Author of the Month: Janet & Allan Ahlberg
Selected by the Bookshop
Our Authors of the Month for November are Janet and Allan Ahlberg. The books they made together between 1977 and 1994 surely represent one of the most productive collaborations of the 20th century – from the irresistible Burglar Bill (‘that’s a nice tin of beans, I’ll have that’) to It Was a Dark and Stormy Night, with its gorgeously realised brigands, via the intricately-plotted heist drama of Cops and Robbers, whose heroic Officer Pugh perhaps gave Colin Dexter a suggestion for Inspector Morse: ‘he can run like a hare, and fight like a bear, and he’s good at crosswords, too’.
If (somehow) you have not encountered the Ahlbergs before, we recommend starting with Bye Bye Baby, Janet’s personal favourite among the books she illustrated; or, for a more seasonal choice, The Jolly Christmas Postman.
From the publisher:
Burglar Bill is an entertaining picture book by the iconic British husband and wife picture book team Janet and Allan Ahlberg, creators of Peepo!Who's that creeping down the street? Who's that climbing up the wall? Who's that coming through…
From the publisher:
A small boy who has been kidnapped by brigands, passes a dark and stormy night in their cave weaving for them incredible stories of their own exploits. Through the stories he solves his own problem and manages to escape.
From the publisher:
This is a sad story – but it has a very happy ending.Once, there was a baby with no mummy – but he wanted a mummy very much. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, he set off to find one.Along the way he met lots of new…
From the publisher:
This is a new Puffin edition of Janet & Allan Ahlberg's best-selling Cops and Robbers classic picture book, with a brand new cover!The robbers of London town plan a desperate crime one Christmas Eve - to steal all the toys…
From the publisher:
Join the Jolly Postman as he delivers letters in fairy-tale land in this fun, interactive story book!The Jolly Postman is off on another adventure as he delivers letters around fairy-tale land! Children will love opening the envelopes to…
From the publisher:
A Christmas bestseller for over 20 years! Janet and Allan Ahlberg at their very best.Discover the magical Christmas story that has delighted children for generations!The Jolly Postman has a busy day ahead. It's Christmas Eve in Fairy-Tale…
Recommended by Claire
‘I owe all of my wit and comedic skills to this book, given to me at a very impressionable age, and I will not stop recommending it until we have a nation of mini Tommy Coopers. This is an absolute hoot and full of all the classics.’
From the publisher:
An upsized edition of the classic and beloved Funnybones by children's book superstars Janet and Allan Ahlberg"This is how the story begins... On a dark dark hill there was a dark dark town. In…
From the publisher:
A brand new beautifully cased board book edition of the iconic Each Peach Pear Plum from the amazing minds of Janet and Allan Ahlberg.A beautiful brand new cased board book version of this classic picture book by the iconic Janet…
From the publisher:
Mums and Dads, breakfasts and bedtimes, pets and toys and prams and swings - and lots and lots of other fascinating things!This charmingly illustrated and funny book presents a vast array of baby paraphernalia and has captivated generations…
From the publisher:
Peepo! is the much-loved picture book by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.A timeless classic that continues to delight generations of babies and toddlers and their parents, Peepo! follows a baby through the day in a style full of wit,…
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