(2) K-3 Illustrated by Eric Velasquez. Victor Hugo Green (1892–1960) was a mail carrier whose work took him all across New Jersey. Though well-loved on his routes, Green knew the danger he faced as a Black man anytime he went somewhere unfamiliar. This prompted the energetic Green, who "had great get-up-and-go," to create a guide for Black people to find safe places to stop, eat, and stay when road-tripping on the nation's newly built highways and turnpikes. Called the Green Book, this handbook grew from "just a pamphlet" listing welcoming places in the New York City area in 1936, to a 1940 edition featuring amenities in large cities in every state plus Washington, DC, and standing as a useful--and possibly life-saving--tool for Black travelers well into the 1960s. Velasquez's scrapbook-style, painterly vignettes capture period detail and nimbly complement Bolden's conversational free-verse text ("These travelers, / whether going places with smiles / or with tears in their eyes, / could face / hassles, humiliation, hardships"). Back matter includes a timeline, source notes, and selected sources.

Reviewer: Sam Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Stacy Innerst. In 1921, a perilous coast-to-coast airplane relay pushed a handful of pilots to their limits. If successful, the publicity stunt would prove that the U.S. Air Mail Service was superior to its locomotive counterpart, quelling concerns of cautious politicians. Esbaum's conversational present-tense narration places readers in the middle of the action alongside Jack Knight, the only pilot able to ­complete two legs of the relay (before being relieved), from Nebraska to Illinois, all the while braving frigid temperatures, snowstorms, and unfamiliar terrain. "Jack wipes slush from his goggles. He peers ahead, but can no longer see the horizon through the swirling snow... Will he find it before the plane runs out of fuel and crashes?" Harrowing details, such as ­snow-covered runways, miscommunication between airfields, and Knight literally freezing to his biplane's seat, amplify the ultimate success of the daring pilot. Innerst's mixed-media illustrations, primarily rendered in watercolor, ink, and pencil, are expressive and atmospheric. Rather than depicting objects and characters realistically, he manipulates their sizes, shapes, and colors to accurately reflect the mood of any given scene. Tight ­framing of Knight crammed into his cockpit is informative and discomforting, and effectively portrays the rudimentary nature of aircraft at the time. A thrilling and well-told moment in the history of information distribution across the United States. Back matter includes an author's note, ­highlights of U.S. mail history, a bibliography, an illustrator's note, and photo credits.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Matt Sharack. Suzy Smith doesn't think twice before boarding the troll-run Impossible Postal Express train, which delivers mail to the Union of Impossible Places. However, as a newly deputized postal operative, Suzy faces a steep challenge: her first delivery is to the Union's most powerful sorceress. Bell's smart pace guides Suzy smoothly through one impossibility after another without bogging readers down in reality-based objections; spindly line drawings capture the action.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) K-3 Mr. Postmouse (Mr. Postmouse's Rounds) is back, this time taking his family--and the mail--on holiday. At each stop, we learn that a parcel has been delivered, and we can search the large spreads for more information and several side-stories, à la Mitsumasa Anno. Dubuc's small animals living in cutaway homes and habitats are endlessly rewarding for sharp-eyed explorers.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson

(3) 1-3 Translated by Cathy Hirano. Illustrated by Jun Takabatake. In this Japanese import, bored Giraffe sees an ad from a pelican advertising his mail-delivery service; he eagerly writes a letter for delivery to the first animal past the horizon. So begins the letters, speculations, and bloopers of Giraffe and Penguin's friendship. Takabatake's simple line drawings add humor and depth to a wonderfully fresh take on how we make friends and correct mistaken impressions.

Reviewer: Ed Spicer

(4) K-3 Bumba Books: Hooray for Community Helpers! series. This serviceable series covers a variety of community-helping careers. Each book has brightly colored pages; large type; and cheery stock photos featuring men, women, and kids of different ethnicities. Some volumes are simplistic, but question bubbles ("How might gloves keep a worker's hands safe?") will help young readers think more about the topics. A photographic "tools" guide is appended. Also available in Spanish. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bumba Books: Hooray for Community Helpers! titles: Hooray for Dentists!, Hooray for Doctors!, Hooray for Firefighters!, Hooray for Garbage Collectors!, Hooray for Librarians!, and Hooray for Mail Carriers!

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Joe Lillington. Written in brisk rhyming verse with vivid imagery, this rendition of Will Cody's historic twenty-one-hour ride on the Pony Express is immersive historical fiction. Unfortunately, the strong telling isn't quite matched by the illustrations, which are often overly cartoony (especially human figures). The book includes an extensive endnote about the Pony Express and "Buffalo Bill" Cody's life and legacy.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) PS A new Stanley book means another chance to watch the ultra-mellow hamster demonstrate yet another profession: this time, he's delivering mail by scooter. The simple premise and tidy illustrations are just right for the Maisy crowd, but the older set will smile at some of Stanley's encounters (e.g., because Hattie's mail includes a speeding ticket, she grumbles, "Thanks a lot, Stanley").

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 My Community: Places series. These titles introduce readers to important places in a community. They use simple, declarative sentences to explain who works there and the activities that occur in each building. However, the inclusion of names for the people featured in the stock photos creates a false expectation for narrative continuity. The sturdy, high-interest books otherwise hit the important notes for library nonfiction collections. Glos., ind. Review covers these My Community: Places titles: The Fire Station, The Hospital, The Library, The Police Station, The Post Office, and The School.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Readers follow a mailmouse as he does his rounds, which include the Rabbits' house (most rooms are below ground) and the Mountain Goats' house (it's way up high). The book offers a leisurely stroll for the eyes, as each illustration features terrific details reflecting animal habits and habitats, shown in cross section (e.g., Mr. Bear has a honey-dripping faucet).

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) PS Affable weasel Leo delivers the mail, but he's never received a letter himself. One day he finds a lost baby bird and takes Cheep home with him. After spending a winter with Leo, Cheep reunites with his flock. Leo has lost a friend, but he's found a pen pal. The quiet watercolor and ink illustrations match the tone perfectly and add small moments of drama.

Reviewer: Kathleen T. Horning | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. A help-wanted poster catches the eye of a redundant Parisian postman. "Are you nimble? Are you fast? Are you strong?" Lalouche is all three, and thus begins his career as a boxer. The stylishly funny text demands to be read aloud; the jaunty, kindly pictures in cut-paper collage cast lovely shadows, with the book design giving us ringside seats.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2013

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root & Barry Root. "Dashing riders, / Brightly dressed. / Racing swiftly, / East and west." Kay's simple rhyming verse describes the history of mail delivery, highlighting the role of the short-lived Pony Express. Invented letters between siblings add a human perspective and a sense of time and place, while the Roots' watercolor and gouache illustrations bring the Western setting to life. An author's note is appended. Timeline.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Adam Gustavson. Lendroth's text is based on the true story of Dorsey, a border collie that carried mail between two California mining towns in 1885. The tale focuses on Dorsey's daily mile-and-a-half trek and his rapport with the prospectors and a young girl named Nellie. Gustavson's oils effectively depict the rich hues and oppressive heat of the Mojave Desert setting. An author's note is appended.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) PS Illustrated by Roberta Angaramo. In this cumulative tale told in reverse, the story's final event--a mail carrier falls into a birdbath--is presented first. As the story unfolds, readers learn step-by-step what led to the mailman's tumble and what started it all: "the girl with the long leaky hose / that squirted the flock full of curious crows." Lively illustrations accompany this jaunty take on the House-That-Jack-Built classic.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Layne Johnson. Spradlin describes, day by day, the first eleven-day run of the Pony Express, starting on April 3, 1860. The enterprise required planning, stamina, bravery, and multiple skills, all of which the detailed oil illustrations show in darkish hues. After a brief introduction, the text uses present tense to describe the daily challenges of the riders. Endpapers feature a map and timeline. Reading list, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(2) K-3 The book opens with postman Anthony at the top of the Grand Canyon loading mules with letters and packages. The landscape's yellows, browns, and rust colors radiate heat; the palette changes to whites and blues to convey the danger of driving rain and sleet. An author's note provides detail about the process and of Brown's own expedition with Supai letter carriers.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2009

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Carson Ellis. Sal is thrilled to deliver mail in the family stagecoach--her first solo journey--even if it means encountering rhyming robber Poetic Pete. Dusty-hued, clean-lined illustrations are interspersed with the book's soundtrack of sorts: lyrics from the era's folk songs. An author's note reveals the real-life inspirations for tomboy Sal and Poetic Pete.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lynne Barasch. Originally adopted by the Albany post office, stray dog Owney guarded the mailbags before he started hopping mail trains and transversing the country. Children will enjoy imagining the life of one scruffy puppy that traveled the world more than a hundred years ago. Watercolor and ink sketches warmly illustrate the mixed-breed terrier. An author's note about the real Owney adds interesting details. Bib.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2008

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Amy Wummer. Miss Mackle gets a real mailbox to use in the classroom. She sets up a post office, with jobs for the kids, and her class is thrilled. But after their rainbow bookmarks begin to disappear, Harry and Doug have a new mystery to solve. Peppered with class poems and typical third-grade behavior, here's another mild adventure for Harry fans to enjoy.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin