Andy Griffiths | |
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![]() Griffiths at the 2019 Texas Book Festival | |
Born | Andrew Noel Griffiths 3 September 1961 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Occupation | Author |
Genre | Humour, children’s fiction |
Spouse | Jill Griffiths |
Website | |
www |
Andrew Noel Griffiths (born 3 September 1961) is an Australian children's and comedy writer. He was educated at Yarra Valley Grammar School. He is most notable for his Just! series, which was adapted into an animated television series called What's with Andy?, his novel The Day My Bum Went Psycho, which was also adapted into a television series,[1] and the Treehouse series, which has been adapted into several stage plays.[2][3] Previously a vocalist with alternative rock bands Gothic Farmyard[4] and Ivory Coast,[5] in 1992 he turned to writing. He is well known for working with Terry Denton.[6]
Early life
[edit]An event cited by Griffiths as instrumental in developing his literary style was when, as a child, he read the 1845 German children's book Struwwelpeter, which featured children being maimed and killed as a consequence for bad behaviour.[7]
Career
[edit]Literary Style
[edit]Griffiths places an emphasis on toilet and gross out humour in his books, and aims to balance levels of what he deems "anarchy" and "nice" within his series; he notes that his Just! series was more anarchic while his Treehouse series was more nice.[7]
Personal life
[edit]Griffiths is noted as a supporter of children against what he views as "cotton wool" childhoods,[6] and, along with Denton, was a noted supporter of the September 2019 climate strikes.[8]
Bibliography
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Ashby, Emily (2015). "The Day My Butt Went Psycho". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ Croll, Vanessa (29 July 2020). "Coles announces world-first Little Treehouse collectables". The Australian. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ Woodhead, Cameron (29 July 2020). "Rollicking slapstick as reluctant babysitters face sharks, whirlpool". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ Gothic Farmyard Music (31 December 2014). "Mowing Tentaclens and Weeding Giant Clams". Archived from the original on 19 December 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "How Can I Stop The Leak by IVORY COAST (Skippy the Butcher)". YouTube. 26 June 2010. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
- ^ a b Blau, Annika (16 September 2018). "Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton are putting the 'anarchy' back into childhood". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ a b Cain, Sian (4 September 2023). "This 'bum-poo-fart author' is Australia's biggest writer: Andy Griffiths on ending the Treehouse books". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ Fitzsimmons, Caitlin (18 September 2019). "Bestselling Treehouse authors back students striking for climate action". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 July 2020.