UNITED KINGDOM – Allan Ahlberg, one of Britain’s most celebrated children’s authors whose timeless stories have delighted generations, has died at the age of 87, his publisher Penguin Random House confirmed on Wednesday.
Over a prolific career spanning more than 50 years, Ahlberg penned around 150 books, including cherished classics like Each Peach Pear Plum, Peepo!, Funnybones, and The Jolly Postman, many of which were brought to life through iconic collaborations with his first wife, illustrator Janet Ahlberg.
Together, the duo became a cornerstone of British children’s literature, with millions of copies of their books sold worldwide.
Their work won multiple prestigious awards, including two Kate Greenaway Medals and the Kurt Maschler Award.
“Allan was one of the most extraordinary authors I have had the privilege and pleasure to work with,” said Francesca Dow, managing director of children’s books at Penguin Random House. “His brilliant books – so many of them created with his late wife, Janet – have been described as ‘mini masterpieces’. Dear Allan, we will all miss you enormously.”
A Literary Legacy
Born in Croydon in 1938 and raised in Oldbury by adoptive parents, Ahlberg worked as a postman, plumber, and gravedigger before training to become a teacher at Sunderland Teacher Training College, where he met Janet.
The pair published their first book, Here Are the Brick Street Boys, in 1975.
Soon after, they released Burglar Bill and Each Peach Pear Plum, with the latter winning Janet her first Kate Greenaway Medal in 1978.
Perhaps their most famous work, The Jolly Postman, captivated readers with its unique format featuring real letters tucked inside envelopes.
First published in 1986, it went on to sell over six million copies. Its sequel, The Jolly Christmas Postman (1991), earned Janet a second Greenaway Medal.
Beyond books, Ahlberg’s Woof! – about a boy who turns into a dog – was adapted into a popular TV series that aired from 1989 to 1997.
Tributes poured in following news of his death. Fellow children’s author Michael Rosen called Ahlberg “a pioneer of great children’s literature”.
“You were clever, funny and wise. My children loved your books. So did and so do I,” Rosen wrote in a post on X.
Ahlberg was also known for his integrity. In 2014, he famously declined a lifetime achievement award after learning it was sponsored by Amazon, which was under fire at the time for its tax practices.
Allan Ahlberg is survived by his wife Vanessa, daughter Jessica, and stepdaughters Saskia and Johanna.
His works – often simple, warm, and bursting with wit – are credited with transforming bedtime reading for millions of families.
And as generations continue to grow up with his stories, his literary legacy is certain to endure.
“His books will be loved by children and families for years to come,” Penguin’s Dow said. “True classics.”
