Janet Ahlberg
Recognized in the Creative Minds Montessori 2026 Teacher’s Choice list.
Janet Ahlberg is one of roughly one hundred authors whose work was selected by the Montessori-certified teachers at Creative Minds Montessori for the 2026 Teacher’s Choice list — 120 books chosen across four reading stages, from first lap-reads to first chapter books. Their 2 selected books were chosen for how precisely they meet children at a real developmental moment. This recognition cannot be bought: no author or publisher paid to appear on our lists, and we take no commission on any book sale.
About Janet Ahlberg
Janet Ahlberg (1944–1994) studied graphic design before becoming an illustrator, and made picture books with her husband, Allan Ahlberg, from 1975 until her death. She won two Kate Greenaway Medals, for Each Peach Pear Plum and The Jolly Christmas Postman.
Their partnership began when Janet asked Allan, then a primary-school teacher, to write her a story. The Jolly Postman, with its envelopes holding letters, cards, games and a tiny book, took five years to make and has sold more than six million copies.
Also by this author: The Jolly Postman · Peepo! · Funnybones
Publisher page: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/227594/janet-ahlberg
Selected for the 2026 Teacher’s Choice list
Each Peach Pear Plum
Lap Listeners · Sing It, Say It Again
Peepo!
Page Grabbers · Books That Do Things
Part of The Best Children’s Books by Age, chosen by the teachers at Creative Minds Montessori in Frisco, TX.