Happy Families is a series of children's books written by Allan Ahlberg

Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Janet and Allan Ahlberg are the creators of many popular children's books, which regularly appear at the top of the 'most popular' lists for public libraries. Husband and wife, they worked together for 20 years until Janet died of cancer on 13 November 1994, aged 50. Allan wrote the books, and...

, inspired by the traditional card game Happy Families

Happy Families

Happy Families is a traditional card game played in the UK, usually with a specially made set of picture cards, featuring illustrations of fictional families of four, most often based on occupation types. The object of the game is to collect complete families. The player whose turn it is asks...

. Ahlberg worked with a number of illustrators and the books were published by Puffin Books

Puffin Books

Puffin Books is the children's imprint of British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s it has been the largest publisher of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world.-Early history:...

. The series form a transition for children between picture books and chapter book

Chapter book

A chapter book is a story book intended for intermediate readers, generally age 7-10. Unlike picture books for younger readers, a chapter book tells the story primarily through prose, rather than pictures. Unlike books for older readers, chapter books contain plentiful illustrations...

s. It is a popular series, having sold in excess of 2.6 million copies since its launch in 1980.

A children's TV series, also called Happy Families

Happy Families (CBBC TV series)

Happy Families is a children's television series made in the late 1980s based on the Happy Families series of books by Janet and Allan Ahlberg ....

, was produced by the BBC

BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

 in the late 1980s.

Titles

• Master Money the Millionaire, illustrated by Andre Amstutz
• Master Bun the Bakers' Boy, illustrated by Fritz Wegner
• Mrs. Lather's Laundry, illustrated by Andre Amstutz
• Mr. Creep the Crook, illustrated by Andre Amstutz
• Miss Jump the Jockey, illustrated by Andre Amstutz
• Master Track's Train, illustrated by Andre Amstutz
• Master Salt the Sailors' Son, illustrated by Andre Amstutz
• Mr and Mrs Hay the Horse, illustrated by Colin McNaughton
  Colin McNaughton
  Colin McNaughton is a writer and illustrator of over 70 children's books. He is also a poet, focusing mainly on humorous children's poetry. He trained in graphic design at the Central School of Art and Design in London followed by an M.A. in illustration at the Royal College of Art...
  
  
• Miss Brick the Builders' Baby , illustrated by Colin McNaughton
• Mrs Jolly's Joke Shop , illustrated by Colin Mcnaughton
• Mr Buzz the Beeman, illustrated by Faith Jaques
• Miss Dose the Doctors' Daughter*, illustrated by Faith Jaques
• Mr. Tick the Teacher, illustrated by Faith Jaques
• Mrs Wobble the Waitress, illustrated by Janet Ahlberg
• Mr Biff the Boxer, illustrated by Janet Ahlberg
• Mr Cosmo the Conjuror, illustrated by Joe Wright
• Mrs Plug the Plumber, illustrated by Joe Wright
• Miss Dirt the Dustman's Daughter, illustrated by Tony Ross
  Tony Ross
  Tony Ross is a British illustrator and author for children.He is most noted for his work with Francesca Simon on the Horrid Henry books, and has also illustrated the Harry The Poisonous Centipede and Dr. Xargle series of books...
  
  
• Mrs Vole the Vet, illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark
• Ms Cliff the Climber, illustrated by Fritz Wegner
• Master Track's Train, illustrated by Andre Amstutz