The Jolly Postman; or, Other People's Letters

I think we can all agree this book is genius. Despite the simplicity of the poetic text, it still includes some funny ideas, and again the illustrations though deceptively simple also contain some nice background details. Meanwhile, the idea of having actual removable letters for children to take out of envelopes and read makes this a book that will be returned to over and over and always cherished. It also uses a different form of letter for every single one and could easily be used in an English class to teach different forms of writing. So much effort went into crafting this book. Deeply impressed.

I fondly remember the mad scramble to procure this book back in my elementary school days. Along with the Waldo series, these Jolly Postman books were at a premium among the school kids, because we loved the innovative books. Waldo was about finding that sneaky man in a striped shirt; this book was about the surprises found in every envelope. To clarify, let me back up. This picture book has an unusual format. In between the story and illustrations are pages that are mock envelopes, because this book is about a postman delivering letters to inhabitants of fairy tale land. He has important missives for the three bears, the Wicked Witch, the giant, Goldilocks, and even the Big Bad Wolf. The story is told in simple rhyme, with a rhyme show more scheme that is lilting and not forced, and has bright and festive pictures that suit the setting. The envelopes appear after the postman has delivered his mail, and we get to read what each inhabitant receives. As if it weren't enough fun getting to peek in on other people's letters, each delivery is different; a letter, a postcard, an advertisement, even a book and publication notice. The author doesn't neglect the little details, either, with appropriate postage stamps and return addresses. I loved this book as a child, and I love it as an adult, with an extra appreciation for its craft. I can't wait until my girls are old enough to love it as much as I do. show less

This picture book that is about a Postman delivering letters to recognisable fairytale characters. Each character of the story receives a letter. I enjoyed this book and realized how great it was for children. The book catches my attention throughout with its the humour, rhyming of the words, short sentences, beautiful illustrations and the interactive aspect. The use of the fairytale characters is fantastic as they’re familiar to children and entertaining.

This book is the cutest book I have read in a long time. My favorite book as a child was Felix and the Flying Suitcase and it was one of my favorite books because it had letters that could be removed and read just like this book. I was smiling from the first letter in the book, and I am so excited that I ended up picking it off of the shelf to read. The irony and humor in this book are in subtle little marks like the heading of the letters and who it was sent from. Any child would love reading this book, even if they had not read all of the fairytale stories that are included in the book. Children who know the fairytale stories would enjoy the irony and humor that is throughout the book.

A neat weaving together of fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters, with actual letters that come out of envelopes.
Requested on a friend's recommendation, and once it came from the library I recognized it from my own childhood. The little one wasn't interested (yet - maybe in another year or two).

The Girlchild loved this book, but she couldn't possibly get all the humor here. A letter from Little Red Ridinghood's lawyers to the the Big Bad Wolf ordering him to Cease and Desist -- priceless.

My two grade-school grand-daughters loved playing with this book together, sending each other the detachable messages.
The story is a rhymed expostion of the Nursery Rhymes Postman's journeys carrying letters between the denizens of Nursery Rhyme Land.

(Dates for most recent reading.
Surprisingly, I still have all the letters!)