Allan Ahlberg has written some of the world’s most popular books including The Jolly Postman and Burgular Bill.

Allan Ahlberg was adopted as a child and as an adult worked as a postman, and a gravedigger before becoming a primary school teacher.

Now 700,000 copies of his book Funnybones are being given to children starting school in England. But it won’t make him a squillionaire. He gets nothing for it. “They needed to find an author who wouldn’t take his royalties and go and buy a Porsche,” he says.

You can learn more about Allan here.

I’m sorry. This is shocking news. Just shocking.

Are you thinking of entering the competition? Please be warned that one of the prizes is Just Shocking, the new book by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton.

Yes, shocking, isn’t it? I apologise. I’m sorry.

In the competition to save one book (see the post below), I mentioned that there would be prizes. What prizes? I hear you ask.

First name drawn will win The Dangerous Book for Boys. I have a spanking new Australian edition worth $45 and chock full of dangerous information. Visit their website and take the quiz.

Now, what book would you save?

Okay. So you are washed up on a desert island. You have food and clothing but not much shelter. Amazingly, a crate of books has also washed ashore. The books are dry. The box contains many of your favourite books.

But, you need to light a fire to keep warm, to keep the giant polar bears away, to cheer yourself up through the long, long night. Unfortunately, there’s only so many books in the box.

Which book will you save to keep you company for the days ahead?

Tell me which book you will save from the fire.

Winners will be chosen at random. Prizes for boys and blokes.

Welcome to the Boys, Blokes, Books blog. The blog is for the reading program taking place in Drouin, Melton and Melton.

There are some brilliant writers to introduce to you and get you reading. On this blog you will be able to post questions and comments to all the writers.

The blog needs your input. Chances are, the things you like reading are the things others will like, too.

Tell them what you think of their books, what you are reading, where you are reading…anything you have to say. All comments will be moderated, so keep it (fairly) clean and your thoughts will be up as soon as I can post them.

Our first session is at Drouin Secondary College on Thursday 11 October. Our first session at Melton is on Tuesday 16 October. We’re at Melton South Primary in the morning, Staughton College in the afternoon and Melton Public Library in the evening.

A lot of other great events are planned, so I look forward to meeting you at your school. And hearing from you on the blog.

Mike