The Jolly Postman - Allan Ahlberg > Reviews (11)

Introduction:

My children love waiting for the Postman every morning, they sit at the breakfast table eating their cereals, when suddenly tap, swish, thump the post lands on the door-mat.
spoons are abandoned in bowls as a stampede of 3 small boys hurls its way towards the door. Who am I to tell them that the pile of brown envelopes, brightly coloured junk-mail and supermarket offer flyers aren’t as exciting as they might think. They present this “treasure” to me with such enthusiasm, I can not break the spell, so lets read about a truly exciting postal experience instead!

The Jolly Postman or Other People’s Letters by Janet and Allan Ahlberg was first published in 1986. Officially Allan Ahlberg wrote the text and Janet Ahlberg provided the illustrations,
the Ahlbergs themselves though preferred
to be known as bookmakers, a term which seems lacking when describing The Jolly Postman.
This is literary experience for which book is too small a word.

In essence this book allows you to accompany a very friendly postman on his extraordinary postal round. What makes this book so different though is the fact that you don’t merely read what the postman is delivering you actually get to see it for yourself and open it and in fact hold it in your hands!

The Journey and who we meet:

“Once upon a bicycle,
So they say,
A Jolly Postman came one day
From over the hills
And far away..............................”

With the pleasingly effective, yet simple rhyming,
so typical of the Ahlbergs the adventure starts.
Our first address is the cottage of the Three Bears, on the page opposite we see a white envelope with the address scribbled in a child’s hand, it has a postmark for “Banbury Cross” and has Old King Cole on its stamp. The best is yet to come however, the envelope has something inside! It is a handwritten and beautifully illustrated apology from Goldilocks herself, she is sorry she ate the “porij” and volunteers her
Dad to fix Baby Bear's chair, so we (and the bears) read the letter and the Postman himself enjoys a cup of tea.

The next postcode is for a small cottage, unusually perhaps it appears to be made from gingerbread and sugar-canes, this however is the perfect dwelling for this particular “Occupant” and she is certainly not sweet herself! The circular heading for this cottage gives a clue to its owner, postage paid by “Warlock” and a senders address of “Hobgoblin Supplies” suggests no average woman lives here.
As we peruse the latest catalogue enclosed from the above mentioned retailer we can choose from an extensive range including “Little Boy Pie Mix” and “Frog Powder.”
Interestingly our Postman declines tea here, maybe green isn’t his colour.

Off then to the next recipient of a special delivery, an air mail envelope for the attn of Mr V. Bigg, who has a very large doorstep and huge milk bottles. Its a colourful postcard from his little friend Jack, the tone of which suggests that this wide-boy is indeed having a wonderful time, meeting even bigger giants, ending on the note that he will be back for his harp, leads you to suspect that this relationship is a little strained!

After his thimble of tea, its off again for the Postman.............

By Royal Appointment no less, to a beautiful palace with a letter for HRH Cinderella herself!
Piper Press inform the Princess that they would like to publish her life story and enclose a copy for her (and our) approval. In a fully illustrated tiny book we are able to re-read a classic fairytale. The Newlyweds, for Price Charming is present too, celebrate with champagne, after which the Postman wobbles off on his bike.

The next delivery soon sobers up our VERY Jolly Postman, an official looking letter for B.B. Wolf Esq.
The solicitor's letter from Meeny, Miny Mo and Co informs the cross-dressing canine of Grandma’s
intention to inform all The King’s Men, following the Red Riding Hood incident. In a separate case the Three Pigs are to sue for damages. The Postman and Wolf forget joviality for a moment at least.

So our journey is coming to an end, the postman’s sack is empty, just one more item of first class post.
A birthday card for Goldilocks, complete with a pound-note to spend. We arrive just in time for her party and so does everyone else. The classic ending of an Ahlberg book with all characters reunited in true finale style.

The Illustrations:

This is the late Janet Ahlberg at her very best, she died in 1994, but her illustration’s remain some of the best in children’s literature. She makes very involved and complex pictures appear simple and easy on the eye.
A true case of the more you look the more you see, the details emerge from the pages one by one.
There is great humour here, the witch’s cat in an apron cleaning dishes, Prince Charming in his casual
clothes having just returned from honeymoon. My favourite illustration is the Wolf reading his summons he has a very serious face, but is wearing grandma’s dress and hat!

The inserts on each page, the letters, cards and book are delightfully made and beautifully illustrated too, as much attention to detail here as in the entire book.

Typically of an Ahlberg book, The Jolly Postman has a bit of a twist, an ended extra, that never appears gimmicky. If the truth be known the book would in fact be wonderful even if it had been published in a more traditional format.

Summary:

This book is a family favourite, it is treasured, this is obvious because all the inserts are still intact and
undamaged, the children love it and look after it well. We read the story together and make it a journey of discovery. The children never lose the excitement of looking at what’s hidden inside each piece of post. It stimulates their imagination, as they study the postal offerings they discuss who it is for, who its from and why it has been sent.
It is interesting that Allan Ahlberg himself rates this as the favourite of their own books. This is a good bedtime read and a lovely sleepy-time adventure for children and parents to share. If at Christmas you want a seasonal flavour, try the Jolly Christmas Postman, but that’s a whole new journey!

Awards:

The 1986 Emil/Kurt Maschler Award

The Children’s Book Award 1986

Price Information:

The Jolly Postman £14.95

The Jolly Pocket Postman £11.99

The Jolly Christmas Postman £14.95