The Jolly Christmas Postman    by Janet Ahlberg & Allan Ahlberg Order:  USA  Can Little, Brown & Co., 2001 (1991) Hardcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson The Jolly Christmas Postman is one of those classics brought out with all the other Christmas treasures as the season approaches, and enjoyed each year as much for its familiarity as its content ... 'Once upon a Christmas Eve, / Just after it had snowed, / The Jolly Postman (him again!) / Came down the jolly road'. This cheerful, determined postman (mailman to N. Americans) bikes through the snow in a nursery rhyme land and delivers holiday mail: a card to Baby Bear and brother from Goldilocks and her little sister; a board game on another card from Mr. Wolf to R. R. Hood; a jigsaw puzzle for Humpty Dumpty at the Hospital; a Christmas Annual full of stories and jokes for the Gingerbread Boy; and A Wolf Spotter's Guide from Red Riding Hood and Grandma to Mr. Wolf. At each stop, there are festive surroundings (indoors and out) as the postman is treated to holiday hospitality (like pies and ginger beer), and there is mail in pocket envelopes for little ones to open and examine. Then, his last delivery made, the Postman is lost in the snowstorm. Luckily he stumbles on Santa's workshop, where there is a marvellous surprise package for him, and a special ride home to ... 'A clock that's chiming in the hall. / a Merry Christmas - one and all!' The many activities the postman delivers are great fun to re-discover every year for children and adults, as are all the nursery rhyme references. If you have small children in the family who don't yet have this book, get hold of a copy; they'll have years of fun from it. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews