The Lost Package, written by Richard Ho and illustrated by Jessica Lanan. Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2021. $25.99 ages 4 and up

 

"The package was tattered and muddy, 
but its destination was clear. 

Like all packages, this one was sent with hope
that neither snow, 
nor rain, 
nor heat, 
nor gloom of night
will keep it from being delivered." 

There were many reasons for posted packages not arriving on time this past year ... not the least of which was VOLUME. Can you imagine being a postal worker faced with the loads and loads of packages being sent daily to people through the many months that the pandemic has kept them home? 

How much did you use the postal service in the past year to get what you needed to be delivered? Were there times when you were angry for delays? Of course, it was frustrating. Did you consider the alternative? 

The story begins with a box, an empty cardboard box. It is the right size for sending a parcel from a young girl in New York City all the way to the other side of the country ... San Francisco. From the postal counter where she lives, through all its many stops along the way, to being bumped from a delivery van, and discovered by a young boy and his mother who find it on a wet neighborhood street, the package remains in transit. Luckily, its address is clear. 

In another bit of happenstance, the two are about to move to San Francisco. They take the package with them. Once they reach their destination they make sure the package does the same. Their kindness is much appreciated; they are invited in for a visit. The mothers have tea; the boys discover its contents. Its delivery means that another package is soon on its way across the country. 

Richard Ho writes this heartwarming homage to people like his father, a postal clerk for over thirty years. Richard knows the value of an institution that is under scrutiny from many for a variety of reasons. By telling this rich and emotional story of but one package within the system, he allows young readers a chance to see the process of mail delivery, the kindness of others, and the need to support the service by buying stamps, writing letters, and mailing packages. 

Jesssica Lanan does a superb job of helping readers understand the mail system. The settings for the storytelling are expertly presented and offer quiet context for the package's journey.