Hog Music

This story is about a box that goes across the first National Public Road via mail coach in 1840. This cute story is a beautifully illustrated picture book for young children, but may work for older children too. An aunt sends Lucy a hat, but with all the traveling problems, additional items are added to the box. The book makes the reader imagine and think about how difficult travel must have been during that time period.

In early spring, little Lucy Owen and her Mama and Papa moved west to a place called Illinois and a farm of their own. Great Aunt Liza stayed behind. "Nothing but hog music out there." In October, Great Aunt Liza shopped in Baltimore and bought a plain brown straw hat. She put it in a wooden box with a latch, wrote a happy birthday note to Lucy and gave it to her friend on the mail coach, heading west. M.C. Helldorfer has written a wonderfully descriptive story of that present's journey, as it's lost and found and continually sent on its way. Her amusing and detailed text is only outdone by S.D. Schindler's colorful, expressive artwork and together they introduce youngsters to a little slice of nineteenth century history on the National Public Road. And, as each kind stranger moves the gift a little closer to its destination, adding something special of their own to the box, a ribbon, a feather, coffee beans...excitement will build as children wait for Lucy to finally receive and open her birthday present. This is a terrific story, complete with happy ending that's perfect for youngsters 4-8 and makes a wonderful addition to home bookshelves.

The author has presented a wonderful visit into the history of travel during the 1800's. This book would be an asset to any child studying that period of time. The author demonstrates a research based account of what could happen to a package being sent across the National Public Road. The humor that is used will help children and adults understand how writing an expository piece can be based on facts and ideas from history and include voice, word choice, and a great deal of creativity and feeling.