Allan Ahlberg, the celebrated British author who delighted generations of children with his witty and heartfelt stories, has died at the age of 87. His death was confirmed by his publisher, Penguin Random House.

Ahlberg's career spanned more than five decades and included over 150 books, many of which are considered classics of children's literature. He is perhaps best known for his long and successful collaboration with his late wife, illustrator Janet Ahlberg. Together, they created iconic works such as Each Peach Pear Plum, The Jolly Postman, and Funnybones, which sold millions of copies worldwide.

After Janet's death in 1994, Allan continued to write, working with other illustrators including his daughter Jessica Ahlberg. His books were known for their gentle humor, imaginative characters, and clever rhymes, a combination that made them beloved by both children and adults.

Born in Croydon in 1938, Ahlberg was adopted and raised in a working-class family in Oldbury. Before becoming a writer, he held a variety of jobs, including postman, plumber, and gravedigger. He met his wife Janet while at a teacher-training college, and their creative partnership began when she asked him to write a story for her to illustrate.

Ahlberg's contributions to literature were widely recognized, and he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2008 for his services to literature. His last picture book, Under the Table, was published in 2023.

Tributes have poured in from fellow authors and publishers, who remember Ahlberg as a "pioneer of great children's literature" who had the ability to "make you smile in one sentence." He leaves behind a remarkable legacy of stories that will continue to entertain and inspire children for years to come.