The Jolly Postman

Title: The Jolly Postman

Author: Allan and Janet Ahlberg

Genre: Traditional Literature

Summary: A Jolly Postman rode his bicycle from over the hills with a letter for the Three Bears, who lived in the woods. The Bears read the letter, except for baby bear, and the Postman drank his tea. The letter from was Goldilocks apologizing for eating baby bear’s porij. She invited him over for her party. Next, the Postman went to a gingerbread cottage-and garage too. He had a letter for the Wicked Witch. It was for Hobgoblin supplies. The Witch read the letter while the Postman read the paper but left his green tea. Next, the Jolly Postman stopped at a door that had a giant bell and a giant bottle of milk too. He had a postcard for Mr. V. Bigg. The Giant read it with his baby on his knee. The Postman wet his whistle with a thimbleful of tea. Next, the Postman rode to a palace with a sign that said “sold.” He had a letter for Cinderella. She read her little book as the Postman drank champagne and went on his way again and again. Later on, the Postman was hot and he came across a “grandma” in a shady spot. He had a letter for a wolf. The Postman drank his tea, nervously. Nearly done, the Jolly Postman had a letter for Goldilocks that said “do not bend.” That was the day of her party and she invited the Postman in, so he went inside.

*First/last page repeated: “Once upon a bicycle, so they say, a Jolly Postman came one day from over the hills and far away…”

*Pages were envelopes, and some had the letters in them

Characters: Jolly Postman, bears, “grandma” (wolf), Goldilocks, CInderalla, Mr. Bigg

Plot: N/A

Theme: poetry

Setting: Bears house, Cinderella’s house, Goldilocks’ house, Mr. Bigg’s house, “grandma’s” house

Opinion: I thought this book was absolutely adorable. It would be a favorite of the children, I think, because of the actual envelopes. It was cute and funny and it was definitely a hit for me.