Famous children author Allen Ahberg died at the age of 87, his publisher Penguin Random House has confirmed.
He wrote 150 books on a career, which had more than five decades, including Jolly Postman, Funny Bones, Peepo! And prize winner each peach pear plum.
Many of his most famous works were the result of cooperation with an award -winner Illustrator wife Janet. They went to sell millions of copies worldwide.
Fellow children author Michael Rosen described Ahbarg as “the leading of the Great Children Literature”.
In a tribute to X, he said: “You were the pioneers of great children’s literature, both pictures in books and poetry.
“You were clever, funny and intelligent. My children loved your books. So I did and so.”
Franceska Dow, head of children’s literature at the Penguin Random House, said: “Alan was one of the most extraordinary writers with whom I have got the privilege and happiness to work.
“His magnificent books – many of them are made with their late wife, Janet, high talented Illustrators – is described as ‘Mini Masterpiece’.
“Alan has some of the best – true classics, which will be loved by children and families for the coming years. Dear Alan, we will all miss you a lot.”
Ahbarg is alive by his wife Vanessa, daughter Jessica and step daughters Saskia and Johana.
Born in 1938 in Croidon, he was brought in Oldbury by his adopted parents, and Sunderland Teacher worked as a postman, plumber and gravadigar before training to become a teacher at Teacher Training College, where he met his first wife Janet.
In 1975, Ahberg published his first book together, here Brick Street Boys.
It was rapidly pursued by the old -fashioned book, Bergler Bill and each Peach Pear Plum, for which Janet was awarded the Kate Greenway Medal for painters in 1978.
Jolly Postman, published in 1991, won the Kurt Maschler Award and sold more than six million copies.
The second in the series, The Jolly Christmas Postman (1991), won the second Kate Greenway medal.
