Most Popular Books by Allan Ahlberg

You may think you know the riddle of the boy, the wolf, the sheep and the lettuce, but this book will prove you wrong. Read Allan Ahlberg''s SHOCKING EXPOSE of the truth behind a story we think we all know, including: Wolf horror! Canoe shock! Fibbing! Exclusive Lettuce revelations! Moments of brilliant and unforgettable beauty! You''ll never think of boys, wolves, sheep, lettuces OR riddles in the same way again.

"Read this book aloud so that youngsters can chime in. . . . Children will delight in this energetic, amusing, and very approachable tale." —School Library Journal Do you know what Jack and Jill were arguing about before they went up the hill? And what happened before that? Every story, every person, and every thing started somewhere. Author Allan Ahlberg and illustrator Bruce Ingman, the whimsical team behind The Runaway Dinner and The Pencil, reverse direction in this clever pastiche of fairy tales in which everyone lives happily ever . . . before.

''The teacher tapped his forehead. At last! the children cried! The answer, Sir''s, in your head... What a perfect place to hide'' Jump into Allan Ahlberg''s playful world of poetry, perfect for primary school children. Shed a tear for The Boy Without A Name, discover the secrets to teachers (they NEVER leave the school!?) and try to solve the riddles of The Answer. Packed with rhythmic poetry and playful songs, this timeless collection has delighted children for generations. ''Every desk should hide a copy; every staff room own one'' - The Observer Discover more school stories from Alan Ahlberg: Starting School Please Mrs Butler

A story about a famous doctor, a criminal trial, a kidnapping, a gang of desparate men, a little girl who wanted a brother and an enormous baby.

Nothing is what it seems--and anything can happen--when the hilarious team of Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman sneak a peek under the table. What do you do when you''re having an ordinary day, only to discover there''s a big gray elephant (named Nathaniel) under the table? Why, you get him to help you wash the car! And the kangaroo (named Abigail) that appears under that same table can help bring in groceries. But when there are penguins in the fridge, the forks and knives are running around, and the salt and ketchup are acting up, there is only one thing to do: pack everyone in the camper and go on vacation! With a wink and a nod, Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman reunite for another wry, comical, zany adventure starring the family introduced in The Runaway Dinner and The Pencil.

Peepo! is the much-loved picture book classic by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Peepo! is a modern classic that continues to delight generations of babies and toddlers and their parents A perfect gift for new babies and parents, no home should be without a copy! Here''s a little baby One, two three Standing in his cot What does he see? Praise for Peepo! ''The best book ever published for babies'' - Books for Your Children ''Surely no one - baby, child or adult - could fail to enjoy Peepo!'' - Sunday Telegraph ''A book to last a lifetime . . . this is a perfect book for sharing'' - Nursery World Allan Ahlberg has published over 100 children''s books and with his late wife Janet, created many award-winning children''s picture books. The Baby''s Catalogue was inspired by their daughter, Jessica. The Ahlbergs'' books are nursery bookshelf standards and have been the recipient of worldwide acclaim and awards, including the Kate Greenaway Medal.

Who''s that creeping down the street? Who''s that climbing up the wall? Who''s that coming through the window? Who''s that? ... It''s Burglar Bill! Burglar Bill lives all by himself in a tall house full of stolen property. Every night (after eating his stolen fish and chips) he goes out to work... stealing things. From hats to baked beans, Burglar Bill will take anything! But one day, Burglar Bill steals something very unexpected indeed. And, it shows him that stealing has a cost! Discover the timeless tale that has delighted young readers for generations. The perfect bedtime story, Burglar Bill is packed with bright illustrations and easy-to-read text. Discover more Ahlberg classic children''s books: The Jolly Postman Cops and Robbers Funnybones Each Peach Pear Plum Peepo!

For anyone who can''t see a ball without wanting to kick it, head it, shoot it, or boot it! ''Not eating an ice-cream Or riding a bike No - kicking a ball Is what I like.'' ''What I like best, yes, most of all in my whole life is . . . kicking a ball. A wonderful rhyming story, with narration by Allan Ahlberg himself, Kicking A Ball will not disappoint. First written as a poem, the little boy in the story has been brought to life perfectly by artist Sebastien Braun. Every parent will be able to immediately relate to the simple joy felt by a boy simply kicking a ball, and how there is nothing else quite like it. The incomparable Allan Ahlberg takes us on a journey from childhood to fatherhood full of humour, warmth, friendship . . . and football.

Reading Together is a learn-to-read series of picture books for young children and parents to enjoy together. There are four levels, each consisting of six books, offering a variety of reading experiences: stories, poems, rhymes and songs, traditional tales and information books.

A superb collection of football poems covering many aspects of the game. Written in a variety of verse forms - sonnets, rhyming couplets and more. As good as previous collections!

Once, many years ago, there was a baby, in his pram, with his sisters and their sandwiches and lemonade and toys . . . A lyrical and epic story about a baby and a trio of toys, and their adventure on the high seas. Beautifully told by master storyteller Allan Ahlberg and stunningly illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark in their first standalone picture-book collaboration.

Nineteen playful poems by the creators of The Runaway Dinner and The Pencil feature a unique cast of babies, sausages and nursery rhyme characters who reflect the experience of being new to the world.

He felt a curious tingling in his hands and feet. He felt his nose becoming cold and wet, his ears becoming flappy. The thought in his mind was: ''I''m turning into a dog!'' Eric is a perfectly ordinary boy. Perfectly ordinary that is, until the night when, in fifteen seconds flat, he turns into a dog! Eric and his best friend are determined to sniff out the truth - what makes an ordinary boy go ''woof''?

Allan Ahlberg''s five poetry books, written over a period of twenty-five years – Please Mrs Butler, Heard it in the Playground, Friendly Matches, The Mighty Slide and The Mysteries of Zigomar – have delighted generations of children and received many accolades and prizes. Allan has sifted through them and chosen a collection to delight and entrance a new generation of readers and their parents. Here are all the trials and tribulations of childhood, embracing school, quarrels, friendships, football and storytelling from a much-loved author and poet. Charlotte Voake''s black-and-white illustrations enchance the charm of this handsome and definitive collection.

One night Dinah Price goes upstairs and finds three bears in her bed and they refuse to budge until she''s told them a bedtime story.

Once upon a time there was a bear, and a penguin, and the perfectest ever princess, a wolf, a troll, a dragon, and a... sausage. A sausage? Yes, a sausage! And they want to tell you their stories!

The story of a baby who is sad and sets off one day in search of a mummy. He meets a cat, a teddy, a clockwork hen and an uncle who all refuse to be his mummy but offer to help him in his search. They find a lady who has no baby and she agrees to bethe baby''s mummy. They all have tea together and uncle reads a story about a baby who had no daddy and this leads to another search until finally a daddy is found too!

One morning Mr Gaskitt puts on all his clothes, Mrs Gaskitt picks up a robber in her taxi, Gus and Gloria have trouble with a teacher and Horace the cat goes to a friend''s house. But why does Mr Gaskitt put on all his clothes?

Mrs Wobble LOVES her job as a waitress but, oh dear, there''s one big problem - she wobbles!! And when she wibbles and wobbles and drops jelly everywhere, it''s time for a new job! Luckily, Mr Wobble, and all the Wobble children have a cunning plan . . .

Simple text and illustrations demonstrate in brief vignettes such concepts as cause and effect, adding, parts of a whole, opposites, and the meaning of words.

In this book with your little eye, take a look and play I spy - so starts the classic story from best-selling author/illustrator team, Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Each Peach Pear Plum introduces favourite fairy tale characters, such as Tom Thumb and The Three Bears and, with a poem on each page hinting as to what is hiding in the picture, children are encouraged to participate and follow the story themselves. Now available in digital format, this well-known favourite truly is a modern classic.

The creators of "Runaway Dinner" and "Previously" team up to imagine the comical world that comes to life when a lonely pencil starts to draw. Illustrations.

The Burrell family could never have foreseen the consequences of adopting the tiny stray kitten that appeared when David was twelve. But the sweet cat is not as harmless as it seems, and soon has them completely under its sinister spell. The only one unaffected, David concocts a plan to rescue his family - but will it work?

Illustrated by Andre Amstutz (Kestrel Hardback- 0 7226.5661 0 $6.95)

The bestselling and much-loved children''s poetry classic, Please Mrs Butler by Allan Ahlberg is celebrating its 30th anniversary! With a fresh new look for a brand new generation of school children to take to its heart, every teacher, parent and child should have a copy. Nobody leave the room. Everyone listen to me. We had ten pairs of scissors At half-past two, And now there''s only three. This witty collection of school poems by Allan Ahlberg, re-jacketed for its 30th anniversary and for a whole new generation of school children to fall in love with, is full of typical classroom events that will be recognized and enjoyed by everyone. From never-ending projects, reading tests, quarrelling, making-up, excuses and ''Please, Sir, it isn''t fair.'' Fritz Wegner''s line drawings beautifully complement the hilarious and poignant verses. Please Mrs Butler was voted the most important twentieth-century children''s poetry book in a Books for Keeps poll. Praise for Please Mrs Butler: ''Hilarious and poignant school verses about primary school life. A real winner'' - Guardian ''Clever, funny and nostalgic, the collection is a delight'' - Sunday Times PLEASE MRS BUTLER - The most important 20th-century children''s poetry book'' - Books for Keeps poll Praise for Allan Ahlberg: ''By far our best writer for the young,'' - Telegraph

Mr. and Mrs. Brick, whose families have always been builders, have a baby who would rather knock things down.

‘This is the story Of Alison Hubble, Who went to bed single, And woke up double.’ Here, in verse, are the hilariously original stories of a mighty slide, a man who fought crocodiles, a girl who doubled, a couple of baby skinners and a thing that lived under a school. A wonderful collection from Allan Ahlberg, author of ‘Please Mrs Butler, Woof!’ and ‘Happy Families’, illustrated throughout with delightful drawings by Charlotte Voake.

From the popular The Baby''s Catalogue, these four board books feature activities and surroundings in a baby''s world. With babies'' and toddlers'' keen interest in other babies and object identification, The Baby''s Catalogue board books are the perfect beginning books for the very youngest readers. In Baby Sleeps, baby''s daily activities are presented: baby wakes, drinks, thinks, bounces, and finally falls asleep. Full color.

Unhappy with the stories that are shaping their lives, the members of the Brown family go to see the writer responsible.

Antonio, a small boy who has been kidnapped by brigands, passes the dark and stormy night in thier cave weaving incredible stories for their own exploits - and solves his own problem of how to escape.

Each Peach Pear Plum - the classic picture book by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Each Peach Pear Plum is a timeless picture book classic from the bestselling illustrator/author team Janet and Allan Ahlberg, creators of Peepo!. Each beautifully illustrated page encourages young children to interact with the picture to find the next fairy tale and nursery rhyme character. This board book edition is perfect for little hands. In this book With your little eye, Take a look, And play ''I spy'' Praise for Each Peach Pear Plum: ''Deceptively simple. Each Peach Pear Plum is a work of genius'' Elaine Moss ''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 ''A charming, pictorial fantasia...a warm, sunny, delectable picture book'' Brian Alderson, The Times Allan Ahlberg has published over 100 children''s books and with his late wife Janet, created many award-winning children''s picture books. The Baby''s Catalogue was inspired by their daughter, Jessica. The Ahlbergs'' books are nursery bookshelf standards and have been the recipient of worldwide acclaim and awards, including the Kate Greenaway Medal. Look out for these other classics by Allan Ahlberg: Burglar Bill; Cops and Robbers; The Baby''s Catalogue; The One and Only Two Heads; Son of a Gun; The Little Worm Book; Two Wheels Two Heads; Funny Bones; A Pair of Sinners; Happy Families; Peepo!; The Ha Ha Bonk Book; Help Your Child to Read; Ten in a Bed; Please mrs Butler; Daisy Chains; Yum Yum; Playmates; Foldaways; Woof; The Cinderella Show; The Jolly Postman; The Jolly Christmas Postman; The Jolly Pocket Postman; The Clothes Horse and Other Stories; The Mighty Slide; Starting School; Heard it in the Playground; The Bear Nobody Wanted; It was a Dark and Stormy Night; The Giant Baby; Baby Sleeps; Blue Buggy; Doll and Teddy; See the Rabbit; Please Mrs Butler; The Better Brown Stories; The Boyhood of Burglar Bill

Bertie Bun was born to be a baker. His mum is a baker. His dad is a baker. Even his grandparents were bakers. But Bertie has a big problem - he''s bored of bread! He wants to be a butcher''s boy, or a bus-driver''s boy or even a balloonist''s boy - and his wishes are going to land him in lots of trouble ... Based on the classic ''Happy Families'' card game, this highly entertaining series is ideal for reading and sharing at home or at school. It is guided by the Education Adviser, Brian Thompson, and written by the award-winning author, Allan Ahlberg. ''The best thing to happen to beginner readers since Dr Seuss'' Children''s Rights Workshop.

Frances Foggarty, now in her fifties, remembers her childhood.. When she was nine her ten-year-old brother, Tom, was hit by a milk-float and killed. He returns after the funeral and Frances''s story is of her new relationship with Tom, the ghost and ''guardian angel''. Frances wears a caliper as a result of polio and she and her young brother live with a rather tyrannical aunt. In this touching tale of loss, hardship and endurance Frances comes to terms with Tom''s death and moves on in her life.

Daisy Dirt''s dad is a dustman on the dole, but her mum has remarried a Duke and is a filthy rich Duchess. Poor Daisy doesn''t know whether she''s coming or going, whether she''s rich or poor - until everything changes . . . Based on the classic ''Happy Families'' card game, this highly entertaining series is ideal for reading and sharing at home or at school. It is guided by the Education Adviser, Brian Thompson, and written by the award-winning author, Allan Ahlberg. ''The best thing to happen to beginner readers since Dr Seuss'' Children''s Rights Workshop.

Fifteen years ago, long before anyone else had thought of tucking actual letters and notes inside a book, Little, Brown published The Jolly Postman by Allan and Janet Ahlberg. This wonderful book gave children a chance to read letters sent from one fairy tale or Mother Goose character to another. Among the funny notes was one from Jack, who lolled on a sun-drenched island, thanking the Giant for the gold that let him afford such a nifty vacation. All this amusing correspondence was deftly illustrated and the book attracted hordes of eager readers. The Jolly Postman and its holiday sequel, The Jolly Christmas Postman, established themselves as classics and have gone on to sell two million copies. Now we are happy to republish the books in larger, more inviting formats than the original but with no increase in price These new formats are a reason to celebrate, for they will attract new generations to these very inventive, very amusing books and should find a prominent place on the shelves of libraries and bookstores this fall.