World Letters | snail-mail Subscription Service | Review

Can a letterbox spark a love of reading and travel? This unique subscription delivers illustrated adventure stories by post, bringing a little magic back to snail mail.

Review by Carla Caruso

Parents of a certain vintage may remember writing letters to friends during the school holidays and eagerly checking the letterbox for a reply.

Some may even recall Australia Post’s kids’ stamp-collecting club, Stamp Gang!

Today, however, many children rarely experience the simple joy of snail mail – perhaps one reason subscription services delivering illustrated letters to letterboxes each month are proving so popular.

One of the newest is World Letters, launched in July 2026 by Sydney travel writer Tatyana Leonov and her husband, Evan.

The children’s subscription series delivers beautifully illustrated adventure stories by post. The first collection, Elsewhere, follows sisters Aria and Mimsy as they explore real destinations around the globe, from Peru and Tanzania to Canada and Japan.

Every destination has been carefully researched, with Tatyana having personally visited all 36 countries featured in the series.

Tatyana says: “World Letters is different from other similar ventures in that it isn’t personalised correspondence from different characters.

“It’s a series of standalone illustrated adventure stories inspired by real destinations around the world.

“Each month follows the same two sisters as they explore a new country, with every story grounded in a real place and culture … So, it’s fiction set in real places – essentially a story in the letterbox.”

The project is also deeply personal. The characters Aria and Mimsy are inspired by the couple’s two daughters, with Mimsy using a wheelchair throughout the stories.

Their youngest daughter, Millie, lives with Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting the nervous system. Inspired by her, Tatyana made disability a natural part of the adventures rather than the story’s central focus.

“I wanted disability to simply be part of the story rather than the story itself. There are plenty of books about disability, but far fewer where a child with a disability is just off having adventures like everyone else.”

The stories are illustrated by Helen Ayle, with a portion of every subscription donated to FAST Australia and the Angelman Syndrome Association Australia.

Parents and caregivers can purchase a single letter or choose a subscription lasting from three to 36 months. It also makes a thoughtful gift for children who don’t need another toy gathering dust.

At our place, receiving a letter in the post felt wonderfully nostalgic. My twins couldn’t wait to open it, and I loved seeing them scan the illustrations and chat about the countries featured. It was a nice break from screens.

Designed for readers aged seven to 11, each Elsewhere adventure arrives as a colourful, double-sided letter that can be enjoyed independently or shared with a parent or grandparent.

It’s a simple concept that encourages a love of reading while bringing back the excitement of checking the letterbox.

A few other similar ventures

• The Brambletown Mail Club: A story-by-post subscription centred on the quirky village of Brambletown, where cosy mysteries and memorable characters keep readers coming back for the next letter.
• Letters from the Fairies: Charming letters from the fairy realm that are prettily illustrated and aimed at younger children who enjoy a touch of magic.
• Letters From Afar: Monthly letters from fictional traveller Isabelle, complete with illustrations, maps and travel notes that introduce children to different places around the world.

What we like about World Letters:

It’s a charming passion project that blends storytelling with adventure and inclusivity, while capturing the simple magic of receiving a letter in the post.

Find World Letters on Instagram and Facebook. 

See our Top Parks & Playgrounds Around Adelaide

For more information and all enquiries, please visit the World Letters website.

Photos by James Elsby for Play & Go Adelaide, World Letters, and the Brambletown Mail Club. 

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post and our review is done completely independently. All photos are by Play & Go (unless specified).

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