The Children Who Smelled a Rat

About Allan Ahlberg

Remembering Allan Ahlberg: A Beloved Voice in Children’s Literature

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Allan Ahlberg, one of the UK’s most cherished children’s authors.

Allan, often writing alongside his late wife Janet, gifted generations of young readers with stories full of warmth, humour, and heart.

From the timeless Each Peach Pear Plum to the mischievous Burglar Bill and the tender The Jolly Postman, his books have sparked joy and imagination in millions of homes and classrooms.

His legacy is one of kindness, creativity, and an unwavering respect for children’s intelligence and curiosity. He wrote with clarity, poetry, and an irrepressible sense of fun — always putting young readers first.

At LoveReading4Kids, we celebrate the countless memories his stories have created and the lasting impact he’s had on children's reading lives. Thank you, Allan, for all the magic. You will be missed, but your stories will live on in every shared bedtime read, giggle in the classroom, and child who discovers the wonder of books.

Allan Ahlberg (1938-2025)

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.