© Image by
Martin Salter
Share this page
These poems come from a special recording for the Poetry Archive:
To listen to the Archive's recordings, software called Adobe Flash Player (version 10) needs to be installed on your computer and you need to enable JavaScript in your browser settings.
Adobe Flash Player can be downloaded, free of charge, here.
-
Interview with Allan Ahlberg
School assemblies, football and folk songs are just some of the sources of inspiration for leading children's author, Allan Ahlberg. Find out how he puts his best-selling books together, and why a book can be like an onion!
View all interviews
-
Cops and Robbers, London, Heinemann/Penguin, 1978
Buy
-
Please Mrs Butler, Penguin Books, 2003
Buy
-
The Mighty Slide, Penguin, 1988
-
Heard it in the Playground, Penguin, 1989
Buy
-
The Mysteries of Zigomar, London, Walker, 1997
Buy
-
Friendly Matches, Penguin, 2001
Buy
-
Allen Ahlberg Reading from his poems, The Poetry Archive, 2005
Buy
-
Collected Poems, Puffin 2008
Buy
-
Everybody was a baby once, Walker Books 2010
Buy
Allan Ahlberg (b. 1938) is one of Britain's best-loved children's writers. The author of over a hundred books, Allan has been delighting children of all ages for more than thirty years. Classic characters like Burglar Bill and The Jolly Postman have become firm favourites with a generation of children who are now reading them to their own offspring. Allan's work - particularly in partnership with his first wife, Janet, - has been recognised by many of the top awards in children's books, including The Kate Greenaway Medal (twice), The Children's Book Award (twice) and The Signal Poetry Award. Innovative, funny and moving, his work encompasses storybooks, picture books, easy readers, joke books and novels as well as poems.
Allan used to work as a teacher and perhaps this is one of the reasons his writing shows such a sharp insight into the hearts and minds of young children. His poems provide vivid glimpses into the colourful life of school: what exactly is it that's hiding in Harrison's desk? Where does Billy McBone's mind get to? And just what did happen to all those scissors? Although his poems are often amusing, he doesn't ignore the more painful side of school as in the poignant monologue 'Slow Reader' or the memory of 'The Boy Without a Name'. Allan also draws on his own Black Country childhood in poems like 'The Match c. 1950' and 'Cemetery Road'. Football is an abiding passion. His choice of poems from Friendly Matches - with many a neat twist or cunning swerve - celebrates the beautiful game.
Allan's recording for the Archive takes in longer narrative poems such as 'Cops and Robbers' with its chorus that's just asking to be joined in with and shorter lyric pieces. He even sings one! Adept at creating his characters' voices, Allan's reading, like his writing, is warm and engaging.
His recording was made on 18 November 2003 at The Audio Workshop, London and was produced by Richard Carrington.
Allan used to work as a teacher and perhaps this is one of the reasons his writing shows such a sharp insight into the hearts and minds of young children. His poems provide vivid glimpses into the colourful life of school: what exactly is it that's hiding in Harrison's desk? Where does Billy McBone's mind get to? And just what did happen to all those scissors? Although his poems are often amusing, he doesn't ignore the more painful side of school as in the poignant monologue 'Slow Reader' or the memory of 'The Boy Without a Name'. Allan also draws on his own Black Country childhood in poems like 'The Match c. 1950' and 'Cemetery Road'. Football is an abiding passion. His choice of poems from Friendly Matches - with many a neat twist or cunning swerve - celebrates the beautiful game.
Allan's recording for the Archive takes in longer narrative poems such as 'Cops and Robbers' with its chorus that's just asking to be joined in with and shorter lyric pieces. He even sings one! Adept at creating his characters' voices, Allan's reading, like his writing, is warm and engaging.
His recording was made on 18 November 2003 at The Audio Workshop, London and was produced by Richard Carrington.
Website
1985 Parents' Magazine Best Book for Babies Award
1986 Kate Greenaway Medal, The Jolly Postman
Website
1986 Kurt Maschler Award, The Jolly Postman
Website
1987 The Children's Book Award
1989 Signal Poetry Award, Heard it in the Playground
Website
1994 British Book Award: Children's Author of the Year
Website
2001 The Blue Peter Children's Book Award
Website
2002 The Children's Book Award: Books for Young Children winner
My Archive
Create lists of your favourite poems and poets and share them with friends.
Browse all poems by form
- allegory,
- anapaestic,
- animals,
- apostrophe,
- ballad,
- blank...
Hear famous voices from poetry's past.
The Poetry Archive depends on donations from public bodies and private individuals. Find out how you can contribute to the work of the Archive.