In the Black Country of South London, Allan Ahlberg was born on June 5, 1938. His career as a children's author is only one of many jobs he's held in his lifetime. Many of his books are based on experiences of those other careers such as The Jolly Postman from his days as a postman. He's worked as a teacher, plumber's mate, grave digger, and soldier. Allen and his wife, Janet, wrote 37 children's books—many that are already classics.

Allan's response to what advice do you have for writers and illustrators is, "my advice to writers and illustrators is to write and to illustrate."

When Allan takes time off from his writing, he likes "to read and listen to music—and eat and drink with his family and friends—and do a bit of ponderous running and a bit of walrus-like swimming from time to time—and talk to the cat—and go to the movies and answer loads and loads and loads of questions from his dear readers."

Allan and his Janet together wrote: Burglar Bill, Each Peach Pear Plum, Peepo, My Brother's Ghost. Janet Ahlberg died in 1994. After taking some time off, Allan has gone on to write The Man Who Wore All His Clothes.

—Terri DeGezelle