Andy Stanton

Last updated

Andy Stanton
Andy Stanton 20181206.jpg
Stanton in Waterstones, Piccadilly, London, 2018
BornAndy Joel Stanton
(1973-11-14) 14 November 1973 (age 50) [1]
London, England [1]
OccupationChildren's author
LanguageEnglish
Education Oxford University
Notable worksMr Gum series
Notable awards
Red House Children's Book Award (Overall)
2007 You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum! – author

Red House Children's Book Award (Younger Readers)
2007 You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum! – author
Blue Peter Book Award for Most Fun Story with Pictures
2007 You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum! – author
Roald Dahl Funny Prize
2008 Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear – author

Contents

Website
www.mrgum.co.uk

Andy Joel Stanton (born 14 November 1973) is an English children's writer. He is best known for writing the Mr Gum series (illustrated by David Tazzyman), through which he made a popular contribution to children's literature. [2] Stanton's writing is influenced by Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton. [1]

Life

Stanton grew up in the London suburbs of Harrow and Pinner and attended the Latymer School in Hammersmith. [3] He studied English at Oxford University, but was "kicked out". [3] He has worked as a film script reader, a cartoonist, and as a temporary medical secretary for the NHS. [4] [3]

[2] Works

Mr Gum

Books

The Mr Gum books are set in the fictitious town of Lamonic Bibber. The town has its own fictional newspaper, The Lamonical Chronicle, which features on the Mr Gum website as "Lamonic Bibber's second best and only paper". [3] Characters in the books include Old King Thunderbelly and Polly. [2] The books have won numerous prizes including the 2007 Red House Children's Book Award, two Blue Peter Book Awards for Best Book With Pictures, [5] and the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2008 for Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear. [5]

Stanton has written nine books in the Mr Gum series, published by Egmont Books in the UK and illustrated by Tazzyman:

  • You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum! (2006)
  • Mr Gum and the Biscuit Billionaire (2007)
  • Mr Gum and the Goblins (2007)
  • Mr Gum and the Power Crystals (2008)
  • Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear (2008)
  • What's for Dinner, Mr Gum? (2009)
  • Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree (2010)
  • Mr Gum and the Secret Hideout (2011)
  • Mr Gum and the Hound of Lamonic Bibber (2011)

You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum! and Mr Gum and the Hound of Lamonic Bibber were later rereleased as special editions, featuring stickers.

Audiobooks

The eight main books in the Mr Gum series were recorded as audiobooks produced and directed by David Tyler for BBC Audio, with the author himself reading. Additionally, the first four books in the series were recorded, with Kate Winslet narrating, in 2012.

Stage

Stanton wrote the book and lyrics for Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear - The Musical! which premiered at the National Theatre in July 2019. [6]

In 2022, the Magdeburg Theater staged a stage version of "Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree", [7] followed in 2023 by "Mr Gum and the Secret Hideout". [8]

Other books

Additionally, Stanton has written several other books published by various publishers:

Personal life

Stanton is Jewish. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roald Dahl</span> British writer and poet (1916–1990)

Roald Dahl was a British author of popular children's literature and short stories, a poet, screenwriter and a wartime fighter ace. His books have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide. Dahl has been called "one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century".

<i>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</i> 1964 childrens novel by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 1964 children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. The story features the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka.

<i>Matilda</i> (novel) 1988 childrens novel by Roald Dahl

Matilda is a 1988 children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. It was published by Jonathan Cape. The story features Matilda Wormwood, a precocious child with an uncaring mother and father, and her time in school run by the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull.

Robin Jarvis (born 8 May 1963) is a British Young-Adult fiction (YA) and children's novelist, who writes dark fantasy, suspense and supernatural thrillers. His books for young adults have featured the inhabitants of a coastal town battling a monumental malevolence with the help of its last supernatural guardian (The Witching Legacy), a diminutive race of Werglers (shape shifters) pitched against the evil might of the faerie hordes (The Hagwood Trilogy), a sinister "world-switching" dystopian future, triggered by a sinister and hypnotic book (Dancing Jax), Norse Fates, Glastonbury crow-demons and a time travelling, wise-cracking teddy bear. (The Wyrd Museum series), dark powers, a forgotten race and ancient evils on the North Yorkshire coast (The Whitby Witches trilogy), epic medieval adventure (The Oaken Throne) and science-fiction dramatising the "nefarious intrigue" within an alternate Tudor realm, peopled by personalities of the time, automata servants and animals known as Mechanicals and ruled by Queen Elizabeth I. (Deathscent).

<i>The Twits</i> 1980 childrens novel by Roald Dahl

The Twits is a 1980 children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. It was first published by Jonathan Cape. The story features The Twits, a spiteful, idle, unkempt couple who continuously play nasty practical jokes on each other to amuse themselves, and exercise their devious wickedness on their pet monkeys.

<i>Georges Marvellous Medicine</i> 1981 childrens book written by Roald Dahl

George's Marvellous Medicine is a children's novel written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. First published by Jonathan Cape in 1981, it features George Kranky, an eight-year-old boy who concocts his own miracle elixir to replace his tyrannical grandmother's regular prescription medicine.

<i>Fantastic Mr Fox</i> 1970 childrens novel by Roald Dahl

Fantastic Mr Fox is a children's novel written by British author Roald Dahl. It was published in 1970, by George Allen & Unwin in the UK and Alfred A. Knopf in the U.S., with illustrations by Donald Chaffin. The first Puffin paperback, first issued in 1974, featured illustrations by Jill Bennett. Later editions have featured illustrations by Tony Ross (1988) and Quentin Blake (1996). The story is about Mr Fox and how he outwits his farmer neighbours to steal their food from right under their noses.

Philip Ardagh is an English children's author, primarily known for the Eddie Dickens series of books. He has written more than 100 books including adult fiction and children's non-fiction.

The Egmont Group is a Danish media corporation founded and rooted in Copenhagen, Denmark. The business area of Egmont has traditionally been magazine publishing, but has over the years evolved to comprise mass media generally.

The Blue Peter Book Awards were a set of literary awards for children's books conferred by the BBC television programme Blue Peter. They were inaugurated in 2000 for books published in 1999 and 2000. The awards were managed by reading charity, BookTrust, from 2006 until the final award in 2022. From 2013 until the final award, there were two award categories: Best Story and Best Book with Facts.

Razi Hirmandi (with the real name of Seyed Mohammad Razi Khodadadi is an Iranian writer/translator who translates from English into Persian for children and adults.

<i>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</i> (franchise) Fantasy media franchise created by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a media franchise based on the 1964 novel of the same name by British author Roald Dahl. It includes two books, three live-action theatrical films, three video games and miscellaneous other properties, such as touring musicals and theatrical adaptations, various merchandise and defunct amusement park ride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liz Pichon</span> British author and illustrator of childrens books

Liz Pichon is a British author and illustrator of children's books. She is best known for her Tom Gates series of "satirical realist comedy fiction", which has sold 16.5 million copies and has been translated into 44 languages across 47 international markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Smith (author)</span> British author, illustrator and designer

Jim Smith is a British author, illustrator and designer who is behind the gift and card range, Waldo Pancake, Head of Design for franchise chain Puccino Coffee as well as creator of the award-winning children's series Barry Loser. I am still not a Loser, Smith's second book in the Barry Loser Series won the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2013 for funniest book for children aged 7–14. And the second book in the spin-off series Future Ratboy won The Laugh Out Loud Children's Book Awards in 2017 for 6–8-year olds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roald Dahl bibliography</span> List of works written by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was a British author and scriptwriter, and "the most popular writer of children's books since Enid Blyton", according to Philip Howard, the literary editor of The Times. He was raised by his Norwegian mother, who took him on annual trips to Norway, where she told him the stories of trolls and witches present in the dark Scandinavian fables. Dahl was influenced by the stories, and returned to many of the themes in his children's books. His mother also nurtured a passion in the young Dahl for reading and literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaana Kapari-Jatta</span> Finnish translator of fiction (born 1955)

Jaana Marjatta Kapari-Jatta (born 19 May 1955, in Turku) is a Finnish translator of fiction, best known for her Finnish-language renderings of the Harry Potter novels and supplementary books by J. K. Rowling, including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. In her translations of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages, she used the pseudonym “Kurvaa Aka (Whoss Gue)”.

Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear - the Musical! is a children's musical with book and lyrics by Andy Stanton and music by Jim Fortune, based on Stanton's children's book of the same name.

Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse is a Sky original made-for-television drama film inspired by the true story of a six-year-old Roald Dahl meeting his idol Beatrix Potter. It was written by Abigail Wilson and directed by David Kerr starring Dawn French as Beatrix Potter, Rob Brydon as William Heelis and Jessica Hynes as Sofie Dahl.

<i>Matilda the Musical</i> (film) 2022 film by Matthew Warchus

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical, or simply Matilda the Musical, or Matilda, is a 2022 musical film directed by Matthew Warchus from a screenplay by Dennis Kelly, based on the stage musical of the same name by Tim Minchin and Kelly, which in turn was based on the 1988 novel Matilda by Roald Dahl. It is the second film adaptation of the novel, following Matilda (1996). The film stars Alisha Weir as the title character, alongside Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, Sindhu Vee, and Emma Thompson. In the plot, Matilda Wormwood (Weir), who is neglected and mistreated by her parents, develops psychokinetic abilities to deal with Miss Trunchbull (Thompson), the ruthless and cruel headmistress of Crunchem Hall School.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ingström, Pia (17 September 2015). "Sluka, kladda, läs!". Hufvudstadsbladet (in Swedish). p. 24.
  2. 1 2 3 Chilton, Martin (26 September 2011). "Andy Stanton and why the truth is a lemon meringue". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Pauli, Michelle. "Andy Stanton's 'cult humour for kids'". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  4. Jacques, Adam (11 August 2012). "How We Met: Marianne Levy & Andy Stanton". The Independent. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  5. 1 2 Farry, Elthne (16 March 2008). "Rising star: Andy Stanton, Children's writer". the Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  6. Bennion, Chris. "Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear review — inventive, mischievous and thrilling". ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  7. "Mr Gum und der sprechende Kirschbaum - Theater Magdeburg". www.theater-magdeburg.de. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  8. Rieß, Martin. "„Mr. Gum und das geheime Geheimversteck" im Theater Magdeburg". www.volksstimme.de (in German). Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  9. Kolirin, Lianne (26 January 2014). "What next for Andy Stanton, much-loved children's author?". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 11 October 2022.