Owney, the Mail-Pouch Pooch

By Mona Kerby, Lynne Barasch (Illustrator)

A stray dog becomes a mail guardian, embarking on adventures across the U.S. and beyond.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 283 ratings

40 pages· 1,748 words· Est. 14 min read-aloud

$17.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In 1888, a stray dog named Owney finds a home in the Albany post office. His adventurous spirit leads him to become the mail's loyal guardian, traveling across the U.S. and even around the world. As Owney rides the rails and sails the seas, his journey raises questions: How far will his loyalty take him? What adventures await this extraordinary canine? Discover the true story of a dog whose dedication to the mail made him a global traveler and a beloved mascot.

From the publisher

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. Accompanied by lively pen-and-watercolor illustrations, this is a delightful true story of a special dog whose faithful service earned him a trip around the world. Owney can be seen in the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum.Owney, the Mail-Pouch Pooch is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children’s Book of the Year.

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