All sorts of letters (and envelopes, too) have been sent to our attention over the years. Some were beautifully illustrated by renowned artists, some were sternly composed by famous writers, some were hilarious, and others surprisingly revealing. Posted below are a few favorites, available as images and as text.

Lloyd Alexander
• Short bio
• Letter dated June 1, 1965
• More Lloyd Alexander

Isaac Asimov
• Short bio
• Letter dated November 28, 1964

Arna Bontemps
• Short bio
• Letter dated February 26, 1938

L. Leslie Brook
• Drawing by L. Leslie Brook given to Bertha Mahony Miller in 1936

Marcia Brown
• Short bio
• Illustrated thank-you note sent to Bertha Mahony Miller

Susan Cooper
• Short bio
• Letter dated May 10, 1976
• Letter dated June 7, 1986
• More Susan Cooper

Roald Dahl
• Short bio
• Letter dated October 6, 1972
• Roald Dahl’s ongoing battle with Eleanor Cameron
• More Roald Dahl

Lee Kingman
• Podcast discussion about work with Virginia Lee Burton (February 2008)
• Reminiscence on Bertha Mahony Miller and the Bookshop for Boys & Girls

Lois Lenski
• “Christmas at Huckleberry Mountain Library” (November 1946 Horn Book Magazine)
A Christmas memory from the 1946 Newbery Medal winner

C. S. Lewis
• Article about C. S. Lewis
• Another article about C. S. Lewis

Astrid Lindgren
• Advice for writing to authors

Arnold Lobel
• Obituary (by James Marshall)

James Marshall
• Short bio
• Radio Interview with Anita Silvey (1986)

Robert McCloskey
• Radio Interview with Anita Silvey (1986)
• Hunt Breakfast: McCloskey’s mistake (September 1947)
• More Robert McCloskey

Leo Politi
• Short bio
• Illustrated envelope sent to Bertha Mahony Miller in 1947

Beatrix Potter
• Short bio
• Letter dated May 20, 1927
• Letter dated December 13, 1934
• Letter dated November 24, 1941
• Art by Beatrix Potter sent to Bertha Mahony Miller
• More Beatrix Potter

Uri Shulevitz
• Radio Interview with Anita Silvey, 1986

William Steig
• Short bio
• Letter dated May 10, 1970

Chris van Allsburg
• Children review The Polar Express on radio, 1986

Rosemary Wells
• Short bio
• Radio Interview with Anita Silvey, 1986

Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Short bio
• Letter dated October 19, 1953