Andy Griffiths (author)
Andy Griffiths | |
|---|---|
 Griffiths at the 2019 Texas Book Festival | |
| Born | Andy Griffiths 3 September 1961 |
| Occupation | Author |
| Genre | Humour, children’s fiction |
| Notable awards | Australian Children's Laureate, 2026–2027 |
| Spouse | Jill Griffiths |
| Website | |
| www | |
Andy Griffiths (born 3 September 1961) is an Australian children's author.
His books are published all over the world and include the Treehouse series, which has been adapted into several stage plays.[1][2]
He is well known for working with Terry Denton.[3] He is also 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.[4]
His latest series, featuring YOU (the reader) and ME (the narrator) is illustrated by Bill Hope.
Griffiths was appointed the Australian Children's Laureate for 2026–2027. In the role he will travel around Australia and promote reading. His motto is "Reading is an Adventure".[5]
Early life
[edit]Andy was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. He attended Pascoe Vale Primary School, Eastmont Primary School and later, Yarra Valley Grammar School.
Inspired by his love of reading he wrote and drew short stories and cartoons for his family and friends. In the fifth grade he purchased a typewriter at a second-hand stall at school and created his own humour magazine called ‘Popcorn’, which he sold for three cents a copy.[6]
In high school he began writing for the school's magazine and, inspired by punk/new wave music, wrote satirical songs and formed a band with his friends.[7]
Career
[edit]After graduating high school in 1979, he attended Monash University where he completed a BA with honours in English Literature, while at the same time gaining writing and performing experience as the front man for a number of experimental bands in Melbourne's vibrant alternative music scene centred around the Crystal Ballroom.[8]
After completing a Diploma of Education at Rusden Teachers College (now Deakin University) in 1987, Andy became a high school teacher.
It was during this time as a teacher that Andy began to write and self-publish collections of outlandish stories and cartoons in an attempt to inspire his students to embrace the fun and limitless possibilities of creative reading and writing.[9]
He eventually took leave from his job in 1991 and enrolled in a full-time Diploma of Professional Writing at Deakin University. It was during this period that he met and formed a partnership with like-minded illustrator Terry Denton.[10]
Advocacy
[edit]Andy is the Australian Children's Laureate 2026–2027.[11] He is an ambassador for The Indigenous Literacy Foundation[12] and the Pyjama Foundation,[13] and was awarded the Dromkeen Medal in 2015 to honour his outstanding contribution to Australian children's literature.[14]
Books
[edit]The JUST! Series
[edit]| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Just Tricking! | 1997 |
|
| Just Annoying! | 1998 |
|
| Just Stupid! | 1999 |
|
| Just Crazy! | 2000 |
|
| Just Disgusting! | 2002 |
|
| Just Shocking | 2007 |
|
| Just Macbeth! | 2009 |
|
| Just Doomed! | 2012 |
The Treehouse Series
[edit]| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The 13-Storey Treehouse | 2011 |
|
| The 26-Storey Treehouse | 2012 |
|
| The 39-Storey Treehouse | 2013 |
|
| The 52-Storey Treehouse | 2014 |
|
| The 65-Storey Treehouse | 2015 |
|
| The 78-Storey Treehouse | 2016 |
|
| The 91-Storey Treehouse | 2017 |
|
| The 104-Storey Treehouse | 2018 |
|
| The 117-Storey Treehouse | 2019 |
|
| The 130-Storey Treehouse | 2020 |
|
| The 143-Storey Treehouse | 2021 |
|
| The 156-Storey Treehouse | 2022 | |
| The 169-Storey Treehouse | 2023 | |
Treehouse Extras[edit] | ||
| Treehouse Tales: 13 tales too silly to be told until now | 2022 | |
| Who's Who and What's Where in the Treehouse | 2023 | |
| The Treehouse Joke Book | 2019 | |
| The Treehouse Joke Book 2 | 2021 | |
| The Treehouse Fun Book | 2016 | |
| The Treehouse Fun Book 2 | 2017 | |
| The Treehouse Fun Book 3 | 2018 | |
| The Treehouse Bumper Fun Book | 2021 | |
| Little Treehouse Books: Barky the Barking Dog | 2015 | |
| Little Treehouse Books: Ten Unlucky Pirates | 2015 | |
| The 13-Storey Treehouse full-colour anniversary edition | 2021 | |
| The 26-Storey Treehouse full-colour edition | 2023 | |
| The 39-Storey Treehouse full-colour edition | 2024 | |
| The 52-Storey Treehouse full-colour edition | 2025 | |
YOU & ME Series
[edit]| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| YOU & ME and the Land of Lost Things | 2024 |
|
| YOU & ME and the Peanut Butter Beast | 2025 | |
| YOU & ME and the Gigantic Knucklehead | 2026 |
The Bum Trilogy
[edit]| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Day my Bum went Psycho | 2001 |
|
| Zombie Bums from Uranus | 2003 |
|
| Bumageddon: The final pongflict | 2005 |
Early readers
[edit]| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Cat on the Mat is Flat | 2006 |
|
| The Big Fat Cow that Goes Kapow | 2006 |
|
NON-Information Books
[edit]| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| What Body Part is That? | 2011 |
| What Bumosaur is That? | 2007 |
Schooling Around Series
[edit]| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Treasure Fever | 2008 |
|
| Pencil of Doom | 2008 |
|
| Mascot Madness | 2009 |
|
| Robot Riot | 2009 |
|
Activity Books
[edit]| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| LET'S GO! Stories to Write, Stories to Draw, Stories to Read, Adventures Galore | 2026 |
| Once upon a Slime: 45 ways to get writing ... fast! | 2013 |
TV & Theatre adaptations
[edit]| Year | Show title | Producer | No. of seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–2007 | What's With Andy? | CinéGroupe | 3 |
| 2013–2015 | The Day My Butt Went Psycho | Nelvana, Studio Moshi & Brain Bender Pty Ltd | 2 |
Theatre
- Just Macbeth! (2008) Bell Shakespeare Company (2008–2010)
- The 13-Storey Treehouse CDP Theatre Company
- The 26-Storey Treehouse CDP Theatre Company
- The 52-Storey Treehouse CDP Theatre Company
- The 78-Storey Treehouse CDP Theatre Company
- The 91-Storey Treehouse CDP Theatre Company
- YOU & ME and the Land of Lost Things CDP Theatre Company
References
[edit]- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Blau, Annika (16 September 2018). "Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton are putting the 'anarchy' back into childhood". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ↑ Ashby, Emily (2015). "The Day My Butt Went Psycho". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ↑ "Griffiths announced as Australian Children's Laureate". Books+Publishing. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ↑ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "Andy Griffiths: from crafting outlandish lyrics to writing 'funny stuff for kids'". ABC listen. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ Krauth, Kirsten (9 April 2020). "Nick Cave, Andy Griffiths and the $10,000 suit: how Melbourne's Crystal Ballroom launched a scene". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "Treehouse series author Andy Griffiths wins the Laureate". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ ABC News (Australia) (15 September 2018). How Andy Griffiths found Terry Denton, 'a brother in stupidity' | Throwback. Retrieved 10 April 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Andy Griffiths' unlikely journey from punk rocker to children's laureate". ABC News. 20 February 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ Guenzler, Joseph (5 March 2025). "Indigenous students join Andy Griffiths for 2025 Great Book Swap launch". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "'Literacy underlies all achievement': popular author Andy Griffiths speaks out". educationhq.com. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "Andy Griffiths appointed as national ambassador for Australian children's literature". 10 February 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
