Previously

An inventive, topsy-turvy, back-to-front story of fairytale characters and what they did ... previously.

Do you know what Jack was doing before he climbed the beanstalk? Or what Jack and Jill were arguing about before they went up the hill? And what happened before that? And even before that? Find out what all your favourite storybook characters were up to previously – because every story, every person and everything started somewhere!

Allan Ahlberg (1938–2025) was one of this country's most acclaimed and successful authors of children’s books. He has won numerous awards including the Kurt Maschler Award in 1986, the Children's Book Award in 1987, the Blue Peter Book Award 2001 and the Children's Book Award: Books for Young Children 2002. Among his numerous classic picture books are The Jolly Postman books, Burglar Bill, Peepo! and Each Peach Pear Plum. Allan’s books for Walker include Hooray for Bread, The Pencil, The Baby in the Hat and The Goldilocks Variations.

Bruce Ingman is an acclaimed artist and Illustration lecturer at Goldsmiths University. His first book, When Martha’s Away, won the 1996 Mother Goose Award for the most exciting British newcomer to children's books. Since then, he has made many more picture books, including Bad News, I’m in Charge and Boing!, written by Sean Taylor, and The Pencil and The Runaway Dinner, written by Allan Ahlberg.