Owney - 2nd Edition by Mona Kerby (Paperback)

About the Book

A fictional account of Owney, a stray terrier puppy, who in 1888 finds a home in the Albany, New York, post office and becomes its official mascot as he rides the mail train through the Adirondacks and beyond, criss-crossing the United States, into Canada and Mexico, and eventually traveling around the world by mail boat in 132 days.

Book Synopsis

One rainy night in 1888, a stray dog wandered into the U.S. Post Office in Albany, New York. Workers found him the next morning asleep on a pile of mail pouches. The dog seemed to like the post office and the smell of the mailbags and the men's wool uniforms. When no one came to claim him, they named him Owney and made him their pet. However, Owney's loyalty and sense of adventure soon made it clear he wasn't just an average mutt. Over the course of nine years, Owney guarded the mail―not only in Albany but on mail trains that traveled all over the United States.

Review Quotes

"Readers will be captivated by Owney's journey from hungry and homeless to beloved guardian of the mail trains... sure to develop a loyal following among lovers of dog stories." ―Starred, School Library Journal

"Ever alert and increasingly covered in tags attached at his many stopovers, this small dog makes an engaging centerpiece." ―Kirkus Reviews

"Kudos to Kerby who...did plenty of research for this kid-friendly history. . . . The Ink-and-watercolor paintings, ranging from two-page spreads to vignettes, are varied and interesting." ―Booklist

"Watercolor-and-ink sketches warmly illustrate the mixed-breed terrier and showcase the varied architectural styles that housed post offices around the country." ―Horn Book

"This is a versatile little doggy number: it could also serve as a readaloud . . . or it could serve as an offbeat springboard to explorations of travel or even the postal system." ―Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books