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Synopsis

Please Mrs. Butler by Allan Ahlberg

A collection of poems about school, which are full of typical classroom events such as the candid revelations in a pupil's newsbook, the problem of copycats, bickering, making up, swaps, picking teams and forming gangs.

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Reviews

Hilarious and poignant verses about primary school life. A real winner
Guardian
Clever, funny and nostalgic, the collection is a delight
Sunday Times
The most important 20th-century children's poetry book
Books for Keeps
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About The 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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