to pass on to my nieces.

A man peacefully protesting is unjustly arrested and thrown into prison by the opposition. The guards snatch away any letters he gets, but when word of his plight gets out, a flood of letters helps him get out of prison.

The layout of this feels a bit like a graphic novel, but the size and length also feel like a regular picture book. It really be categorized as either one. The author’s note says that this is written in honor of Amensty International’s Write for Rights that helps get encouraging letters to people unjustly imprisoned around the world. The story is told almost entirely without words (there’s one phrase from a burnt letter in several languages that floats around the world but that’s it). The two sides in the book are represented by an orange circle and a navy square so they can represent a myriad of causes and realms. Symbolism is used strategically throughout the book and is relatively easy to spot, so also useful if you're teaching that literary concept. It’s a very approachable human rights book for kids, made even better because they can actually participate in the Write for Rights if they so choose and not just be aware of the injustices but do something too. Definitely a great resource! I’ll be recommending that our elementary library purchase this.

5 stars

This graphic novel story is, more or less, told solely through pictures. There are no words to read except in one place, and then only as accessories to the story rather than the story itself. In the story a man is unjustly imprisoned. His cell is dreary and he is without hope, that is until he begins to receive letters from the outside world. Each one brings a light and spirit of encouragement which keep him going until he is free.

What an uplifting story! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy for review. I love that this book draws attention to Amnesty International's Write for Rights campaigns. These campaigns are designed to garner support for prisoners, who like the one pictured in this story, have been unfairly imprisoned because of their beliefs. What a great way to offer them hope and encouragement until such a time as they too, like this character, can fly free.

This is a gorgeous (mostly) wordless children's book that beautifully captures the importance of letters for political prisoners. Having worked in a correctional facility, I can say with confidence that the letters inmates of any kind receive are one of their most important tethers to the world outside -- and this book beautifully renders that concept. The author also includes information about how to get involved with Amnesty International's letter writing campaigns at the back, should a reader be so inspired.

I'm not sure what I expected from this book having read the description and finding out that it was only illustrations, but I've read it now (if read is the right word) and it is brilliant!! The illustrations portray so much and the whole concept of the book is executed so well, it deserves a massive 5 stars - brilliant book and very thought provoking!

A 5 Star "read."

Impactful and insightful. This is a must buy book.

This book surprised me. It is astonishing how an illustrator can tell a powerful story with only pictures. I think upper grades could use it in many ways.

Amnesty International's letter writing campaigns work to raise awareness of those that have been imprisoned unjustly throughout the globe. The idea is that if people flood the prisons or jails with letters of support and requesting for freedom that those in power will realize that the person they have taken is not forgotten--and that their injustices will not go unnoticed. It is an encouragement towards freedom.

This book, without words, share the strength of written words. I think that even if I didn't already love writing letters and the idea of how powerful they can be... well, I think that I would still love and appreciate what Goldstyn has done with this book.

A protester is placed in prison. But through the power of words, he is set free. What a powerful picture book to use with older students!

I was not sure what to expect when I began turning the pages of this book. The illustrations pull you in so deeply, so quickly, that Goldstyn clearly does an amazing job of reminding readers to stand by those wrongly imprisoned. That the only page with actual words said "We are with you" drives home the importance of giving hope to those wrongfully imprisoned.

This book has no words, but conveys a very powerful message. The Circle lovers are protesting against the square lovers. A circle lover gets thrown in jail, but birds and mice help bring him letter until he can be freed. It’s hard to explain without seeing it for yourself. At the end, the author gives information about the Write for Rights campaign from Amnesty International and how his involvement in that, inspired this book.

Wow, this wordless book tells an exceptional story. With addition of the author's note, this one will be checked out frequently to discuss the implications of standing up for what is right and how we can help those unjustly punished. A must purchase for your collection where wordless books are popular and a call to action as an appealing follow-up activity.

This book is for all those who hate injustice and are willing to put pen to paper and fight for truth and liberty. This wordless picture book is full of heartbreak and punishment brought upon a man and family when they are exercising their right to peacefully protest something they strongly believe in. Then the unthinkable happens. The father is apprehended by the police and thrown into prison because of his views.

He falls into despair as the days tick on and on and he is maltreated by the prison guard daily. He has no voice and no help so he sinks lower and lower into his helplessness losing all hope of getting back to his family. He finds some comfort by feeding his stale bread crumbs to a famished mouse and a random little bird that pays him visits. Day day he becomes more desperate, his heart breaks more and he feels there is no way of ever being released.

Letters start arriving for the man through his cell window. This gives him great joy but the bully guard snatches them away and incinerates them. But little does the incarcerated man know that freedom is on the way. More and more people on the outside of the prison take up this father's just cause and start sending loads of letters to have him released. In an image of escape the man flies on wings of those letters to his home and into the arms of his beloved little daughter who embraces him with sheer joy and happiness. Such a fairy-tale ending will tug at your heartstrings .... and yes they live happily together ever after he is vindicated.

The author explains to the reader at the end of the book that he was inspired by the letter-writing campaigns of the human rights organization Amnesty International to write this book. The whimsical, cartoon illustrations are kid-friendly and the message is extremely powerful. When people work together en mass to have their voice heard hearts are moved and justice can prevail. I highly recommend this book.

This stunning book tells a compelling story without saying a word. The illustrations provide a wealth of emotional description without a single printed word. The story and it's importance crosses lines of age, gender, ethnicity, and power, teaching us all that there is nothing so powerful as the power of one's convictions. The story that inspired this book lends itself to a rich classroom discussion of concepts such as ethics, justice, humanity, perseverance, conviction, and courage. I cannot wait to share this book with children.

A fantastic book. The illustrations tell the story brilliantly. This book could be a great way to start having critical discussions about the prison-for-profit system, injustice that often happens in prisons, who ends up in jail and the social and political reasons why, etc.

5★
Disclaimer: I’m a member of Amnesty. This is a picture book, and if a picture is worth a thousand words, this one is a doorstop of a story! The author explains at the end:

”The first time I took part in Amnesty International’s Write for Rights letter-writing marathon, all sorts of people were involved—from the young and old to the famous and not-so famous. Despite our differences, we all had one thing in common: the desire to write to a person who had been unjustly imprisoned for his or her ideas.”

THAT is the point of Amnesty. To support and advocate for people who are imprisoned (unjustly) for their ideas. Prisoners of conscience, political prisoners and protestors, no matter which side of politics they represent.

Human rights are rights for everyone, not just for the people we agree with or the powerful or the elite. Everyone. Even this dad who was at a rally with his child.

[My Goodreads review has an illustration with this caption: Dad at protest rally with child is hit and jailed]

Dad is miserable in prison until a bird pops through the window with a letter which lights him up!

[My Goodreads review has an illustration with the caption: Dad reads a letter from his child.]

More people start writing to prisoners and overwhelm the system to the point that the guards are covered with piles of letters and Dad appears to fly free!

My experience with Amnesty is writing to governments to seek help for prisoners of conscience—medical attention, family visits, legal representation, and release in many cases. I am told that prisoners have reported that they can tell when people are advocating because their food improves and they get visits from doctors.

This book is another writing program - writing directly to prisoners themselves.

The beauty of this book is that it can be circulated in every country with no explanation necessary.

Thanks to NetGalley and OwlKids Books for a preview copy for review. I recommend schools and libraries order this to get conversations started among the kids.

If you'd like to help but prefer to limit yourself to "clicktivism", have a look at Amnesty International, find your home country, and sign some petitions!
https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/

Beautiful in every way. A #wordlessbook introduction to #HumanRights for young readers. #JacquesGoldstyn #amnestyinternational

This book is lovely. Not only am I going to purchase a copy, but I want to see if my school can participate in Amnesty International's Write for Rights.

When a peaceful protester becomes a despairing political prisoner a letter brings hope back into his life. Soon letters arrive from all types of people around the world. Showing the power of words and how they can lift someone up in their lowest moments, the prisoner uses the plethora of letters to make wings and fly from his cell. The lovely illustrations tell the story as this is a wordless book.

This is a powerful book and a great springboard for discussions of human rights, political prisoners, protesting, people's beliefs/convictions/political views, tolerance and problem solving without violence.

Written by Amnesty International there is an afterword explaining their letter writing campaign as well as how to participate.