The Bucket: Memories of an Inattentive Childhood

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

One of Britain's best-loved children's authors tells the enthralling story of his adoption and childhood in the Black Country Allan Ahlberg sets out to recover the early years of an enchanted childhood lived out in the Black Country in the 1940s. He writes of his first days at school ('Allan is most inattentive and dreamy at times' - school report, 1946), and the memorable circumstances of his own four parents- 'Two mothers, two fathers and me like a parcel or a baton (or a hot potato!) passed between them. ' Most memorably he describes the day he was told by a girl in the street that his mother was not in fact his biological mother. He instantly believed her.

Reviews

A beguiling little gem -- Valerie Grove * The Times *
A beautiful book. What is evoked is a wartime world in the Black Country ... all perfectly seen as if from a child's perspective -- Roger Lewis * Daily Mail *
A magical memoir that pulls the reader back to their own youthful experiences, beautifully adorned with illustrations -- Jenny Barlow * Daily Express *

Author Bio

Allan Ahlberg, a former teacher, postman, plumber's mate and grave digger, is in the super-league of children's writers. He has published over 100 children's books and, with his late wife Janet, created such award winning picture books as EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY POSTMAN - both winners of the Kate Greenaway Medal. He has also written prize-winning poetry and fiction and lives in Bath.