New Releases by Allan Ahlberg

"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.

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.

The Bucket by Allan Ahlberg - the enthralling childhood story one of Britain''s best-loved children''s authors ''My mother, who was not my mother, I see her now, her raw red cleaner''s hands twisting away at her apron as she struggled to speak. Adoption was a shameful business then in many people''s eyes, the babies being mostly illegitimate. Better not speak of it.'' Allan Ahlberg was adopted as a baby. In 1938 he was picked up in London by his new mother and taken back to Oldbury in the Black Country. Now one of the most successful children''s book writers in the world, in The Bucket he describes an oddly enchanted childhood lived out in an industrial town during the 1940s, in conditions which today we might describe as ''deprived''. He writes of a father in overalls smelling of wood shavings and oil, of a tough and fiercely protective mother who cries when he discovers that he is adopted, of life assurance policies (''£6 if the child dies under age 3'') and fearsome bacon slicers, of half-remembered trips to his mother''s sister''s grave and to the bluebell woods. And of his first days at school: ''Allan could do much better. He is most inattentive and dreamy at times'' (school report, December 1946). Using a mix of prose and poetry, supported by new drawings by his daughter Jessica and old photographs, The Bucket retrieves a childhood which lovers of Ahlberg''s classic picturebooks The Baby''s Catalogue, Burglar Bill and Peepo! might feel they have glimpsed before but which are now exquisitely brought to life. This beautiful, exquisitely designed book, which will also appeal to fans of Gervase Phinn, Alan Bennett, Roald Dahl and Nigel Slater''s Toast, will be loved by generations of Ahlberg fans. ''Allan Ahlberg has a string of children''s classics to his name'' Nicolette Jones, Guardian Born in Croydon but brought up by his adopted parents in the Black Country town of Oldbury, Allan Ahlberg held jobs as a gravedigger, postman and plumber''s mate before becoming a teacher. He taught for ten years before collaborating with his wife Janet on a series of much-loved, now classic children''s picture books including Peepo!, Burglar Bill, Cops and Robbers, Each Peach Pear Plum, Woof!, Heard it in the Playground, Please Mrs Butler, The Boyhood of Burglar Bill, The Pencil, Friendly Matches, The Improbable Cat, Goldilocks, My Brother''s Ghost, The Mighty Slide, Collected Poems, The Boy, the Wolf, the Sheep and the Lettuce and The Ha Ha Bonk Book.

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!

Dinosaur Dreams is one of the titles in Allan Ahlberg''s iconic children''s picture book series about skeletons, Funnybones. Despite being set in a dark dark house, this brightly coloured book is perfect for early readers! The big skeleton and the little skeleton are being chased by dinosaurs . . . in their dreams! Luckily dogs can dream too - and save the day. ''There can be few families in the British Isles who do not possess at least one well-thumbed Ahlberg'' - Independent on Sunday 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!, Each Peach Pear Plum and the Kate Greenaway Medal winning The Jolly Postman. Other titles in the Funnybones series include Funnybones, Mystery Tour, The Ghost Train, The Pet Shop, Bumps in the Night, The Black Cat, Skeleton Crew, Give the Dog a Bone and A Brilliant Bone Rattling Collection, all of which are available from Puffin.

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.

The first of Allan Ahlberg''s mini-masterpieces for early readers, with striking illustrations by Katharine McEwen. Winner of the Red House Children''s Book Award, this book is the first in a series of brilliantly funny early readers by Allan Ahlberg. 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, Horace the cat goes to a friend''s house to watch TV and the car radio gets things wrong. What follows is an action-packed, massively swift-paced and farcical romp as different plots interweave and end in a thrilling car chase with Mr Gaskitt saving the day! With lively illustrations by Katharine McEwen."A delight from beginning to end. The pictures are outstanding and mark the advent of a really inspired illustrator." The Financial Times"Ahlberg''s direct and funny storytelling style makes reading as near-effortless as possible." Guardian "Huge fun and ideal for early readers." Independent on Sunday

The second of Allan Ahlberg''s mini-masterpieces for early readers. One lucky morning ... Mrs Gaskitt opens the post and finds she''s won a prize! Next she kisses the postman! Never mind, though - the postman is Mr Gaskitt doing his very latest job. Meanwhile, Gus and Gloria get a new teacher, Mrs Plum, with silvery hair, a big smile and a huge suitcase, who is ever so helpful when things start to go missing in the classroom. And then Mrs Gaskitt finds she''s won another prize! What happens next? "A delight from beginning to end. The pictures are outstanding and mark the advent of a really inspired illustrator." The Financial Times "Ahlberg''s direct and funny storytelling style makes reading as near-effortless as possible." Guardian "Huge fun and ideal for early readers." Independent on Sunday

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.

A new edition of this beloved and bestselling Hallowe''en classic. Description 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 . . . Janet and Allan''s frightfully funny Hallowe''en classic tells the story of three skeletons - a big skeleton, a little skeleton and a dog skeleton - who venture out of their cellar one night to find someone to scare, only to find that everyone is in bed. Who will they scare now?!

In a dark dark street There is a dark dark house . . . In this FUNNYBONES story, the big skeleton and the little skeleton are fed up with the dog skeleton and decide to swap him at the pet shop. They start off with a goldfish but soon get tired of him and swap him for a parrot - but soon they get bored of him too . . . Eventually the pet shop owner gives them a box to take home with a surprise pet inside. What do you think it will be?

In a dark dark street There is a dark dark house . . . In this FUNNYBONES story, the skeletons go sledging - WHEE! - and crashing - BANG! They can''t see their bones in the white snow but they can see a black cat . . . until she slips into their dark, dark cellar . . .

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.

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 . . .

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.

Mrs Vole the Vet has one son, two daughters, three cats, four dogs and no husband. Really, she has everything she needs and she works very hard - no job is too big, too small or too high - but her children think that what she really needs is a boyfriend!

It''s Christmas Eve and the JOLLY POSTMAN is delivering greetings to various fairy-tale characters - there''s a card for Baby Bear, a game appropriately called ''Beware'' for Red Riding Hood from Mr Wolf, a get-well jigsaw for hospitalised Humpty Dumpty and three more surprise envelopes containing letters, cards, etc. Everyone''s favourite postman keeps on peddling his bicycle up hill and down dale . . . and into everybody''s hearts.

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.

Everybody of the Jump family is a jockey.

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

"Clever and suspenseful, a surefire delight." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) Once a pencil draws a little boy, there’s no telling what will come next — a dog, a cat, a chase (of course), and a paintbrush to color in an ever-expanding group of family and friends. But it’s not long before the complaints begin — "This hat looks silly!" "My ears are too big!" — until the poor pencil has no choice but to draw . . . an eraser. Oh, no! In the hands of Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman, creators of The Runaway Dinner and Previously, can anything but havoc and hilarity ensue?

Everything in Burglar Bill''s life is stolen, from the toast, marmalade and coffee he has for breakfast to the bed he sleeps in. One night when he is out burgling, he comes across a box with holes in the lid on a doorstep. He picks it up of course and when he gets home he discovers, to his horror, that he has stolen a baby. He and the baby muddle along together until one night he is disturbed by a burglar - Burglar Betty. She is the mother of Burglar Bill''s baby. Bill and Betty decide to reform and live honest lives; they return all the stolen goods, get married and live happily ever after!

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.

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.

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.

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!

It all begins when David’s family takes in a stray kitten. At least that’s what the creature appears to be. But David and his faithful dog, Billy, immediately sense something terribly amiss. Then indeed “something crazy—impossible—horrific” happens. . . .

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.

Coronation Year, 1953, and in Oldbury a Coronation football competition is organized. The boys from the bottom pitch get a team up, but there''s no chance they''ll win, of course. They''re just the odds and sods – one of them is even a girl – but they''re all football crazy and ready and eager to beat off the opposition. A funny and moving story of football and friendship in a world when the streets were full of kids and empty of cars. Not only for boys – and girls – of 9+, there''s a real pull of nostalgia for adults as well. And, of course, for all lovers of football, whether on the pitch or in the park.