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Penguin books that inspired young readers

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The Penguin books that inspired generations of young readers

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A selection of classic children's picture books on a bright yellow background

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Children's reading lists

The best classic children’s picture books

Where to start with Janet and Allan Ahlberg’s books

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‘It was a duo that was made in heaven’: Why we love Janet and Allan Ahlberg

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Peepo! (Board Book)

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, charm and ingenuity. 
 
Look through the holes to spot details from the wonderful illustrations. 
 
A perfect gift for new babies and parents, no home should be without a copy! 
 
Here's a little baby 
One, two three 
Stands 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

Janet and Allan Ahlberg were one of Britain's most successful artist/author teams. From 1975 until shortly before Janet's death in 1994, they created many acclaimed picture books. Allan taught for some years before becoming a full-time writer and Janet studied Graphic Design and became an illustrator. EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY CHRISTMAS POSTMAN were both Greenaway Medal winners. PEEPO! won the Best Books For Babies Award in 1985. Allan Ahlberg lives in Leicestershire.

PEEPO! has become a classic for babies and toddlers. It follows a baby through the day in a style full of wit, charm and ingenuity. A series of holes peeping through to the next page leads the child on to the next stage in the day, giving a hint of what is to come. An original book that has long delighted young children - and their parents!

Funnybones: The Collection

Penguin presents Funny Bones: The Collection by Allan Ahlberg, read by Stephen Mangan. 
 
An audio collection of the perennially popular Funny Bones books by Allan Ahlberg 
 
Featuring: Funnybones, The Pet Shop, The Black Cat, Bumps in the Night, Give the Dog a Bone, Dinosaur Dreams, Skeleton Crew and Mystery Tour.

Janet Ahlberg (Author) 
Janet Ahlberg, along with Allan Ahlberg, created some of the world's most popular picture books, including EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY CHRISTMAS POSTMAN, both winners of Greenaway Medals, and THE BABY'S CATALOGUE, inspired by their daughter Jessica. Janet died in 1994. 
 
Allan Ahlberg (Author) 
Allan Ahlberg, a former teacher, postman, plumber's mate and grave digger, is in the super-league of children's writers. He has published over 100 children's books and, with his late wife Janet, created such award winning picture books as EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY POSTMAN - both winners of the Kate Greenaway Medal. He has also written prize-winning poetry and fiction and lives in Sussex.

Penguin presents Funny Bones: The Collection by Allan Ahlberg, read by Stephen Mangan. 
 
An audio collection of the perennially popular Funny Bones books by Allan Ahlberg

Funnybones

(Book & CD) The laugh-out-loud Halloween classic

"This is how the story begins... On a dark dark hill there was a dark dark town. In the dark dark town there was a dark dark street." 
 
Discover the classic children's story that has delighted generation after generation. A must-read for Halloween, discover the hilarious Funnybones stories. Packed with playful illustrations and easy-to-read text, discover this timeless bedtime story. 
 
"Children will love poring over the contrasting illustrations while joining in with the repetition. A great book for sharing together" - Book Trust 
 
Can't get enough of the Funnybones skeletons? Discover: 
Funnybones: The Black Cat 
The Funnybones Collection 
Funnybones: Dinosaur Dream

This is the first book in the FUNNYBONES series and introduces the skeletons - a big skeleton, a little skeleton and a dog skeleton. They live in a dark dark cellar of a dark dark house on a dark dark hill and so the word repetition continues through this lighthearted story for early readers. The skeletons venture out of their cellar one night to find someone to scare, but everyone is in bed so they amuse themselves by scaring each other and playing with the skeleton animals that live in the zoo.

Baby's Big Box of Little Books

Mums and Dads, breakfasts and bedtimes, pets and toys and prams and swings - and lots and lots of other fascinating things! The Baby's Big Box of Little Books includes everything that is familiar to a young child. 
 
From Janet and Allan Ahlberg, the creators of Burglar Bill and The Jolly Postman and adapted from their classic picture book, The Baby's Catalogue, this little collection is perfect for babies at any and all times of their busy day. 
 
Janet Ahlberg's iconic illustrations present a vast array of baby paraphernalia that should be instantly recognizable and absorbing to a young child. The liberal sprinkling of wit and charm will appeal to every adult too! 
 
Books in the box: Mornings, Night-times, Toys, Baby, Games, Family, Inside, Outside and Pets.

Allan Ahlberg (Author) Allan Ahlberg, a former teacher, postman, plumber's mate and grave digger, is in the super-league of children's writers. He has published over 100 children's books and, with his late wife Janet, created such award winning picture books as EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY POSTMAN - both winners of the Kate Greenaway Medal. He has also written prize-winning poetry and fiction and lives in Sussex. Janet Ahlberg (Author) Janet Ahlberg, along with Allan Ahlberg, created some of the world's most popular picture books, including EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY CHRISTMAS POSTMAN, both winners of Greenaway Medals, and THE BABY'S CATALOGUE, inspired by their daughter Jessica. Janet died in 1994.

Mums and Dads, breakfasts and bedtimes, pets and toys and prams and swings - and lots and lots of other fascinating things! 
 
Adapted from Janet and Allan Ahlberg's classic picture book, The Baby's Catalogue, this little collection is perfect for babies at any and all times of their busy day. 
 
Janet Ahlberg's iconic illustrations present a vast array of baby paraphernalia that should be instantly recognizable and absorbing to a young child. The liberal sprinkling of wit and charm will appeal to every adult sharing the little books with a young child. 
 
Books in the box: Mornings, Night-times, Toys, Baby, Games, Family, Inside, Outside, Pets.

The Jolly Christmas Postman

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 Land and there's plenty of post for him to deliver! 
 
There's a card for Baby Bear, a get-well jigsaw for Humpty Dumpty and even something for Red Riding Hood. But, can he deliver it all before Christmas? 
 
Little hands will love opening the envelopes to read the post in this magical story, full of festive, fairy tale surprises! 
 
Praise for The Jolly Christmas Postman: 
 
Incorporating "The Jolly Christmas Postman" into our Christmas Book advent was a stroke of holiday magic for my family. This charming book, filled with interactive elements and familiar characters, brought joy and wonder to our festive season - 5 star reader review 
 
Gorgeous book with envelopes inside containing little extras. Daughter still loves this book. Very charming. All kids should have a copy - 5 star reader review 
 
Looking for more Ahlberg stories? 
Burglar Bill 
Starting School 
Peepo 
Funnybones

Allan Ahlberg, a former teacher, postman, plumber's mate and grave digger, is in the super-league of children's writers. He has published over 100 children's books and, with his late wife Janet, created such award winning picture books as EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY POSTMAN - both winners of the Kate Greenaway Medal. His latest book - Kicking a Ball, illustrated by Sebastien Braun was published in May. He has also written prize-winning poetry and longer fiction. He lives in Bath, and, to avoid distractions, writes from a shed in his garden!

The Baby's Catalogue

Janet and Allan Ahlberg's classic picture book, The Baby's Catalogue 
 
The bestselling picture book The Baby's Catalogue by the iconic British husband and wife picture book team Janet and Allan Ahlberg, creators of Peepo!, is filled with easily recognizable objects - perfect for your baby or toddler! 
 
Mums and Dads, breakfasts and bedtimes, pets and toys and prams and swings - and lots and lots of other fascinating things! 
 
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; Each Peach Pear Plum; 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

Allan Ahlberg, former teacher, postman, plumber's mate and gravedigger, is in the super-league of children's writers. He has published over a hundred children's books and is the author of the prize-winning Each Peach Pear Plum and The Jolly Postman. He has also written prize-winning fiction and poems for older readers. Allan lives in Bath.

Mums and Dads, breakfasts and bedtimes, pets and toys and prams and swings - and lots and lots of other fascinating things! 
 
This charmingly illustrated, funny book presents a vast array of baby paraphernalia that should be instantly recognizable and absorbing to a young child. 
 
'A book which every child under three should have' Parents.

The timeless picture book for new school starters

Starting School

Are you starting school? How exciting! 
 
Following a number of children's first experiences, this picture book takes children right from their very first day to the end of the school year. This reassuring read will support even the most nervous school-starter, exploring each emotion, from fear to excitement, with care. 
 
Ideal for starting conversations about any pre-school nerves, this timeless classic is packed with playful illustrations and easy to understand explanations. 
 
Starting School, one more Janet and Allan Ahlberg book that gets everything right - The Guardian

Starting School, one more Janet and Allan Ahlberg book that gets everything right

The Ahlbergs belong, with A.A. Milne and Lewis Carroll, to the greatest tradition of children's books

Allan Ahlberg, a former teacher, postman, plumber's mate and grave digger, is in the super-league of children's writers. He has published over 100 children's books and, with his late wife Janet, created such award winning picture books as EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY POSTMAN - both winners of the Kate Greenaway Medal. He has also written prize-winning poetry and fiction and lives in Bath.

From first day nerves to finding your peg, this reassuring read is full of humour and fun for children and parents alike. A classic picture book which offers advice and enjoyment for the whole family before school starts.

Peepo!

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, charm and ingenuity. 
 
Look through the holes to spot details from the wonderful illustrations. 
 
A perfect gift for new babies and parents, no home should be without a copy! 
 
Here's a little baby 
One, two three 
Stands 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

Each Peach Pear Plum

Mini paperback edition

An adorable mini paperback edition of this bestselling children's classic

A mini paperback version of the timeless 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. 
 
In this book 
With your little eye, 
Take a look, 
And play 'I spy' 
 
A pocket-sized edition perfect for tiny hands 
 
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 such award-winning children's picture books, including Peepo!, and the Kate Greenaway Medal winning The Jolly Postman.

Janet and Allan Ahlberg created some of the world's most popular picture books, including EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY CHRISTMAS POSTMAN, both winners of Greenaway Medals, and THE BABY'S CATALOGUE, inspired by their daughter Jessica. Janet died in 1994 and Allan, a former teacher, now lives in Bath.

'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. A poem on each spread gives the clue as to what is hiding in the picture opposite. Many well-known nursery characters are included so that young children can follow the rhymes and enjoy the story.

The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters

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 read a letter from Goldilocks, a postcard addressed to a giant up a beanstalk... and even a note for the Big Bad Wolf! 
 
Discover the magic of letters with this much-loved rhyming tale, which has delighted readers for generations. 
 
"Brilliantly designed with lots of little details to spot, this old favourite will be enjoyed time and time again." - Book Trust 
 
Look out for these other classics by Allan Ahlberg: 
Each Peach Pear Plum 
The Jolly Pocket Postman 
Daisy Chains

Janet and Allan Ahlberg created some of the world's most popular picture books, including EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY CHRISTMAS POSTMAN, both winners of the Greenaway Medal, and THE BABY'S CATALOGUE, inspired by their daughter Jessica. Janet died in 1994 and Allan, a former teacher, now lives in London.

Once upon a bicycle, so they say 
The Jolly Postman came one day . . . 
 
Join the Jolly Postman on his rounds as he delivers cards and letters to various fairy-tale characters. He has a letter of apology for the three bears from Goldilocks, a postcard from Jack for the giant, a solicitor's letter on behalf of Little Red Riding-Hood for the wolf who ate grandma, and more! This classic and innovate story includes six envelopes with pull-out letters and cards

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

Janet and Allan Ahlberg created many acclaimed picture books from 1975 to shortly before Janet's death in 1994. Allan taught for some years before becoming a full-time writer and Janet studied graphic design and became an illustrator. EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY CHRISTMAS POSTMAN both won Greenaway Medals and PEEPO! won the Best Books For Babies Award in 1985. Allan Ahlberg lives in Leicestershire.

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.

Jeremiah in the Dark Woods

Allan Ahlberg, a former teacher, postman, plumber's mate and grave digger, is in the super-league of children's writers. He has published over 100 children's books and, together with his late wife Janet, created such award winning picture books as EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and PEEPO! He has also written prize-winning poetry, and fiction for older readers. Allan lives in Bath.

Once upon a time there were three bears, seven dwarfs, five gorillas, a frog prince, some sleeping beauties, a wolf, a dinosaur, a mad hatter, a steamboat, four firemen on a fire engine, a considerable number of giant beanstalks &ndash; and a little boy named Jeremiah Obadiah Jackenory Jones. 
 
Jeremiah lives in the Dark Woods with his grandma, who is brave enough to fight off crocodiles with her bare hands and her handbag. But her legs aren&rsquo;t so good, so when her jam tarts are stolen she sends Jeremiah into the woods to find the culprit&hellip; 
 
 Another highly entertaining story from Janet and Allan Ahlberg, which will delight both children and parents

The interactive pocket-sized adventure

The Jolly Pocket Postman

Join the Jolly Postman on a mysterious morning round as he SHRINKS to the size of a postage stamp. 
 
Can he still deliver his letters? 
 
Packed with all of your favourite fairytale characters, The Jolly Pocket Postman books have delighted young readers for generations. With pull-out letters and a magnifying glass for little ones to peek through, each page is packed with fun, rhyming text and joyful illustrations. 
 
From the award-winning authors of Funnybones and Peepo, comes another adventure from the UK's favourite postman. 
 
Can't get enough of The Jolly Postman? Discover: 
The Jolly Christmas Postman 
The Jolly Postman and Other People's Letters

Allan Ahlberg (Author) 
Allan Ahlberg, a former teacher, postman, plumber's mate and grave digger, is in the super-league of children's writers. He has published over 100 children's books and, with his late wife Janet, created such award winning picture books as EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY POSTMAN - both winners of the Kate Greenaway Medal. He has also written prize-winning poetry and fiction and lives in Sussex. 
 
Janet Ahlberg (Illustrator) 
Janet Ahlberg, along with Allan Ahlberg, created some of the world's most popular picture books, including EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY CHRISTMAS POSTMAN, both winners of Greenaway Medals, and THE BABY'S CATALOGUE, inspired by their daughter Jessica. Janet died in 1994.

Once more the Jolly Postman rides - and flies - and shrinks! 
 
This brilliant book by Janet and Allan Ahlberg is the third adventure for the Jolly Postman, originally published in 1995 and now back in print! The Jolly Postman's morning is set off course when he suffers a bump to the head before he shrinks to the size of a postage stamp . . . and it just gets curiouser and curiouser! 
 
Featuring a whole host of familiar characters, pull-out letters and a magnifying glass.

The perfect gift for new parents! 
 
Mums and Dads, breakfasts and bedtimes, toys and swings - and lots and lots of other delightful things! 
 
This endearingly illustrated picture book shows life as a new parent, from piggybacks to pushchairs. Delighting generation after generation of toddlers, The Baby's Catalogue belongs in every nursery. 
 
Discover more timeless stories for babies and newborns from Alan Ahlberg: 
Peepo 
Baby's Big Box of Little Books

The Ahlbergs belong with A A Milne and Lewis Caroll, to the greatest tradition of children's books, having the kind of genius that can dominate an era.

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 of very young children

A Sad Story with a Happy Ending

Bye Bye Baby

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!

Bye Bye Baby is wonderful - I haven't enjoyed a picture book so much for years.

Janet and Allan Ahlberg are to children's books what Ginger and Fred were to dancing: Bye Bye, Baby is surely destined [...] to become a classic.

Allan Ahlberg (Author) 
 Allan Ahlberg, a former teacher, postman, plumber's mate and grave digger, is in the super-league of children's writers. He has published over 100 children's books and, with his late wife Janet, created such award winning picture books as EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY POSTMAN - both winners of the Kate Greenaway Medal. He has also written prize-winning poetry and fiction and lives in Sussex. 
 
Janet Ahlberg (Illustrator) 
 Janet Ahlberg, along with Allan Ahlberg, created some of the world's most popular picture books, including EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY CHRISTMAS POSTMAN, both winners of Greenaway Medals, and THE BABY'S CATALOGUE, inspired by their daughter Jessica. Janet died in 1994.

Janet Ahlberg

Jam-packed with brilliant jokes to tell your mum, your dad, your baby brother, your best friend or your worst enemy, your dog, your teacher - in fact anyone else you can think of! Jokes that will have everyone chuckling, such as: 
 
Q: What goes ha ha bonk? A: A man laughing his head off! Or 
 
Q: What did the policeman say to his tummy? A: You're under a vest.' And 
 
Q: What came after the Stone Age and the Bronze Age? A: The Sausage! 
 
These and more besides make a perfect joke book for all the family to enjoy!

Janet Ahlberg

Books by Janet Ahlberg

Series by Janet Ahlberg

Funnybones11 Books

The Jolly Postman2 Books

Articles featuring Janet Ahlberg

The Penguin books that inspired generations of young readers

Make your own Funnybones costume

The best classic children’s picture books

Where to start with Janet and Allan Ahlberg’s books

‘It was a duo that was made in heaven’: Why we love Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Download a Funnybones Activity Pack!

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