The jolly Christmas postman

Janet Ahlberg (née Hall; 21 October 1944 – 15 November 1994) and Allan Ahlberg (5 June 1938 – 29 July 2025) were a British married couple who created many children's books, including picture books that regularly appear at the top of "most popular" lists for public libraries. They worked together for 20 years until Janet's death from cancer in 1994. He wrote the books and she illustrated them. Allan also wrote dozens of books with other illustrators. Janet Ahlberg won two Kate Greenaway Medals for illustrating their books and the 1978 winner Each Peach Pear Plum was named one of the top ten winning works for the 50th anniversary of the Medal (1955–2005).