By Allan Ahlberg (author) , Bruce Ingman (illustrator)
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Shortlisted for the CLPE Poetry Award 2011, which honours excellence in poetry written for children.
A wonderful collection of the simplest and most joyous poems produced in a gorgeous picture book format. Nineteen delightful poems about everything from meeting a witch to getting sausages to dance jump off the page in Allan Ahlberg’s witty words and Bruce Ingman’s delightful illustrations.
The CLPE Poetry Award 2011 shortlist:
Everybody was a Baby Once
If You could See Laughter
Off Road to Everywhere
A Million Brilliant Poems: Part One
Meet witches, snowmen, lizards and favourite nursery-rhyme characters in this joyful poetry collection for infants of every age! One day a boy went walking, and walked into a store. He bought a pound of sausages, and put them on the floor. The boy began to whistle, he whistled up a tune. And all the little sausages danced around the room...
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The inspired creators of The Runaway Dinner are proud to serve you up a shouting, screaming, smiling, whistling, playing, chasing, rhyming romp for children of every age. Nineteen poems, funny, wistful, delightfully illustrated, introduce a merry cast of babies, witches, sausages, robbers and favourite nursery-rhyme characters that will enchant everybody who is - or was - a baby!
It combines original poems from acclaimed author Allan Ahlberg and classic verses from the endlessly talented Anon, every one gloriously illustrated by Bruce Ingman. This book is jacketed.
'Always thoughtful, often funny, Ahlberg's poems are a celebration of being young and eager.' - The Guardian
Remembering Allan Ahlberg: A Beloved Voice in Children’s Literature
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Allan Ahlberg, one of the UK’s most cherished children’s authors.
Allan, often writing alongside his late wife Janet, gifted generations of young readers with stories full of warmth, humour, and heart.
From the timeless Each Peach Pear Plum to the mischievous Burglar Bill and the tender The Jolly Postman , his books have sparked joy and imagination in millions of homes and classrooms.
His legacy is one of kindness, creativity, and an unwavering respect for children’s intelligence and curiosity. He wrote with clarity, poetry, and an irrepressible sense of fun — always putting young readers first.
At LoveReading4Kids, we celebrate the countless memories his stories have created and the lasting impact he’s had on children's reading lives. Thank you, Allan, for all the magic. You will be missed, but your stories will live on in every shared bedtime read, giggle in the classroom, and child who discovers the wonder of books.
Allan Ahlberg (1938-2025)
As a child Allan was born in Croydon, but grew up in Oldbury in the Black Country. He says that if he hadn't grown up to be a writer, he would have loved to have been a soccer player. As an adult Allan always dreamed of being a writer, but tried his hand at many other jobs before he achieved his ambition. He was a postman, grave-digger, plumber's mate and teacher - it was teaching that gave him such sharp insights into the minds of children, and enabled him to write his perfectly observed poetry about primary school life As an artist Allan has collaborated with many illustrators, including Andre Amstutz, Gillian Tyler and Katharine McEwen, as well as his late wife, Janet Ahlberg (nee Hall) and his daughter Jessica Ahlberg. He has won numerous awards for his books including, the Kurt Maschler Award in 1986, The Children's Book Award in 1987, the Blue Peter Book Award 2001, and The Children's Book Award: Books for Young Children award 2002.
Meet witches, snowmen, lizards and favourite nursery-rhyme characters in this joyful poetry collection for infants of every age! One day a boy went walking, and walked into a store.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Everybody Was a Baby Once and determined it is suitable for children aged 3-4 years old
Everybody Was a Baby Once features in the following genres: Featured Books for 3+ readers, Recommendations
Paperback, Hardback. Not Available.
Everybody Was a Baby Once was written by Allan Ahlberg and published by Walker Books Ltd
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