Fran Manushkin - Friends in the Mail

Katie made a scarf for her grandpas birthday. It took her a long time.

We should mail it today, said Katies mom. Grandpas birthday is very soon.

Lets go! said Katie.

Katie and her mom began walking to the .

Hey, Katie, yelled Pedro. Look at the soccer stickers I got in the mail.

They look cool! said Katie. Maybe Ill order some too. But right now we have to mail my grandpas present.

On the next block, Katie saw Sharon, her . Sharon was telling JoJo, I have something for you.

Look! said JoJo. I wrote a letter to an , and I got a photo back.

Great! said Sharon. I love bringing happy mail!

Katie and her mom hurried to the post office. They saw trucks bringing in mail and trucks taking other mail away.

Hi, Miss Roxie, Katie said to the clerk. I want to mail this birthday present. I hope it gets there in time.

Miss Roxie smiled. It will! We in sunny weather and in the rain and the snow.

Just then, Haley OHara and her five brothers and sisters came into the post office.

We are mailing letters to our pen pals, said Haley. They all live in different cities.

Katie asked Miss Roxie, How do you know where to send each letter?

With zip codes, said Miss Roxie. That helps us sort each letter. Then it will go to the right place.

Does the mail always travel in trucks? asked Haley. I want to be a truck driver when I grow up.

No, said Miss Roxie. The mail also goes by plane and sometimes by boat.

As Katie and her mom left the post office, Katie waved at a mail truck.

She said, I hope they take good care of my grandpas present.

On the way home, Katies mom asked, Have you ever heard about the ?

No, said Katie.

Her mother explained, A long time ago, mail was carried from place to place on horses.

Wow! said Katie. Id love to be the rider and bring birthday presents.

When Katie got home, she called her grandpa and said, I mailed you a present for your birthday. I hope you like it.

Katies gift arrived in time.

Did her grandpa love it?

He did!

(AS-truh-nawt) someone who travels in space (di-LIV-ur) to take something to someone (MAYL KAR-ee-ur) a person who delivers the mail to a house or office or picks it up from mailboxesmail clerk (MAYL KLURK) a person who does general work, such as selling stamps or sorting mail, at a post office (POH-nee ek-SPRESS) a mail service in which a series of riders carried the mail on horseback from Missouri to California. Pony Express service began in April 1860 and ended in October 1861. (POHST OFF-iss) the place people go to buy stamps and to send letters and packages

1. What traits or skills does a mail carrier need? Would you like to be a mail carrier? Why or why not?
2. Compare Sharon the mail carriers job with Roxie the mail clerks job. How are they the same? How are they different?
3. Think about your local post office, or better yet, take a trip there. Then make a list of at least five words or phrases to describe your post office.
4. If you could write a letter to anyone, who would you write to? Now write that letter, and mail it if you can.
5. If you were in charge of designing a stamp, what would you put on it? Now draw your idea!

• Katie: Hi, Sharon! Thanks for talking to me about your job as a mail carrier.
  Sharon: Im happy to, Katie. I just love delivering mail!
• Katie: What is your favorite part of your job?
  Sharon: I like being outside in the fresh air. When Im walking my route, sometimes I see kids out playing, and they always say hello. Im even friends with some of the dogs on my route. I love giving them treats!