Allan Ahlberg - Children's Author

As a child
Allan was born in Croydon, but grew up in Oldbury in the Black Country. He says that if he hadn't grown up to be a writer, he would have loved to have been a soccer player.

As an adult
Allan always dreamed of being a writer, but tried his hand at many other jobs before he achieved his ambition. He was a postman, grave-digger, plumber's mate and teacher - it was teaching that gave him such sharp insights into the minds of children, and enabled him to write his perfectly observed poetry about primary school life

As an artist
Allan has collaborated with many illustrators, including Andre Amstutz, Gillian Tyler and Katharine McEwen, as well as his late wife, Janet Ahlberg (nee Hall) and his daughter Jessica Ahlberg. He has won numerous awards for his books including, the Kurt Maschler Award in 1986, The Children's Book Award in 1987, the Blue Peter Book Award 2001, and The Children's Book Award: Books for Young Children award 2002.

You can see Allan reading from Peepo! in this video:

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Featured Books, with extracts by Allan Ahlberg

Hooray for Bread
Allan Ahlberg
February 2013 Book of the Month  Allan Ahlberg at his masterful best with words that just slip off the tongue complemented by some delightful illustrations by Bruce Ingman.  The two of them have come together a number of times now...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers | Books of the Month | Picture Book Party
Format: Hardback - Released: 07/02/2013
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Goldilocks
Allan Ahlberg
‘One of Julia Eccleshare’s Stand-out Children’s Book of the Year 2012’ A brilliant book which is full of original stories all of which are variations on the familiar story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Each retelling becomes more...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 04/10/2012
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The Baby's Catalogue
Allan Ahlberg
30th Anniversary edition of this classic celebration of babies – their dinners, prams, accidents, gardens, bedtimes and bath times, books, pets and even their Mums and Dads. Everything that is familiar to a baby is beautifully captured in Janet Ahlberg’s...
Featured in: Baby and Toddler | Bookshelf Essentials
Format: Hardback - Released: 07/06/2012
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The Cat Who Got Carried Away
Allan Ahlberg
A wonderful and humorous family adventure for the ever active Gaskitts. This time it is Horace the cat who has a starring role when he follows a pram and finds himself hot on the heels of a thief! Soon Mr...
Featured in: 5+ readers | Reluctant Readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/05/2012
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The Man Who Wore All His Clothes
Allan Ahlberg
Mr Gaskitt does a strange thing one day; he puts on all his clothes right on top of each other. Going out dressed like that makes Mr Gaskitt look very different and it's lucky that he does when he meets...
Featured in: 5+ readers | Books for Boys
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/05/2012
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The Woman Who Won Things
Allan Ahlberg
Award-winning Allan Ahlberg turns his hand to a first reader in this entertaining story about Mrs Gaskitt and the amazing prizes she wins. But while taxi-driving Mrs Gaskitt is busy winning prizes, something fishy is going on behind the scenes…...
Featured in: 5+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/05/2012
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The Children Who Smelled a Rat
Allan Ahlberg
As the children of such exceptional parents, it is no surprise that the Gaskitt children are all set for an adventure of their own. A bumper book with extra chapters in which baby Gary Gaskitt and twins Gloria and Gus...
Featured in: 5+ readers | Reluctant Readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 27/03/2012
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Everybody Was a Baby Once
Allan Ahlberg
Age 3+.  Shortlisted for the CLPE Poetry Award 2011, which honours excellence in poetry written for children. A wonderful collection of the simplest and most joyous poems produced in a gorgeous picture book format. Nineteen delightful poems about everything from meeting a...
Featured in: 3+ readers | Poetry
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/09/2011
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Peepo! 30th Anniversary Edition Board Book
Allan Ahlberg
Celebrating 30 years since it was first published: A classic for all babies and their parents. Thirty years on, Janet and Allan Ahlberg’s brilliant Peepo! looks as fresh as ever. Fabulous illustrations, wonderful rhyming text with not a word out of...
Featured in: 3+ readers | Baby and Toddler
Format: Hardback - Released: 07/04/2011
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Peepo! 30th Anniversary Edition
Allan Ahlberg
Celebrating 30 years since it was first published in this lavish slipcased edition: Fabulous illustrations, wonderful rhyming text with not a word out of place; this is a book that no nursery bookshelf can be without.  This sturdy hardback is guaranteed...
Featured in: 3+ readers | Baby and Toddler
Format: Hardback - Released: 07/04/2011
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Peepo! 30th Anniversary Edition
Allan Ahlberg
Fabulous illustrations, wonderful rhyming text with not a word out of place; this is a book that no nursery bookshelf can be without.  This book is guaranteed to have huge appeal with babies and young toddlers. It’s definitely the kind...
Featured in: 3+ readers | Baby and Toddler
Format: Paperback - Released: 07/04/2011
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Everybody Was a Baby Once
Allan Ahlberg
Shortlisted for the CLPE Poetry Award 2011, which honours excellence in poetry written for children. A wonderful collection of the simplest and most joyous poems produced in a gorgeous picture book format. Nineteen delightful poems about everything from meeting a witch...
Featured in: 3+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 05/04/2010
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The Pencil
Allan Ahlberg
Shortlisted for Roald Dahl's Funny Prize 2009. This book is an hilarious and unmissable treat! One day there is just a lonely pencil…It begins to draw – a boy, a dog, a cat and then a house and streets for them to...
Featured in: 3+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 07/09/2009
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The Pencil
Allan Ahlberg
Winner of the Younger Children category - Red House Book Award 2009. This book is an hilarious and unmissable treat! One day there is just a lonely pencil…It begins to draw – a boy, a dog, a cat and then...
Featured in: 3+ readers | Book Awards
Format: Hardback - Released: 01/09/2008
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Collected Poems
Allan Ahlberg
Age 8+ A treasure-trove of delights are gathered together in this wonderful anthology of some of Allan Ahlberg’s best-loved poems. Taken from the best selling collections, Please Mrs Butler, Heard it in the Playground, The Mighty Slide, Friendly Matches and...
Featured in: 7+ readers | 9+ readers | Poetry | eBooks
Format: Hardback - Released: 05/06/2008
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The Boyhood Of Burglar Bill
Allan Ahlberg
Sixty-six boys, two footballs, two sets of shirts, one madman and a whistle – that’s the basis of the Malt Shovel Rovers. They’re a football team put together to try their luck in the Coronation football competition. A wonderful story...
Featured in: 7+ readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/03/2008
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Previously
Allan Ahlberg
An inventive, topsy turvy back-to-front story of fairytale characters and what they did… previously.  From Goldilocks and Cinderella to Jack and the Gingerbread Man you’ll find a treat instore from start to finish.  Both funny and touching no child or...
Featured in: 3+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 03/09/2007
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The Jolly Postman
Allan Ahlberg
Following his adventures delivering the post. Features a free letter set keepsake containing 10 Jolly Postman letters, 10 decorated envelopes and a sticker sheet.
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Kit / Model Book / Pack - Released: 05/10/2006
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Please Mrs. Butler
Allan Ahlberg
Age 7+. This funny collection of poems for the 8-11 age group is all about one school. The verses cover such things as playtime, the school outing, the school nurse, French lessons, the three R's, nicknames, best friends - and a host of...
Featured in: 7+ readers | Poetry
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/03/2003
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Friendly Matches
Allan Ahlberg
A World Cup selection. A wonderful collection of poetry covering all the ups and downs of football.  Marvellous stuff from the author of those playground classics Heard it in the playground and Please Mrs Butler. Click here to...
Featured in: 5+ readers | 7+ readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback (b Format) - Released: 01/08/2002
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Funnybones
Allan Ahlberg
Three white-boned skeletons have a great night out when they set forth with the express intention to “frighten somebody”. Big skeleton, little skeleton and dog skeleton live in the dark, dark cellar of a dark, dark house on a dark,...
Featured in: 5+ readers | Reluctant Readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 30/09/1999
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Each Peach Pear Plum (Board Book)
Allan Ahlberg
A delightful board book with simple rhyming text and engaging interactive pictures.  Children will be able to find characters that are mentioned in the text, such as Mother Hubbard and Cinderella. Wonderful detail in the illustrations provides endless entertainment in...
Featured in: Baby and Toddler
Format: Hardback - Released: 27/05/1999
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Peepo!
Allan Ahlberg
Fabulous illustrations, wonderful rhyming text with not a word out of place; this is a book that no nursery bookshelf can be without.  Guaranteed to have huge appeal with babies and young toddlers. It’s definitely the kind of book that...
Featured in: 3+ readers
Format: Board Book - Released: 29/05/1997
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Peepo!
Allan Ahlberg
Fabulous illustrations, wonderful rhyming text with not a word out of place; this is a book that no nursery bookshelf can be without.  This sturdy board book is guaranteed to have huge appeal with babies and young toddlers. It’s definitely...
Featured in: Baby and Toddler
Format: Hardback - Released: 29/05/1997
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Heard It In The Playground
Allan Ahlberg
Age 7+ This book is a classic and although life in the school playground is a little different now to what it was when it was first published this remains one of the best introductions to poetry for young children.
Featured in: 7+ readers | Poetry | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/08/1991
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Blow Me Down!
Allan Ahlberg
Three perfectly worded and shaped stories make beginning reading fun and easy! The title story follows three burglars as they go about their business while giants and gorillas feature in the other two. Excellent illustrations match all three.   Perfect for Reluctant...
Featured in: 5+ readers | Reluctant Readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 15/06/1990
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Peepo!
Allan Ahlberg
One of our 'Must Reads'. Fabulous illustrations, wonderful rhyming text with not a word out of place; this is a book that no nursery bookshelf can be without. Guaranteed to have huge appeal with babies and young toddlers. It’s definitely the...
Featured in: 3+ readers | Bookshelf Essentials
Format: Paperback - Released: 31/03/1983
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Mr Biff the Boxer
Allan Ahlberg
Mr Biff and Mr Bop are boxers and deadly rivals too. Mr Bop is fit and lean and Mr Biff...Well, Mr Biff likes a cream cake or two. Will he ever be able to toughen up in time for the...
Featured in: 3+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/06/2013
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