Taback’s trademark illustrations bring to life the adventure of a young New Jersey girl who mails herself across the country. Along the way, youngsters will subtly learn the workings of the postal system as they follow her vivid green high-top sneakers. Emily Ann misses someone she loves very much. So much, in fact, that she wraps and decorates herself as a present, gets in a box and ships herself off to California, where she finds comfort in the simple routines of childhood: dinner, a bath, a treat and stories at bedtime. Taback’s vibrant colors and humorous details will delight young children. Gentle rhyming couplets add to the emotion of the simple story, and the lack of punctuation suits Emily Ann’s impulsiveness. While visual clues at the end point to a father as the missed loved one, the tale is open-ended enough to suit many long-distance relationships. This will likely open the door for a conversation about how they can keep in touch with loved ones who are far away. (Picture book. 3-7)
