Follow Parcel on a globe-trotting delivery adventure filled with unexpected detours and plenty of laughs in the book Pass the Parcel. The bold, colorful illustrations make every page pop. Such a playful, delightful book — I loved it!

Equally adorable and informative. A perfect book about the mail system for kids! Great illustrations to move the story along.

Cute story! Loved the illustration and the art that moved the visuals forward in a fun way. My only feedback re: the story is that Parcel won't let us see the label because we are supposed to guess where they are going yet there are no clues as to where they are going. Just something to think about. Regardless, this was super cute and my son would have loved this when he was younger.

This was a fun adventure for a little package as they show young readers how the postal system works. The illustrations were bright and engaging, with lots of motion in the way the text is written.

"Pass the Parcel" by Carly Gledhill is an adorable picture book that helps to explain how packages get from senders to their destination. My six-year-old daughter was just asking how the mail worked, so this was a timely and fun read that gave her a little glimpse into all the channels that mailed parcels can take in their journey. The illustrations were cute and colorful and feature lots of animals and two-page spreads with paths for children to trace with their finger as you read. There are also some funny bits; our favorite was Derek the snail mail carrier. Very fun to read as part of a curiosity conversation with little ones about how the mail system works. This book would also make a very fun read for someone who works in shipping or the postal service for a career day at an elementary school. It would also make a nice gift for a family where the parents work in those industries.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced read.

This was a very vibrantly colored children’s book. It was very cute and interactive, explaining the process of how a parcel gets mailed, processed, and delivered to its destination. I thought all the imagery was great, and I’ll be shelving it for my future kiddo!

This was an adorable informative story book that children between ages 3-5 will enjoy. Children will see the long journey a package goes through before being delivered to its proper recipient. The journey includes waiting in line at the post office, docking a boat, and boarding an airplane as a fragile boxed package. The text was busy at times, that could be overwhelming for kids that are easily stimulated. It also would have been better if the package went to a child or family at the end. Overall, it is a cute and lighthearted story for toddlers.

Quick Summary: An early learners civic ed lesson

My Review: Pass the Parcel, authored and illustrated by Carly Gledhill, is a children's fiction book. It is scheduled for release on 2/17/26.

About the Book: "Parcel is getting ready to travel somewhere far, far away! Can you guess where he's going and how he'll get there? Will it be by sea, sky, or snail mail? Will he make it to his destination or will a mix-up in the mail send him on a whirlwind adventure?"

In My Own Words: A super-fantastic-fun adventure for one parcel excited about going on a grand journey

My Final Say: This children's fiction story was utterly delightful. It was so entertaining! The colorful illustrations and the simple storyline reminded me of the Richard Scarry books. Movement, action, playfulness, and joy were noted throughout. The attention to detail was marvelous.

What appealed to me greatly was the educational component. I loved that youngsters were invited to learn about the mailing system, from start to finish. I also liked that the author built up a sense of anticipation, as the package traveled from place to place.

As a lover of language usage and expression, I really loved the wondrous use of the parts of speech, particularly with regard to the prepositions. I also liked the exclamatory remarks used throughout.

Other: This children's picture book is definitely kid-friendly. I imagine that kids will adore it. It would be an excellent family read aloud, pre-K reader, library book club read for youngsters, and/or gift for the holidays...or any time of year, for that matter.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Ages 2-5
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author/illustrator, to the publisher (Publisher Spotlight | Post Wave), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review this work.

My son and I absolutely adored this book! His dad (my husband) is a postal carrier, so he's been interested in the mail from a very young age, and gets really excited when he sees a blue postal box or a mail truck. He loved seeing the process a package goes through and was even more excited to see the cat at the end! LOL we will definitely be looking to add this to Mason's library once it comes out!

My 4 year old LOVES this book! It was a great way to teach her about the postal system and if had a silly ending!

Pass the Parcel is an absolute delight and an instant classic in our house! Carly Gledhill masterfully tells the hilarious story of Parcel, a simple cardboard box on a worldwide adventure, complete with an energetic cast of characters like "Pilot Pickle" and "Derek the Mail Snail."

The vibrant, busy illustrations are a joy to pore over, full of humorous details that reward repeat readings. The book captures the pure joy of imaginative play and the clever, interactive narrative—which features a fantastic fold-out surprise ending—makes it a brilliant read-aloud choice. Highly recommended for endless giggles and fun!

Inspiring because it it talks about life and how you don’t end up in the right place and if we end up with something that’s not ours but it could be special to us.
-Allie, age 6

It was very funny and I liked the pictures
-Emmy, age 3

I like that it had airplanes and cranes and I also like that it was about traveling the world
-James, age 5

Fun story that kept the kids engaged during a delayed flight!

Okay, based on the title I did assume this book was about the party game "Pass the Parcel" but I was still delighted by what I found! This book is such a fun exploration of post office travel, and the illustrations are incredible. I especially loved the ending!!

Pass the Parcel is a colorful picture book about the mail process. It shows all the steps from packing, to dropping off, organizing, and delivering. My kids thought the ending was pretty funny. The illustrations are vibrant and in a style commonly used for children's books. Overall, my kids really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Post Wave and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

This is so cute!! I love the illustrations as did my kids. Especially parcel himself. Cute little adventure. The line about the post office always having a line gave me a good laugh because how true.

Thank you Publisher Spotlight via NetGalley for this earc!

⭐ Children’s Picture Book | Adventure | Mail

Thank you to Publisher Spotlight for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Pass the Parcel follows an adventurous little parcel on its journey. The interior is cut–paper–style visuals that look textured and handcrafted, perfectly matching the feel of the cover. Each stop of the mailing process features more imaginative characters, lending the story a lively sense of movement and personality as the parcel navigates the mail system.

The narration and layout stay engaging throughout. The varied text design helps hold a young reader’s attention, and the speech bubbles are clean, fun, and easy to read. There are comical scenes and a bit of conflict along the way; things don’t always go smoothly, just like in real mail delivery, which adds a playful layer of tension.

The ending ties everything together in a sweet and satisfying way.
A creative story that teaches children about the mailing process personified.