Author Andy Griffiths often hears from young adults who say, “You were my childhood.” Generations of kids have grown up with his stories, from the Just and Bad books to the beloved Treehouse series. Through his engaging narratives, Griffiths has inspired millions of reluctant readers around the world to find joy in reading.
His appeal lies in his playful and irreverent subject matter—ranging from pranks and bathroom humor to quirky characters. His books are packed with zany antics and absurd scenarios that leave kids in stitches. Equally important to their success are the vibrant illustrations by Terry Denton, which bring his words to life.
A key but lesser-known contributor to Griffiths’ work is his wife, Jill, who also serves as his editor and is a cherished character in the Treehouse series. At her suggestion, we’re dining at For Change Cafe, a social enterprise that trains vulnerable individuals in hospitality. Located at the former Middle Park light rail stop, it offers a menu exclusively featuring plant-based dishes.
As we browse the menu, Jill shares a childhood memory that led her to become a vegetarian: a school trip to an abattoir in sixth grade. She chooses the reimagined sausage roll, Andy opts for the big breakfast, and I select the crispy Sichuan tofu. Our coffees and a kombucha arrive with a warm welcome, a hallmark of the cafe’s service.
The massive eucalypt outside serves as a reminder of our gathering’s purpose: the release of the final installment in the Treehouse series, published this year. Beginning in 2013 with The 13-Storey Treehouse, the series now includes 13 books that have sold around 13 million copies across 35 countries. Excitingly, the series is being adapted for the screen by a major Hollywood studio—a long-discussed idea that now seems perfectly timed. “We’ve seen the current script, and it’s a brilliant take that I could never have imagined,” Andy shares. “The scriptwriter clearly understands it at a granular level.”
Recently, an encyclopedic guide to the 150 characters from the Treehouse world was released. “I wish we’d had it at the start,” Andy laughs.
The series evolved from a week of creative brainstorming with Terry Denton, where they initially conceptualized a treehouse. “But it ended up merging with ideas from two other projects: What Body Part is That? and Killer Koalas from Outer Space,” Andy explains. “I took this chaotic mix home to Jill, and we spent a week turning it into prose, culminating in a story where killer koalas wreak havoc in the second chapter.”