Mailing Mail -- Historical Fiction

 Title-  Mailing May     

    

Author- Michael O Tunnell

Illustrator- Ted Rand

Publisher- Harper Collins

Copyright Date- 1997

Number of Pages- 32

Awards- none

Reading Level- Ages 4-8

Genre- Historical Fiction

Summary

May wants to take a train to visit her grandmother in Lewiston, ID.  The problem is it cost $1.55, which is a full day’s work for May’s father.  Using some ingenuity and creativity May’s dad comes up with a solution.  He decides to mail May.  The postmaster marks May as a baby chick and puts her on the train on her way to her grandmother’s house.  After a humorous confrontation with the train conductor May is on her way.  You will need to read the book to find out what happens during the rest of May’s journey.

Teaching Idea

This book has some vocabulary that is specific to 1914, and students will not be familiar with all of the words.   Before reading the book I would supply the students with the words and have them listen for the words as I was reading the book.  Using clues from the story I would ask them to try to define the words.  After the story we would work together to correctly define the words.  As a follow up activity I would have the students go to Oxford Dictionary website (Archaic words) and look at their list of archaic words.  Then I would have they pick 3 words, define them, use them in a sentence, and draw a picture representing the word.  Then I would have students pick their favorite archaic word and share it with the class along with their sentence and picture. 

Rating

Element of Literature	Excellent	Average	Inadequate	Not Addressed	Rating
Plot	The plot is engaging; the reader is invested in the outcome.  Contains conflict, a climax and a resolution.    The reader buys into the story line; it is believable to the reader.	The plot is average it contains some of the essential elements such as conflict, climax and resolution.  One element is either missing or poorly developed.  The reader may or may not buy into the storyline, it is just not that believable.	Multiple essential elements, conflict, climax and/or resolution are missing or poorly developed.  It is not believable and overall a bad plot.		The plot is good and the reader wants May to reach her destination.  However, the book ends abruptly.  There is conflict, a climax and resolution.  The story is believable.
Characters	Characters are unique and believable.  The characters come to life when the reader is engaged in the story.  When the book is done, the reader still connects with the characters of the book.  Characters have personalities, flaws, and feelings. There is a protagonist, possibly an antagonist and some supporting characters.	Characters are similar to other books, have little to no uniqueness.  When the reader is done with the book, they are also done with the characters, there is no lasting connection.  Characters display little in terms of personality.  There are no supporting characters, or no clear protagonist.	Characters are dull and lifeless, there is no connection to the characters.  There is no clear protagonist and no supporting characters.  The characters are too farfetched.		The character is not unique, she could be replaced with any other child.  She is based off of a real person.  There is not lasting connection with the main character.  There is no clear antagonist.  There are supporting characters, and they have more personality than the protagonist.
Illustrations	The illustrations share in the story telling. The pictures help to develop the characters, establish the mood, and setting.  They contain some of the following elements, hidden details, facial expressions, different viewpoints, interesting asides, action depiction, or supporting details.  The pictures themselves may be created out of different mediums in order to support the plot.  Visual elements are used effectively (line, shape, color, texture and composition).	The illustrations support the story telling.  The pictures help with some but not all of the following, establish mood and setting, and developing characters.  They contain few if any of the following elements, hidden details, facial expressions, different viewpoints, interesting asides, action depiction, or supporting details.  The pictures are basic and do not use visual elements effectively.	The illustrations are in conflict with the story.  The pictures do not develop or establish anything in relation to the book.  There are no additional elements in the illustrations.  Visual elements detract from the plot.		The illustrations are amazing.  They were created using watercolors.  The pictures establish mood and setting.  They have hidden details, facial expressions, action depiction and supporting details.  The visual elements are used very effectively.  The story would be dull and lifeless without the illustrations.
Word Choice	There are a more than two of the following elements used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.	There are one or two of the following elements used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.	There are none of the following elements or they are not used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.		The vocabulary is precise, there is some figurative language and dialogue.