Okay. This book made me cry. I'll admit it. Maybe I'm feeling fragile right now (and I am) but god I didn't think i'd cry reading this!
I have pet rats, so although the actual rats in this book were unfortunately the villains, the sorters really grabbed my heartstrings.
I thought this book was super cute and although set at Christmas, it's not specifically about Christmas so can easily be read all year round! I didn't find myself not believing any characters or finding anything that felt "convenient". It was just an all round well done book.
I only wish the illustrations had been available!

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book

After reading this I had to buy a copy. My year 4 children completely fell in love with Wishyouwas. Wonderful characters and great storytelling.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury and Alexandra Page/Penny Neville-Lee for the review copy of Wishyouwas

It's 1952 and when a smog leaves Penny Black separated from her parents and stuck staying with her postmaster uncle just before Christmas, she is left feeling lonely and down. When rummaging through her uncle's office through boredom she discovers what looks to be a rat, but turns out to be a small creature called Wishyouwas - whose purpose is to find and rescue lost letters.

A story of friendship, hope, bravery and courage, this is a heartwarming tale that can give festive feels even in the middle of Spring. Truly magical and has some perfect escapism for younger readers.

Such an adorable story. Major "The Rescuers" vibes. This story along with its colourful characters was so precious. An absolute must to anyone's library.

I enlisted the help of my own little mouse for this review and she gives a big thumbs up. A lovely festive tale of friendship and good deeds- the mystery of where our lost letters go is finally solved!

A family friendly read that will be happily re read for many years to come.

I adored this story. It was joyful and sweet, a perfect holiday read! Wishyouwas managed to put me in the holiday spirit in September - a very difficult task, let me tell you! But I found myself rooting for the sweet little Wishyouwas and his pals, and getting in the Christmas spirit in the process. A perfectly lovely festive story for the whole family!

An enjoyable festive adventure tale, with a lively cast of human and animal characters, and a lot of heart.
There is a cruel villain, a likeable hero, mild peril, mystery and a race against time to ensure the Christmas post is delivered on time, and to make sure the secret of the sorters stays secure, along with their underground home.
Penny is staying with her uncle over Christmas, when she encounters Wishyouwas, a small mouse-like creature whose job is to find and rescue lost letters. She is drawn into his world, the secret underground post railway, and she tries to keep him and it safe from the villainous rat-catcher, who is on their trail.

Such a sweet and magical read.
A lovely story of friendship hope and protection.
If I lose any post I know my letters would be in safe hands.
I really want a wishyouwas mouse friend. After reading this book it left me feeling humble and warm.

The set up of the world was so cute with the postal theme running throughout. Well written and a nice story for 8 year olds. I was alarmed that the main character got into a van with a stranger who she suspected was a baddie, that is a bit irresponsible in a children's book, surprised the publisher allowed that.
Aside from that, I loved the character of Wishyouwas, most children would want him in their homes, although it isn't explained how these creatures got below London as they live in the tropical rainforest. It would have been nice to know how and why they arrived.

Set in 1952, Penny has to suddenly live with Uncle Frank (a postmaster). Her mother, an airmail pilot is grounded due to smog and Penny is desperate for her to return before Christmas. Penny encounters a small creature, which she initially mistakes for a rat. Wishyouwas and Penny become friends and Penny discovers the world in which Wishyouwas is from and the important postal jobs he and others do. This story is filled with messages of bravery, loyalty and courage. The pair must overcome the many barriers that a rat catcher called Stanley Scrawl put in their way. I enjoyed reading this book and can see Penny and Wishyouwas having many more adventures in the future.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a cute, sweet and feel good story! It's set at Christmas with messages about being kind, looking after each other and the joy of letters, this is just wonderful.

A secret, underground crew of postal workers deliver lost letters and when Penny (a human) happens across one, things start going wrong. I adored this from the first page to the last and definitely one I'll be sharing with others and reading again.

Would make a perfect read for a dark night when you can get cosy and settle in to read :)

What a totally glorious book for Christmas. A delightful story about a young girl and the secret inhabitants that she finds, helping to retrieve lost post. This is going to become one of those standard Christmas reads that really brings home the meaning of the season. I just hope there are going to be more adventures for the lovely characters

Wishyouwas is an utterly charming book that feels like a modern take on the kind of cozy classic children's adventure fantasy that I grew up on. The writing is perfect for the age range, managing to keep the fifties vibe while still being accessible to a modern child. The world of the Sorters, little animals who keep the postal system running, is magical, funny, and really vividly depicted, and I loved the funny little touches like the Sorters being named by phrases they'd read on the post. Wishyouwas himself is everything you could want from a magical creature friend - so cute and lovely and brave. With themes of friendship, freedom, and working together, this could have been overly twee, but it manages to avoid that totally - I found it heartwarming and fun.

It's a real shame that this E-ARC didn't include any of the artwork in this heavily illustrated book, as it makes it very hard to appraise the book as a whole. I have seen some of the artist's depictions of Wishyouwas on Twitter though, and they're adorable, so I'm hopeful that these will really suit the story.

Overall, this is a lovely read, one that would be perfect for Christmas or any other time - it's set around Christmas, but it's not so overtly festive that there would be any reason to restrict it!

Wishyouwas is a charming fantasy adventure, reminiscent of the Borrowers. It’s a festive tale of friendship, facing your fears and fighting for what is right. The Yuletide setting makes it a perfect Christmas read. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

WishYouWas: The Tiny Guardian of Lost Letters is a charming fantasy for younger middle grade readers. Reminiscent of The Borrowers with a lovely Royal Mail twist, it is captivating from beginning to end.

It’s December 1952 and a thick smog has settled over Britain. Penny Black’s mum, an airmail pilot, is stuck in France, unable to fly home. Penny is left helping her busy post master uncle, trying not to get underfoot.

One night, Penny is sure she spots a rat in the post room. Looking closer, she discovers something different – a strange little creature caught in a trap. Filled with compassion, Penny frees the creature and becomes wrapped up in an incredible adventure. WishYouWas is a Sorter, Second Class – part of an underground team of cute, talking creatures who find lost letters and make sure they are delivered.

Penny learns the Sorters are in danger. Rat catcher Stanley Scrawl and his greyhound, Ripper, are determined to capture them and destroy their tiny world. Penny finds she is soon lost in the post as she tries to help them.

WishYouWas is such a sweet little creature. Loving, loyal and always trying to do the right thing, he quickly becomes the star of the story. All the other Sorters have their own charm and fantastic names: Felicitations, HandleWithCare, WithLove and so many others. They have great respect for the Royal Postmistress, the Queen, and for the entire mail system. This is a unique story that is sure to become a classic.

Thank you to Bloomsbury for this gorgeous story!

This was an enjoyable story, suitable for younger readers. It is set in 1950's London, where Penny is living with her uncle above the post office. One evening she discovers what she initially believes to be a rat, but then the creature starts talking to her.
Penny and wishyouwas have an adventure as she discovers the secret hidden world of creatures sorting the lost mail.
Although the book is set at Christmas time, I didn't really get a Christmassy feel from it.
This would be nice to share as a class read.
This ARC did not have illustrations included but, I imagine judging from the cover, that they will be a lovely addition to the finished book.

This is the most adorable chapter book with a fantastic Christmassy vibe! The perfect book to cheer you up on a cold, rainy day!

The story starts in 1952 in smog- shrouded London. Penny discovers what she thinks is a rat whilst in her Uncle's post office. To Penny's surprise the little creature starts to talk and is trying to steal a letter! So begins Penny's magical journey with Wishyouwas in the hidden tunnels underneath the city streets.

Wishyouwas works in a sorting office where the creatures work together to sort and rescue lost post and return it to the rightful owner. They have been working in a mystery location for years, keeping their special work a secret. Penny becomes drawn in to their magical world. Can they stay safe from Stanley Scrawl, the Royal Mail Rat catcher who is desperately trying to seek them out? Can Penny help Wishyouwas achieve his dream to become a deliverer, first class and deliver a joyful Christmas?

I became completely drawn in to the secret little world of adorable magical creatures. I loved the way they were each named after parts of the postal system and they progressed from third to first class. Wishyouwas was the most adorable little creature and I loved the way he spoke:

'I is NOT a rat! I is a Sorter. Second Class'

The illustrations have not' been included in this ecopy but I cannot wait to see these as the front cover is gorgeous. There are lots of illustrations throughout the book and I imagine that really add to the magic of this wonderful story.

I still love receiving letters in the post and this story brings that special feeling of receiving a letter alive! I will definitely be purchasing copies of this book to give as Christmas presents. A gorgeous story of friendship, bravery and magic. For readers 7+

There was a time when reading a book set at Christmas just as the children returned to school, in temperatures in the high twenties, would have seemed very odd to me, but with numerous festive reads floating about at the moment perhaps it is the perfect time. While I wouldn’t say this is the most Christmassy of Christmas stories, it is a delightfully charming feelgood tale that will be enjoyed for years to come and not just in December, but throughout the seasons.

It is the 21st of December when our story opens, and our young heroine Penny believes she has spotted a rat scuttling across the floor of the Post Office run by her uncle. But the small creature is not a rat, rather he reveals himself to be a Sorter when she releases him from a trap in which he has been caught. Introducing himself as Wishyouwas, the pair talk to one another briefly before being interrupted by Uncle Frank, who banishes Penny to bed – telling her that he is trying to trap the rat who has been stealing letters from the Post Office.

With her curiosity aroused, the following morning Penny starts to look for evidence of what is happening to the letters and while trying to helpfully sort some opens the door to rat catcher Stanley Scrawl who tells her he is determined to eliminate the business’s rodent problem. Later that day, and terrified that Wishyouwas will be harmed, Penny lies in wait to protect him and ask him about the missing letters. After asking him not to take them, she is surprised when he tells her that he has to and even more so when he takes her into the hidden tunnels underground where his kind assist the Royal Mail in secret.

As Penny discovers more about the creatures and the importance of their work, she will need to use all of her courage and intelligence as she tries to keep them safe from Scrawl and to ensure that all of the letters that have been posted reach their destinations. Will she be successful or is this the end of the road for Wishyouwas and his friends?

In the modern age, with email, texts and suchlike increasingly replacing snail mail, there is still something special about receiving proper post – letters, cards etc. For children – who generally speaking don’t get the junk mail that adults do, and tend to get very little come through the letterbox – the thought of their precious birthday and Christmas cards (and the enclosed cheques/gift cards) going astray is a terrible thing and therefore makes a perfect starting point for this story, which explores lost mail in the most ingenious way.

Certainly where I live, many smaller Post Offices are now combined with village shops and most of my class are familiar with the one close to my school but not so familiar that they understand what happens between dropping things off to be sent and the easily recognisable red van and postie delivering what has been sent to them. Here, the world of Wishyouwas and his fabulously named colleagues is beautifully imagined so that it dovetails perfectly into what children already know about the reality of our postage system and makes it entirely believable.

I know that many children and adults enjoy reading something Christmassy ahead of the big day, and this would make a fabulous read in late December, but although there is some snow – and a few other festive must-haves – this could be read at any time of the year and I think it would be a very great shame not to. I certainly really enjoyed it, and know that many of my new Year 5 class would too, as would plenty of slightly younger children. As always, enormous thanks must go to Bloomsbury Children’s Books and Net Galley for my advance read, ahead of publication on 30th September. 5 out of 5 stars

Penny Black is staying with her Uncle Frank in his Post Office while her Mum is away, when she discovers a small, furry animal spiriting away a mislabelled letter one night. Wishyouwas is a 'sorter' - tiny, magical, talking creature who helps to redirect lost letters to their intended recipients. The sorters have lived peacefully alongside the underground Post Office Railway for years without anyone knowing about their existence, but when the Royal Mail rat catcher, Stanley Scrawl, catches wind of them, he is determined to hunt them down. Can Penny protect the sorters and help WishYouWas achieve his dream of becoming a Deliverer?

'WishYouWas' is perfect for fans of 'The Borrowers', or more recently, Tim Tilley's 'Harklights'. I particularly loved the names of the sorters, lifted from fragments of post office labels. Penny is a determined and kind-hearted protagonist and Wishyouwas (Gatherer, Second Class) is charming, endearing and delightfully grammatically challenged.

I read a digital version which didn't include the illustrations, but based on the gorgeous cover illustration by Penny Neville-Lee, I can imagine that the full, illustrated version will be wonderful.

'Wishyouwas' is a heartwarming, enchanting tale, set in an atmospheric, foggy post-war, London, and will make an ideal Christmas read.