As the Jolly Postman goes from house to house in this magical kingdom delivering the mail, children can read, on every other page, the whimsical letters tucked inside their own envelopes. "Delightful, full of clever detail, and frequently hilarious. . . . A real treat."--Publishers Weekly. Full-color illustrations.
The Jolly Postman FROM THE PUBLISHER Fifteen years ago, long before anyone else thought of tucking actual letters and notes inside a book, Little, Brown published The Jolly Postman by Allan and Janet Ahlberg. This wonderful book gave children a chance to read letters sent from one fairy tale or Mother Goose character to another. Among the funny notes was one from Jack, who lolled on a sun-drenched island, thanking the Giant for the gold that let him afford such a nifty vacation. All this amusing correspondence was deftly illustrated and the book attracted hordes of eager readers.
FROM THE CRITICS Publishers Weekly This British import is great fun, sure to entertain children and parents alike. The Jolly Postman goes from home to home in a fairy-tale kingdom, delivering letters to such familiar addresses as ``Mr. and Mrs. Bear, Three Bears Cottage, The Woods.'' Every other page is an actual envelope, with a letter tucked inside. The letter to the three bears, for instance, is from Goldilocks, who apologizes for the trouble she's caused and invites Baby Bear to her birthday party. Some authors would stop with this cute concept, but the Ahlbergs have given this book their all. The story of the postman's travels is told in charming verse; the pictures are delightful, full of clever detail; and the results are frequently hilarious. (The wicked witch of ``Hansel and Gretel'' fame, for instance, receives a circular from Hobgoblin Supplies Ltd. which advertises such appealing products as Little Boy Pie Mix.) A real treat at a good price. (4-8)
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