Craig McFarland Brown

The only mule-train mail delivery route in the United States, muleteer Anthony Paya's daily trek takes him from the south rim of the Grand Canyon to the small village of Supai, a remote community located at the bottom of the canyon. Accessible only by foot, by mule, or by helicopter, Supai is the capital of the Havasupai Indian Reservation, and must bring in most of its supplies (as well as its mail) by mule.

Craig Brown, a Colorado-based picture-book artist and teacher, follows Anthony the Postman in Mule Train Mail, offering a very brief snapshot of an unusual mailman and his daily routine. His accompanying pastel and pencil illustrations give a sense of the rich earthy colors of the Grand Canyon. A brief afterword provides more information about the mule train, and the Havasupai reservation.

I can't say that this is one of the most entertaining picture-books I have read recently, or that the illustrations are really to my taste. But the story Brown relates is an unusual one, and I think young readers will find it interesting. I am pleased to see that a portion of the proceeds from sales will be donated to the Havasupai Head Start program. All in all, a solid non-fiction title for younger children.… (mer)