Master Salt the sailor's son

Happy Families

by Allan Ahlberg

When the Salt family sails to Coconut Island, they decide to leave Sammy Salt behind because he is too little.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Allan Ahlberg was one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books - including the best-selling Jolly Postman series. Born in Croydon in 1938, he was educated at Sunderland Technical College. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve, his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher.

Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.

Reviews

[Shahrun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little trip down memory Lane. I remember reading these as school. In fact the copy I’ve just read, although its in pristine condition is older than me! Simple story with a bit of drama, excitement and adventure perfectly accompanied by the illustrations.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amstutz illos are cool as always. The Ahlberg writing is confident, funny, quirky as always. My boys would have loved this when just starting school. A great family read.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these books excellent for giving confidence to an emergent reader, great to read to young children then read with them. Good illustrations. They May be old but they stand the test of time.