(3) K-3 Illustrated by Claire Almon. It's 1895, and Mary Fields wants the stagecoach driver job she sees advertised around Cascade, Montana. Unfortunately, she has two strikes against her: she's black and female. (Driving a stagecoach, which can mean run-ins with thieves, is considered man's work.) Charles tells Fields's triumphant story with aplomb, and illustrator Almon captures the Wild West's earth tones and Fearless Mary's arms-akimbo determination.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(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

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Karl James Mountford. Mia's frustrated that her homemade card won't reach Grandpa before Christmas. She discovers a magical mailbox that transports her to the Reindeer Express office. With help from a flying reindeer, she hand-delivers the card--and a hug--to Grandpa at his Arctic cabin. The simple text focuses on Mia's emotions and sensory details of the season. Thoughtful die-cuts and flaps enhance the jewel-toned illustrations, by turns fantastical and homey.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | 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

(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 Billy Aronson. The stars of the titular PBS Kids show star in their first easy readers: in Dog, Peg and Cat must navigate around a mailbox-blocking dog; in Pirate, they must fairly divvy up fruit for hungry pirates or suffer through a pirate song. Teach-y but entertaining enough, the easy-to-read stories based on TV scripts feature digital art with graph paper backdrops that mimic the show's look. Review covers these titles: Peg + Cat: The Big Dog Problem and Peg + Cat: The Pirate Problem.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(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

(3) K-3 When Liam writes to his mailbox asking for mail, the mailbox delivers a fire-breathing dragon and much more. Cheerful, digitally assembled pencil and watercolor illustrations depict the "oodles and oodles" of creatures and objects that spew forth. Clanton's clever visual incorporation of all things mail-related--including letters, envelopes, and postmarks--bolsters a simple text and heightens the story's humor and appeal.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Anna Raff. Little Card and Long Card wonder what their grown-up jobs will entail. After a mix-up, each finds the perfect profession: library card and birthday card, respectively. The original premise is visually well realized in cheery illustrations that incorporate ink washes, stamps, and digital textures. The celebratory tale breathes new life into the theme of paper in the digital age.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 My Community: Vehicles series. With simple, declarative sentences, these books introduce community vehicles. The stock photos can create confusing narratives--e.g., firefighters rush to a blazing lumberyard then battle flames at a multistory building; Maya waits for mail that arrives elsewhere. The sturdy, high-interest books hit the important notes for library nonfiction collections. Codes provide access to online resources, including activity sheets and videos. Glos., ind. Review covers the following My Community: Vehicles titles: Ambulances, Fire Trucks, Garbage Trucks, and Mail Trucks.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(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

(4) 4-6 Wild West series. This series presents condensed information about the development of the American West in the 1800s (e.g., the Louisiana Purchase; building the Transcontinental Railroad) and the people who helped shape this region. Although details are limited, these books may inspire a deeper curiosity about this colorful historical period. Sidebars, maps, captioned archival photographs and paintings, and back matter activity prompts add interest. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Wild West titles: Famous Lawmen, The Oregon Trail, The Pony Express, The Louisiana Purchase, Notorious Outlaws, Women of the American West, and The Transcontinental Railroad.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(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

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jamie Hogan. Stormy weather on an island off the Maine coast causes concern for young resident Riley, who's fearful his birthday present will not arrive in time. Riley wonders if island life is really for him, but community interactions broaden his perspective and develop his appreciation for island living despite its challenges. Hogan's prosaic, chalky illustrations adequately capture the bustle and beauty of this isolated community.

Reviewer: Andrea Curtis

(3) 4-6 43 Old Cemetery Road series. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. This fourth book in the series finds the letter-writing family facing the demise of their local post office due to the new "VEXT-mail" technology; meanwhile, Seymour is stuck in the hospital with the Phantom Flu. The Klises' intriguing narrative tactics continue as the story unfolds through letters, newspaper extracts, black-and-white illustrations, and instant message–like VEXT-mail conversations.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(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) 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