Reading lists and articles featuring Allan Ahlberg

Allan Ahlberg Biography

Early Life and Adoption

• Adopted into what he describes as “a very poor working-class family,” Allan spent his formative years in Oldbury, in Sandwell in the West Midlands.
• Growing up with minimal resources, he identified himself as the baby in his notable work, Peepo! (1981), reflecting his childhood with “no books and not much conversation.”

Janet Hall and Joint Ventures

• Born on 21 October 1944 in Yorkshire, Janet Hall was brought up in Leicester. Both she and Allan pursued teaching careers, having met at Sunderland Technical College during the 1960s.
• Their collaborative journey began when Janet, an illustrator, requested Allan, a primary school teacher, to write a story.
• Their early works, such as The Old Joke Book and The Vanishment of Thomas Tull, marked the onset of a prolific creative partnership.
• For Each Peach Pear Plum (1978) earned Janet the coveted Kate Greenaway Medal for the year’s best children’s book illustration.

Peak Success with The Jolly Postman

• The pinnacle of their collaboration was The Jolly Postman (1986), which sold over six million copies and revolutionized storytelling.
• Innovatively incorporating envelopes with letters, cards, and games, the book garnered numerous awards, including the Kurt Maschler Award for integrated writing and illustration.
• Sequels, The Jolly Christmas Postman (1991) and The Jolly Pocket Postman (1995), continued the success.

Legacy and Recognition

• Besides two Greenaway Medals, Janet Ahlberg received “Commended” recognition three times for notable works like Burglar Bill and The Baby’s Catalogue.
• Allan, a castaway on BBC Radio’s Desert Island Discs in 2008, discussed their collaborative work, Janet’s illness, and the creation of her final book.
• In 2011, an exhibition at The Public arts centre celebrated Janet and Allan’s work, featuring contributions from schoolchildren and local artists.
• Despite being offered the Booktrust Best Book Awards ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in 2014, Allan declined due to ethical concerns related to the principal sponsor, Amazon.com.

Selected Works

Allan and Janet Ahlberg’s collaborative efforts span over 40 books across various series and standalone works. Notable titles include The Jolly Postman, Each Peach Pear Plum, and Funnybones.