
Who's Got Mail?
The History of Mail in America
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Narrated by:
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Tavia Gilbert
About this listen
A fascinating history of the US Post Office for kids, from acclaimed author Linda Barrett Osborne
“In America, one of the first things done in a new State is to have the mail come.” —Alexis de Toqueville, 1835
Who’s Got Mail? is an intriguing and fact-filled look at how the mail has been delivered in the United States since before the Constitution was even signed. In the United States, the spread of the postal service went hand in hand with the spread of democracy and transportation. As settlement spread west, communication became even more important to let distant residents feel that they were American; no part of the country was too far away, no village or farm too small to have access to the post. Moreover, the Post Office has always been a public service—it was not originally designed to make a profit or act like a business, but to deliver letters, medical supplies, packages ordered online, and all the things that Americans need at a reasonable cost. Over the centuries, it has also been one of the largest employers in the United States, particularly as a means for African Americans and women to secure stable, middle-class jobs.
Full of eccentric characters, great stories, and technological achievements, this fun middle-grade narrative nonfiction from author Linda Barrett Osborne celebrates one of the oldest and strongest institutions, and is a true testament to the spirit of American democracy.
©2023 Linda Barrett Osborne. Published in 2023 by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS, New York. All rights reserved (P)2023 Blackstone PublishingListeners also enjoyed...
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What listeners say about Who's Got Mail?
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- Dean Magee
- 07-23-23
Informative
Need to know information for a clerk like me who works at PostNet #211 PMB.
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- Kris S
- 11-12-24
Very interesting facts
I listened to this book. The first half was very interesting to me. Did you know that babies were sent through the postal service because it was cheaper than a train ticket? The USPS still used mules to deliver mail in a remote location until 2022? Lots of interesting facts in this book. The second half was still interesting and important, but was not as interesting. The narrator did a good job.
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- Amanda
- 10-28-24
Surprisingly fascinating
I actually can’t believe how interesting this topic was in this book. I thought it might be a little bit boring because the mail is not something that has ever interest me, but this is very interesting, and I would actually consider reading it again.
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