Gruffalo Artist Sparks a Postcard Comeback for Kids and Grandparents!

Axel Scheffler, the well-known illustrator behind beloved children's books like The Gruffalo, is encouraging children to revive the tradition of sending postcards and letters. Scheffler, who has lived in England for over forty years, believes that writing letters is a meaningful way to communicate and stay connected with family and friends. He describes himself as an avid letter writer and says that letters are very important to him. Scheffler often draws unique pictures on the envelopes he sends, making each letter special for the person who receives it. He feels that sending letters and postcards is an old-fashioned habit that is slowly disappearing, but he wants to inspire children to bring it back.

Recently, Scheffler participated in BBC Radio Cornwall's postcard challenge, which invited people from around the world to send a postcard before World Postcard Day on October 1. For the challenge, Scheffler sent a postcard featuring Postman Bear, a character from his Tales of Acorn Wood book. The illustration shows Postman Bear sitting at a desk, writing letters, with a vase of flowers and a photo nearby. Scheffler says that drawing different pictures on envelopes is a way to make each letter unique, and those who receive them often cherish these creative touches. He believes that writing and sending postcards is a wonderful way to communicate, especially for children who can share their thoughts and feelings with loved ones.

Despite his enthusiasm, Scheffler acknowledges that the cost of sending postcards and letters is becoming a problem. He notes that it is more expensive to send a postcard in England than in Germany, which might discourage people from keeping up the tradition. Royal Mail, the postal service in the UK, says they carefully consider stamp prices and offer second class stamps for 87p, which is lower than the European average. Scheffler remembers his first holiday in England was in north Devon, and he has visited Cornwall many times, calling it one of his favorite places in the world. He also visited Jersey for the first time this year for a book festival and hopes to return. Scheffler's message is clear: he wants children and adults alike to rediscover the joy of sending and receiving postcards and letters, keeping this special way of connecting alive for future generations.