The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters by Allan & Janet Ahlberg - Ages 5-7 - Hardback

Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780670886241
Publisher: Puffin
Age Range: 5-7 years

Overview:
The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters is a much-loved interactive picture book from Allan and Janet Ahlberg, first published in 1986 and still enchanting new readers. Children follow a cheerful postman cycling through fairy-tale land, delivering real pull-out letters and postcards to characters such as Goldilocks, the Big Bad Wolf and the Giant. Envelopes on every spread turn storytime into a hands-on treasure hunt that rewards rereading.

About the Book:
This Puffin hardback edition brings the Ahlbergs' award-winning classic to life with signature die-cut envelopes tucked into alternating pages, each containing a genuine miniature letter for children to pull out and read. The postman's journey weaves together nursery rhyme and fairy-tale favourites, delivering a court summons to the Wolf, a seaside postcard to the Giant, an advertising circular for witches' supplies, and a heartfelt apology from Goldilocks to the Three Bears. Allan Ahlberg's warm, witty text works alongside Janet Ahlberg's richly detailed illustrations, which reward close inspection with jokes and visual references tucked into every corner. The clever structure — meet a character, open their letter, enjoy the reply — builds anticipation and encourages children to predict what comes next. Beyond entertainment value, the book introduces young readers to different forms of real-world correspondence, from formal letters to adverts and holiday postcards, offering a gentle, playful introduction to literacy. Its interactive design makes it as much an activity book as a story, ideal for shared reading between adult and child. Since its 1986 debut, the book has become a modern classic, winning the Kate Greenaway Medal and remaining a bestseller decades on. This hardback, with sturdy pages and robust envelope inserts, is built to withstand the enthusiastic handling of young fans eager to open every letter again and again.

Key Benefits:

• Genuine pull-out letters and envelopes on every spread for hands-on, interactive reading.
• Classic fairy-tale characters reimagined through witty, original correspondence.
• Kate Greenaway Medal-winning illustrations packed with detail to discover.
• Sturdy hardback format designed to survive repeated opening and closing of envelopes.
• Introduces children to real-world letter formats in a playful, memorable way.
• A timeless gift and read-aloud favourite for family bookshelves.

About the Author:
Allan Ahlberg is one of Britain's best-loved children's authors, a former teacher whose varied early careers included spells as a postman and plumber's mate. Janet Ahlberg, his wife and illustrator, brought his stories to life with warm, detail-rich artwork until her death in 1994. Together they created numerous celebrated picture books, including Each Peach Pear Plum and The Baby's Catalogue, winning two Kate Greenaway Medals along the way. The Jolly Postman remains their most famous collaboration, beloved for its ingenious blend of storytelling and interactive design.

Why You'll Love This Book:
Why you'll love The Jolly Postman: it turns reading into a game of discovery, with real letters to pull out and fairy-tale favourites reimagined with wit and warmth. A hardback classic built to be opened again and again, it's a perfect gift for curious young readers.

Please Note: Cover shown is the UK edition; ISBN and edition details are as listed above.