Whatever Happened to the Pony Express?
Kindergarten-Grade 3—Through a series of letters between a brother and sister, Kay examines changes in mail delivery during the time period 1851-1870. Transport methods include wagon, stagecoach, boat, camel, horseback (Pony Express), telegraph, and train. The rhymed text flows well. "Orphans wanted,/Riders, rough./Risk of death daily,/Must be tough./Ponies purchased,/Mailbags, thin./Special saddles./Spurs—dig in!'" While the brief phrases provide the larger historical context, the illustrations, rendered in pencil, ink, gouache, and watercolor, are crucial in developing the personal drama of the siblings and their families. The browns, oranges, and yellows of the color palette effectively reflect the primarily Western setting. Stylized reproductions of the letters and a telegram are incorporated into the pictures. The story is about the desire to communicate across long distances; appropriately, each pictorial spread is full of forward movement. Varying cultures are represented. The brother is a farmer in California; his sister marries a Pennsylvania miner. As their missives traverse the country, readers see soldiers, Native Americans, cowboys, construction workers, and other townspeople along the route. An author's note offers more detail about the Pony Express itself and its historical context. A list of "notable dates" helps readers clearly see the progression outlined in the text. Libraries will want to accept delivery of this attractive and informative package.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.