I’ve often wondered if there are gremlins living in my local postbox. After reading Grebs & Co., I really hope there are…

‘The village of Little Wobbleton was as curious a place as could be. It looked very much as if it had been built by someone, or a group of someones, with a slightly wobbly sense of direction and more than a deep fondness for the peculiar. Roads curved and slanted where they didn’t need to; some streets seemed to lead nowhere while others led onto themselves; lampposts leaned at questionable angles though still shone brightly at night; and shop bells jingled when customers entered and even more so when they didn’t.’

A Hidden World by D.T. Moorhouse

The idea that there are hidden worlds just beyond our own has fascinated readers for years. Step through a wardrobe to get to an enchanted land, hop on a train to go to a magical school, follow a yellow brick road to meet a great wizard.  

There is something compelling about the idea that the world around us might be hiding something more. Perhaps that is why secret worlds have always had such a powerful place in children’s stories. They invite us to look at familiar things differently. They suggest that there might be more to the world than we can see and, even better, that we might be the person who discovers it.

And it goes without saying, children are particularly good at seeing beyond our world. They notice things adults have learned to ignore: a strange noise; a mysterious door; a footprint where there shouldn’t be one; a postbox that rattles too much when you post a letter. 

This is exactly what happens to Alice Fairchild when she moves to the peculiar village of Little Wobbleton. She notices the lampposts that lean at impossible angles, the doorknobs that turn when no-one is touching them, the bells that ring for no reason, and most importantly, the old red postbox on Muddlesworth Lane that rattles strangely when she tries to post her letters to her mother. 

One day, Alice sees a tiny green hand emerge from the postbox, followed by a tuft of blue hair. Suddenly, Alice’s ordinary world world isn’t quite so ordinary anymore. Because within Postbox 27 is a secret world inhabited by a team of gremlins who sort, stamp and deliver letters in ways humans know nothing about. And for Alice, discovering them is only the beginning of the adventure.

And perhaps that is the real magic of secret worlds. They remind us to stay curious, to do a double take and to wonder about the things everyone else usually just walks past. Because sometimes the most extraordinary adventures aren’t waiting in faraway kingdoms. Sometimes they’re hiding in the most ordinary places. Even inside those old red postboxes.

Moorhouse really has managed to create a magical world nestled inside the humble postbox! I love his message about staying curious and looking out for adventures in ordinary places.

This chapter is perfect for readers who are developing in confidence and looking for a slightly longer read. The humour, whimsical world-building and intricate illustrations from Ewa Beniak-Haremska make this and engaging choice for readers aged 7+

Jo.

*Many thanks to Everything With Words for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour*