If your children have adored the Ahlbergs' distinctive characters and comforting aura of familiarity, here are some other books to try... If you haven't already read and loved them... Janet and Allan Ahlberg created some utterly timeless books together, but if you've read all of their works, what should you try next? We've got some ideas and want your thoughts too... Janet and Allan Ahlberg’s Each Peach Pear Plum was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1978 and has remained a beloved pattern book since that time. The story opens with a cozy watercolor of a pie, fresh-out-of-the oven, and a mouse, reading to dig into the delicious pastry. Underneath the drawing, readers are welcomed to “the text, and informed that “in this book”, they’ll be asked to “play ‘I spy’”. Picture books are a really magical way to help us stay positive when we feel unsure' - Cerrie Burnell

Working together, the Ahlbergs produced many popular books for a range of ages. Some, such as Peepo! and The Baby's Catalogue are aimed at babies and toddlers. For older children, they wrote books such as Burglar Bill, Cops and Robbers, Funnybones and the Happy Families series. Allan also wrote two books of verses, Heard it in the Playground and Please, Mrs Butler, which Janet illustrated, and more text-heavy books such as Woof!. [1] [9] Beside the two Greenaway Medals, Janet Ahlberg was a "Commended" runner up three times, for Burglar Bill (1977), The Baby's Catalogue (1982), and The Jolly Postman (1986). [19] [b] No one has won three Greenaway Medals. Among the fourteen illustrators with two Medals, Janet Ahlberg is one of seven with one book named to the top ten (1955–2005) and one of six with at least three commendations (1959–2002). Probably their greatest success was The Jolly Postman, published by Heinemann in 1986; Allan Ahlberg told The Guardian in 2006 that it had sold over six million copies. It made innovative use of envelopes to include letters, cards, games and a tiny book. [2] According to one WorldCat library record, Last week, a friend I gave it to more than ten years ago, and who now lives in Australia, sent me a picture of her younger child with the book, saying her kids still love it. A simple gesture that filled me with joy, and flooded a difficult week with happy memories.

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The jolly postman, or, Other people's letters" (first U.S. edition). LCC record. Retrieved 14 November 2012.

First, I read this to my child, pausing before pointing out the next character, who would be hiding in the picture somewhere. According to CCSU, some runners up through 2002 were Commended (from 1959) or Highly Commended (from 1974). There were 99 commendations of both kinds in 44 years, including two in 1977, two 1982, and six 1986. I wanted to give LGBTQ+ teens their very own adventure' - Darren Charlton on LGBTQ+ inclusion in writing for teens Allan Ahlberg exhibition at The Public, West Bromwich". Express & Star (expressandstar.com). 9 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2013. Allan appeared as a castaway on the BBC Radio programme Desert Island Discs on 14 November 2008. [21] He described their work together, her illness and death, and the creation of Janet's Last Book. [21]When you read the story again encourage children to join in by guessing the matching rhyme eg Parent: “Tom Thumb in the cupboard, I spy …….” Child : “Mother Hubbard.’ Children can look for clues in the pictures to help them. Talk about the story Janet Hall was born 21 October 1944 in Yorkshire [10] and brought up in Leicester. [9] The Ahlbergs both trained as teachers at Sunderland Technical College, where they met during the 1960s and married in 1969. [9] Each peach pear plum: an 'I spy' story" (first U.S. edition). Library of Congress Catalog Record ( LCC record). Retrieved 31 August 2012. Allan Ahlberg has published over 100 children's books and with his late wife Janet, created such award-winning children's picture books, including Peepo!, and the Kate Greenaway Medal winning The Jolly Postman. Read more Details Aimed at a younger audience (I bought it for a friend's daughter but thought I would read it and play it first) it should probably be simple for an adult like myself. However, I must confess that when I read 'Tom Thumb in the cupboard/I spy Mother Hubbard', I didn't espy her at first! Only when I belatedly noticed the bow of an apron on a rather large derrière in the corner did I realise that she was leaning out of the picture!

This book would be suitable for Early Years as it has rhythmical text and features a game that will be recognised by young children. Allan Ahlberg was born 5 June 1938 in Croydon. [8] An illegitimate child, he was adopted and brought up in Oldbury, in Sandwell in the West Midlands. [9] He has called it "a very poor working-class family" and identified himself as the baby in Peepo! (1981). He grew up with "no books and not much conversation". [2] Adrian Chiles, We Don't Know What We're Doing: Adventures with the extraordinary fans of an ordinary team, Sphere, 2007. ISBN 978-1-84744-013-6.

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This familiar rhyme has been given the brilliant Ahlbreg treatment to which no young child can fail to respond. It's a book which will be read over and over again . . . just perfect!' Child Education