STARRED KIRKUS AND BCCB REVIEWS Join Oliver K. Woodman on his unforgettable journey across America in this beloved picture book that makes learning friendly letter writing and U.S. geography an adventure! When Uncle Ray carves a wooden man in South Carolina, he can't deliver Oliver to his friend in California himself. His creative solution? A sign reading: "Hi! I'm Oliver K. Woodman. Please help me get to California!" Kind strangers give Oliver rides, and each sends postcards and letters back to Uncle Ray, sharing their piece of Oliver's incredible journey. From truckers in Texas to families exploring Utah's desert, Oliver's adventure unfolds through beautifully crafted friendly letters that showcase different writing styles and voices.

Perfect for elementary classrooms, this engaging story helps students: ¿ Master friendly letter writing through authentic examples ¿ Explore U.S. geography as Oliver travels state to state ¿ Practice reading different types of correspondence ¿ Understand letter format-dates, greetings, closings ¿ Discover how personality shines through in writing "All geography lessons should be this much fun!" raves one reviewer. Oliver's route takes readers through the American heartland, past landmarks, and into the lives of fascinating people. Each letter reveals not just Oliver's location but the unique character of different regions. Teachers love how this book naturally integrates language arts and social studies. Students can trace Oliver's route on maps, write their own letters as if they've given Oliver a ride, or create postcards from different states. The authentic letter formats provide perfect models for teaching friendly letter writing conventions while keeping students engaged.

Back in print after years of classroom demand, this charming tale proves that sometimes the best journeys are the ones that bring people together-one letter at a time.