What to read after... The Jolly Christmas Postman

The Jolly Postman series, with their pull-out letters, interactive elements and recognisable characters, was a massive hit when it was published in 1991, and it is still popular today. There is something wonderfully exciting about carefully opening and playing with the character’s mail, a real sense of joy and a feeling that you are being let into a secret world just for you!

Its fairy-tale features, detailed illustrations and simple journey narrative also make it a perfect book for children to contribute to and join in with. 

But what to read after the Jolly Christmas Postman? We have compiled a list of titles which we think can deliver as much joy as our favourite postie. With books that include similarly interactive elements, books that use letters to tell great stories and books that include well-loved characters from traditional tales – there is sure to be something here that fans of The Jolly Christmas Postman will enjoy.    

Interactive picture books 

The interactive elements in The Jolly Christmas Postman make it a really memorable reading experience for both children and adults. Having a shared goal or task can make children feel involved and can be a great way to introduce them to the joys of reading.  

If you haven’t already done so, be sure to check out the other books in the Jolly Postman series, including the original The Jolly Postman or Other People’s Letters and The Jolly Pocket postman. 

The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters by Allan and Janet Ahlberg

Featuring a choose your own adventure mechanism, Pick a Story: A Pirate + Alien + Jungle Adventure offers a fun, interactive reading experience which allows children to choose the direction of the story – giving them ownership and leading the characters into some hilarious situations! If this proves a hit then why not check out the other titles in this series, including self-led adventures with unicorns, mermaids, robots, superheroes, dragons and more! 

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: A Puzzle Adventure is an epic underwater expedition led by Captain Nemo and his mysterious submarine The Nautilus. On the way, the reader encounters plenty of strange creatures, intricate machinery and unusual, deep-sea landscapes. Children must solve creative puzzles and challenges to save the crew and progress through the story. 

Books with letters 

Letters are a perfect way to introduce new perspectives in stories. Hearing a character’s voice through a letter can make for unexpected twists and encourages children to think carefully about different characters’ motivations and feelings.  

Meerkat Mail by Emily Gravett is all about an adventurous meerkat named Sunny who decides to set out and seek a new home away from his family. He sends a series of funny postcards home about his misadventures which are accessed by lifting flaps on the page. This is a charming book which also teaches children a lot about the habitats and behaviours of meerkats and their mongoose relatives. 

Dragon Post is a beautifully constructed book which includes a series of letters to and from a little boy who has found a dragon living under his stairs! Like the Jolly Postman, the five letters in this book are fully tactile and designed to be taken out and enjoyed. Children and adults alike will love the humour of this story and may want to check out Emma Yarlett’s other letter-themed books. 

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers

The wonderfully imaginative The Day the Crayons Quit is composed of letters from a set of crayons to their child owner explaining why they have had enough of drawing. Each crayon complains in a relatable and hilarious way, like the blue crayon who is worn out after colouring so many skies and lakes! This book will get children thinking about creativity and art while having lots of fun along the way. 

Familiar characters 

Recognisable characters from traditional tales and fairy stories can support children in making connections between the books they have read and help them feel comfortable in reading new books. By placing well-known characters into new and unexpected situations, the following titles can produce some hilarious and thought-provoking results! 

Lauren Child’s Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Book? takes the reader on a whirlwind adventure as Herb falls into a book of fairy tales and must try to escape! Along the way, we meet a lot of well-loved characters in new contexts and Child’s incredible collage artwork makes this book a visual feast. 

Another visually stunning title is Once Upon a Wild Wood by Chris Riddell. His new character Little Green Cape journeys through the wild woods and encounters some much-loved fairy tale figures which are brought to life by his iconic illustrations. This book has a slightly older feel than The Jolly Postman series which would suit readers of around 5-7. 

Once Upon A Wild Wood by Chris Riddell

With a twist on the original story, Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T Smith is set in Africa and sees Little Red outfox a lion after journeying past recognisable African wildlife. Little Red is a brilliant main character, and this book is filled with a humour and energy that young readers will enjoy. 

Allan Ahlberg, one of the creators of The Jolly Postman, has produced another clever twist on a fairy story with Previously. Familiar fairy stories are told using the word previously, beginning with the end of the tale and working backwards through its plot. This book works well to generate discussion as children try to work out what may have happened to lead to the conclusion of a scene.