Mailing May

Really fun book. I was surprised to read in the authors note that this story is in fact true! Tunnell admits that he embellished but that May was indeed shipped via post to her grandmother's home to make it affordable for her parents. The illustrations show an image for the scene taking place but also framed details that assist in the story line such as an up close picture of her tag or a 'photo' of her grandmother's house. It is odd to think that something like the post office is no longer something that children experience these days but not being able to afford to travel to relatives will always be so this can give a historical and inspirational look into that experience. Tunnell says in the authors note that despite all he learned show more about Idaho's railway and the post office that the most important think he took away from writing this book was "the wonderful, creative ways in which ordinary people solve difficult problems", which I find super insightful. show less

No major historic event covered in this book, but this true story of a resourceful family mailing their little girl to her grandmother's house in 1914 (registered as a spring chick) is absolutely charming.

Ted Rand did a wonderful job with the illustrations. This book is dated during the 1900's when there wasn't colored pictures. His illustrations were done in color to make it more kid friendly, however, he cleverly placed a small picture on all of the pages. This made the story more realistic and drew me in more to the current historical setting. This was a cute book where the Americans tricked the system and saved money by mailing a girl instead of buying an actual train ticket. I thought it was a good idea regarding her safety for May's uncle to be with her the entire time. This Little House on the Prairie type books are some of my favorite reads.

Mailing May, set in 1914, is an interesting tale based off of a true story, about a girl named, Charlotte May Pierstorff. Charlotte May, who simply goes by May, desperately wants to visit her Grandma Mary. However, there are a couple of barriers in her quest to visit Grandma Mary. One if that it’s seventy-five miles away over the mountains of Idaho. The other is that her family doesn’t have the $1.55 to send her by train. With some creativity and some help from the post office, May sets out on an adventure to fulfil her wish of visiting her Grandma. Mailing May, written by Michael O. Tunnell and illustrated by Ted Rand, is a feel good story that reminds us not to give up on what’s important to us. It would be a great book for show more grades K-3. show less

This book was fun! I had no idea that part of Idaho's history and the beginnings of parcel post involved mailing a girl to see her grandmother! But it happened between Grangeville and Lewiston!!! SO cool!

Centered around the inception of the U.S. mail service, Tunnell apprises the reader the story of May and how she was mailed to her Grandmother a million miles away. May, a young five year old adventurous girl goes on the adventure of a lifetime when she is mailed off to her grandmother by the U.S. postal service. She goes through the mailing process and with her stamps on her back she is off with the letters to reach her destination.
This book engrosses the reader to imagine how people in young America had to solve problems through ingenious ways.

Sweet, sweet story, about a little girl who wants to visit her grandmother, She's 5 years old and weighs less than 50 pounds and asks for a job at the local store. When her father who makes just about a dollar a day realizes how important it is for her to go for a visit he and the mother's cousin a mail man on the train take May to post office and officially mail her to the grandmother. After her weighing on the big scales the clerk puts stamps totaling 53 cents on her back. Little May is well taken care of by Cousin Leonard. A truly delightful true story about family love and determination that would be particulary interesting to adults or children interested in trains of philately.