Book Reviews (Commonwealth Union) _ Celebrated children’s author Allan Ahlberg, best known for creating some of the most treasured books in British literature, has passed away at the age of 87. Penguin Random House, the publishing house that supported much of his prolific career, confirmed his death.
Ahlberg’s extraordinary storytelling career lasted over fifty years, during which he wrote over 150 children’s books, several of which have become essential on nursery bookshelves worldwide. Some of his most famous works include “The Jolly Postman,” “Funnybones,” “Peepo!,” and the acclaimed “Each Peach Pear Plum.” His impact on children’s literature is celebrated as visionary, with his tales characterised by warmth, humour, and an extraordinary ability to perceive the world from a child’s perspective.
A significant portion of Ahlberg’s legacy was built alongside his first wife, Janet Ahlberg, a gifted illustrator with whom he shared not only a home but also a creative mind. The couple’s partnership transformed British picture books. Their first collaboration, Here Are the Brick Street Boys, was published in 1975, quickly followed by beloved titles such as Burglar Bill and The Baby’s Catalogue. In 1978, Janet won the Kate Greenaway Medal for her illustrations in Each Peach Pear Plum, the first of two such honours.
Perhaps their most groundbreaking creation was The Jolly Postman, first published in 1986. A marvel of paper engineering, the book featured real envelopes containing letters, postcards, and other surprises for readers to explore. It sold over six million copies and received the Kurt Maschler Award for its innovation. Its sequels, including The Jolly Christmas Postman, cemented the couple’s place in literary history.
One of their most innovative works was The Jolly Postman, which was initially released in 1986. A remarkable feat of paper design, the book included actual envelopes holding letters, postcards, and additional surprises for readers to discover. It sold more than six million copies and was honored with the Kurt Maschler Award for its creativity. Its follow-ups, such as The Jolly Christmas Postman, solidified the duo’s position in literary history.
The Ahlbergs’ books offered experiences deeper than mere narratives. Their whimsical application of text, rhyme, and design animated books in fresh and surprising ways. As fellow children’s writer Michael Rosen wrote in tribute, Allan Ahlberg was “a pioneer of great children’s literature, both in picture books and poetry. You were clever, funny and wise.”
Ahlberg’s deep understanding of childhood came not just from imagination, but also from experience. Born in Croydon in 1938 and brought up by adoptive parents in Oldbury, close to Birmingham, he was employed as a postman, plumber, and gravedigger before becoming a primary school teacher. His time spent in the classroom provided him with a firsthand insight into how children think, communicate, and imagine, which he incorporated into works such as Please Mrs Butler, a compilation of witty school poems, and Woof!, a story about a boy who transforms into a dog, later turned into a successful ITV series.
Allan and Janet’s daughter, Jessica, born in 1980, inspired books like Peepo!, which featured a baby’s-eye view of life during the Second World War. Jessica later became an author herself and collaborated with her father on several titles, including The Goldilocks Variations.
Following Janet’s untimely death from cancer in 1994, Allan honoured her memory with Janet’s Last Book, a personal collection of her illustrations. He later married Vanessa Clarke, his editor at Walker Books, and became stepfather to her daughters, Saskia and Johanna.
Even in later years, Ahlberg remained an outspoken figure in the literary world. In 2014, he turned down the Booktrust Lifetime Achievement Award upon discovering it was sponsored by Amazon, which was under fire for its tax practices. Fellow writers Philip Pullman and Mark Haddon responded by creating the “Shoestring Award” in tribute to the Ahlbergs’ lasting legacy.
Francesca Dow, managing director of Penguin Random House Children’s, paid tribute by calling Ahlberg’s books “mini masterpieces” and describing him as “one of the most extraordinary authors I have had the privilege and pleasure to work with.”
Allan Ahlberg’s work has touched millions of children across generations, offering laughter, learning, and lasting memories. As families around the world continue to read his stories at bedtime, his legacy remains firmly intact.
He is survived by his wife, Vanessa; daughter, Jessica; and stepdaughters, Saskia and Johanna.
