Laura would like to get letters like everyone else in her family, so she is pleased when her teacher suggests to the class that they might have Australian pen friends. She chooses a boy called Malcolm and is thrilled when his first letter with a photo arrives. After she responds, there is a long silence from Malcolm. When a letter finally comes, it is from his sister, who explains that Malcolm is in hospital having had an operation on his eyes. He has very little sight and never will. Laura is sad for her new friend and can't understand why he has not told her he is blind. Her father explains: 'Perhaps he didn't think it was the most important thing about him'. She has the good idea of sending Malcolm a get-well card typed in braille, and we meet another blind or partially sighted woman with a braille machine (and a baby)- which gives us another subtle reminder of the normal lives the blind can lead. Laura and Malcolm decide to become braille pals instead of pen pals; this way their correspondence will always be 'private and confidential'. The illustrations, in glowing, chalky colours, are brilliant, but the real strength of this story is in the brailled letter from Malcolm, along with an alphabet card, so children can try reading braille themselves. There is also a page of facts about braille and some useful addresses, including one for Write Away, an organisation that provides pen friends, some with special needs. This is a beautifully satisfying book, one that tells a good story without being the least bit dadactic.