Allan Ahlberg, the beloved British children's author of more than 150 books including classics such as Each Peach Pear Plum and The Jolly Postman, has died at the age of 87. His publisher, Penguin Random House, announced his death on Friday, stating that he passed away on Tuesday. No cause of death was given.
Ahlberg's books introduced generations of young readers to the joys of reading through simple rhymes, sharp observations, and gentle humour. Many of his most famous works were co-created with his wife, illustrator Janet Ahlberg, who died in 1994. Their collaborative titles include Peepo! (1981), which offered a baby's-eye view of the world with interactive peep-holes, and The Jolly Postman (1986), which incorporated postcards and letters in envelopes for children to engage with as they followed a letter-carrier delivering mail to fairy tale characters.
Born in 1938 and raised by adoptive parents in a working-class home in Oldbury, central England, Ahlberg worked as a postman, plumber's mate, and grave digger before becoming a teacher. He met Janet at teacher training college, and their first book, Here Are the Brick Street Boys, was published in 1975. Their subsequent works, including Burglar Bill (1977) and Each Peach Pear Plum (1978), won critical acclaim, with the latter earning Janet the Kate Greenaway Medal for illustration. The Jolly Christmas Postman won the same prize in 1991.
After Janet's death, Ahlberg continued to write, collaborating with illustrators such as Raymond Briggs and his daughter, Jessica Ahlberg. He also wrote for adults, including a tribute to his wife titled Janet's Last Book and two autobiographies: The Boyhood of Burglar Bill and The Bucket.
Francesca Dow, head of children's literature at Penguin Random House, described Ahlberg's books as 'mini masterpieces'. 'He knew that making it perfect for children matters, and above all that the very best stories for children last forever,' she said. 'Allan's are some of the very best – true classics, which will be loved by children and families for years to come.'
Ahlberg is survived by his second wife, Vanessa Clarke, his daughter, and two stepdaughters.
