The Jolly Postman: questions to ask and activities to try
The Jolly Postman delivers letters to fairy-tale characters, and every letter is in a real envelope you can open. A classic that gets children excited about reading and writing letters.
What age is The Jolly Postman for?
The Jolly Postman is best for ages 3–7.
The Jolly Postman (Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- Letters and writing, and spotting fairy-tale characters
Only 50pThe Jolly Postman activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Let your child open each envelope and guess who it’s from before you read it. Talk about which fairy tale each letter belongs to.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 3–7 (nursery to Year 2)
- What they'll enjoy
- The Jolly Postman delivers letters to fairy-tale characters, and every letter is in a real envelope you can open. A classic that gets children excited about reading and writing letters.
- Helps with
- Letters and writing, and spotting fairy-tale characters
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Reading and writing letters
- Saying sorry
- Knowing fairy tales
- Different kinds of writing
Comprehension and discussion questions for The Jolly Postman
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Who did the Jolly Postman deliver letters to?”
- “Which fairy tale does each letter come from?”
- “Why did Goldilocks write to the Three Bears?”
- “Which letter did you like opening best?”
- “Who would you write a letter to?”
- “What would you say if you were saying sorry, like Goldilocks?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for The Jolly Postman
All 6 questions for The Jolly Postman on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Write a letter
Help your child write or draw a letter to a fairy-tale character, or to someone in the family. Put it in a real envelope.
Home post
Make a post box from a shoebox. For a day, the family posts notes to each other and your child delivers them.
The Jolly Postman activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
Communication bundle15 activity sheets for books on the same themeThe 15 books:I Talk Like a RiverAll Join InThe Animal BoogieBilly's BucketBrown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?Counting with Tiny CatDear ZooDig Dig DiggingDinosaur Dig!Dinosaur Roar!DogsDown by the StationDown the Back of the ChairDriving My TractorEach Peach Pear Plum£4.99 3 sheets for £1.25The Jolly Postman + I Talk Like a River + All Join InThe 3 books:The Jolly PostmanI Talk Like a RiverAll Join In£1.25 Pick your own books: build a bundle with this one, up to 15% off →
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to The Jolly Postman, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about reading and writing letters.
A 20-minute session for ages 3–7 (nursery to Year 2), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Let your child open each envelope and guess who it’s from before you read it. Talk about which fairy tale each letter belongs to.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “Who did the Jolly Postman deliver letters to?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Write a letter. Help your child write or draw a letter to a fairy-tale character, or to someone in the family. Put it in a real envelope. Children who finish early can try Home post.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The The Jolly Postman activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
Each Peach Pear Plum (Janet and Allan Ahlberg)
- Best for
- Playing I spy, rhyme and favourite nursery characters
- Age
- 0-5
All Join In (Quentin Blake)
- Best for
- Joining in, making noise together, and having fun with words
- Age
- 3-7
The Café at the Edge of the Woods (Mikey Please)
- Best for
- A spooky-funny rhyming tale about a strange café
- Age
- 3-7
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.