Book:
The Jolly Christmas Postman  by Janet & Allan Ahlberg
1991, Penguin Books Ltd

Day 3 and we are still in full festive mode.  We ventured out once to play in the snow, but the rest of the time is best spent snuggling up with hot chocolate and books.

The Jolly Postman is a deserved classic, and the Christmas sequel is just as fun.  For anyone unfamiliar, the Jolly Postman delivers letters to various fairytale characters, and all of the letters come in “envelopes” in the pages and are removable.

The Christmas version allows for the addition of Christmas cards (such as one from Goldilocks to Baby Bear) and gifts.  Humpty Dumpty receives a puzzle from all the King’s horses and all the King’s men.  The Gingerbread Boy receives a tiny book with an even tinier book inside it from Pat O’Cake Bakers.  Red Riding Hood receives a board game from Mr Wolf.  All of these are removable and playable.

Part of the fun of this book is all the careful little details that make up the mix of fairytales and English village life, such as the Cat and the Fiddle pub, or the milkman delivering to King Cole’s castle.  The illustrations are very lively and fun to pore over.

The Jolly Postman’s Christmas Mince Pie Tally

2 mince pies

24 miniature mince pies

1 cup ginger beer

1 miniature bucket of tea

1 cup of tea

1 glass sherry

1 slice Christmas cake

 

The Postman finishes his day with a Christmas cake and sherry, but you could just as well have tea and mince pies, or hot chocolate.  Anything that makes you feel warm and snug!