This book fell on my lap because I saw a student carrying it. Half-seriously, half in jest, I asked him to lend it to me. And he really did.

So, I finished reading it in between household chores last night. Its cover beckoned me, its vibes reminiscent of the iconic book, “The Little Prince”. “Wistful” and “whimsical” were two words that came to my mind while I was reading it. Which made it the best kind of book for a night packed with duties, I guess.

“Yours sincerely, Giraffe” was translated from Japanese, so I had high hopes that it would treat relationships with a refreshing point of view. To this end, I was not disappointed. The book kickstarted with Giraffe writing a letter to an animal in the Arctic. He entrusted the delivery to Pelican, who subsequently passed it on to Seal. Seal eventually delivered the letter to Penguin. This catalysed a beautiful pen-pal relationship between Giraffe and Penguin.

For a dad fed on a diet of YouTube videos about whether Animal A can beat Animal B, reading about how the Giraffe forged a friendship with an organism so different from him sent pleasing jolts through my creative system and opened up my world of imagination. It delivered what the cover promised.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this fun read about not only appreciating differences, but also, taking the initiative to wear a suit that is different from our own skin. Parents and educators would be happy to inculcate empathy and curiosity through this book.