It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Allan Ahlberg, the much-loved British author whose enduring legacy shaped generations of children’s literature. Allan died peacefully at the age of 87, leaving behind a body of work that has touched countless hearts and transformed the way stories are told and experienced by young readers.
Over a career that spanned nearly five decades, Allan Ahlberg wrote more than 150 books, captivating readers with his wit, warmth, and unique ability to see the world through a child’s eyes. His stories were not merely tales—they were miniature worlds, rich with humor, surprise, and gentle wisdom, where everyday moments sparkled with magic.
Allan’s most celebrated work was created in partnership with his late wife, Janet Ahlberg, the iconic illustrator with whom he formed one of the most cherished creative partnerships in literary history. Together, they produced unforgettable classics such as:
- Each Peach Pear Plum – a perfect blend of rhythm and rhyme, weaving familiar fairy tale characters into a beautifully illustrated game of “I spy.”
- Peepo! – a tender, rhythmic look at a baby’s world through peep-holes, revealing the quiet beauty of everyday family life.
- Funnybones – the hilarious adventures of skeletons in the dark of night, still a favorite for children learning to laugh at the mysterious and unknown.
- Starting School – a gentle, inclusive guide that has helped generations of children approach their first day of school with confidence and curiosity.
- The Jolly Postman – a genre-defining triumph of interactive storytelling, filled with real pull-out letters, games, and surprises, showing Allan’s unparalleled talent for innovation.
Allan was never one to be limited by genre or audience. Beyond picture books, he wrote clever, compassionate, and often deeply funny stories for older children—books that offered both entertainment and reflection, always with humanity at their core. His ability to traverse age groups and themes with such grace and intelligence made him a rare figure in the literary world.
Throughout his long and luminous career, Allan Ahlberg collaborated with many of the greatest illustrators of his generation, including:
- Emma Chichester Clark
- Raymond Briggs
- Andre Amstutz
- Bruce Ingman
- Colin McNaughton
- Fritz Wegner
- Charlotte Voake
- Faith Jaques
Later in life, he experienced the joy of collaborating with his daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, with whom he created charming pop-up reimaginings of fairy tales such as Goldilocks. This collaboration was not only a creative endeavor but a continuation of the deeply familial spirit that had always defined his work.
Francesca Dow, Managing Director of Penguin Random House Children’s, expressed the sentiment shared by so many in the literary community:
“Allan was one of the most extraordinary authors I have had the privilege and pleasure to work with. His brilliant books – so many of them created with his late wife, Janet – have been described as ‘mini masterpieces’. And they are; wonderful satisfying stories, the perfect marriage of text and illustration, full of surprise and humour, with something new to spot with every reading, and always with the child reader at their heart. Allan’s ideas (and success) came from observing children and bringing some magic to the everyday – the excitement of the postman’s delivery, the joy of peeping through holes at family life, or what if a friendly burglar steals a noisy baby (and then mends his ways!)? Allan’s stories are some of the very best – true classics, which will be loved by children and families for years to come. Dear Allan, we will all miss you enormously.”
Allan Ahlberg leaves behind not only a legacy of beloved stories, but an ethos of storytelling that celebrates the ordinary with wonder, champions the imagination of children, and respects them as the deeply thoughtful readers they are. He gave joy not only to young readers but also to parents, teachers, and anyone lucky enough to read aloud one of his masterworks.
As we say goodbye to this remarkable writer, we take comfort in knowing his stories will live on—whispered at bedtime, laughed over in classrooms, and cherished for generations still to come.
Thank you, Allan, for all the joy. Rest peacefully.
Leave a Reply