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  • Published: 14 April 2008
  • ISBN: 9780141913537
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 192

The Boyhood of Burglar Bill



Allan Ahlberg's funny and moving semi-autobiographical look back at a 1950s childhood is the second in a series which began with My Brother's Ghost.

Coronation Year, 1953, and in Oldbury a Coronation football competition is organized. The boys from the bottom pitch get a team up, but there's no chance they'll win, of course. They're just the odds and sods – one of them is even a girl – but they're all football crazy and ready and eager to beat off the opposition.

A funny and moving story of football and friendship in a world when the streets were full of kids and empty of cars. Not only for boys – and girls – of 9+, there's a real pull of nostalgia for adults as well. And, of course, for all lovers of football, whether on the pitch or in the park.

  • Published: 14 April 2008
  • ISBN: 9780141913537
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 192

About the author

Allan Ahlberg

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 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 Sussex.

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Praise for The Boyhood of Burglar Bill

An exceptional piece of writing . . . comic, poignant and true. Anyone will be enriched by reading it

Sunday Times

Affectionately downbeat . . . this artfully informal story has something for everyone

Nicholas Tucker, Independent

This is simply great writing, for boys or anyone else

Brandon Robshaw, Independent