LoveReading4Kids Says
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 and Mrs Gaskitt and Gus and Gloria are also chasing the pram and the missing pets that are its secret cargo.
LoveReading4Kids
About The Cat Who Got Carried Away
The third book of Allan Ahlberg's mini-masterpieces for early readers.Welcome to the latest grand and gripping Gaskitt story, in which Gus and Gloria have a lot of running to do, Mrs Gaskitt hardly ever gets out of bed and something dreadful happens to Horace! (Also starring: a brainy rat named Randolph; a barking pram; and a considerable number of penguins.) What more do you want?
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Allan Ahlberg Press Reviews
"Huge fun and ideal for early readers." The Independent on Sunday
"Ahlberg's direct and funny storytelling style makes reading as near-effortless as possible." The Guardian
"A delight from beginning to end. The pictures are outstanding and mark the advent of a really inspired illustrator." The Financial Times
"These books are carefully crafted, ingenious gems ... every page a joy." The Sunday Times
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.
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