Dear Mr. Henshaw is a novel by Beverly Cleary written in a diary format and tells the story of Leigh Botts, a young boy who writes to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw, as part of a school assignment. Over time, Leigh's letters to Mr. Henshaw become more personal and he shares details about his life, including his struggles with his parents' recent divorce and his desire to become a writer himself. Along the way, Leigh learns valuable lessons about perseverance, friendship, and the importance of