Terry Denton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Terry Denton
Denton in August 2018
Born	Terry Denton (1950-07-26)26 July 1950 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died	21 September 2026(2026-09-21) (aged 76) Mornington, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Terry Denton was a famous Australian artist and writer. He drew funny pictures and cartoons for many popular books. Terry drew artwork for more than thirty books that he wrote himself. He also created drawings for stories written by other authors. He lived in Melbourne, which is a big city in Victoria. Many children across the world enjoy his funny drawings.

The Early Life of Terry Denton

Terry was born on 26 July 1950 in Melbourne. He grew up with four brothers and was the second youngest boy. Having a big family gave him lots of funny ideas. As a boy, Terry loved to doodle and sketch everything around him. He learned to make people smile using his silly art style. Later in life, he got married and raised three children.

Creating Books and Television Shows

Terry worked on many exciting creative projects throughout his career. In 1985, he created a special picture storybook named Felix and Alexander. This great book won the Picture Book of the Year award in 1986. That big award came from the Children's Book Council of Australia. Terry also made a very funny book series called Gasp!. It tells silly stories about a very energetic pet goldfish. This story became so popular that people turned it into a cartoon show. It was broadcast on television channels like the Nine Network and ABC3. Terry also helped make a children's television show called Lift Off. His bright drawings helped shape the look of that fun show.

Working with Andy Griffiths

The Amazing Treehouse Books

Terry Denton worked closely with an author named Andy Griffiths. Together, they became an amazing creative team. Andy wrote wild stories while Terry drew thousands of funny cartoon doodles. Their most famous collaboration is The 13-Storey Treehouse series. In these tales, two friends live in a giant treehouse. They add thirteen brand new levels in every single book. The treehouse had bowling alleys, secret labs, and marshmallow machines. Australian readers bought more than 10 million copies of these books. In 2016, The 78-Storey Treehouse set an amazing sales record. It became the fastest-selling book in the history of Australia. Terry drew tiny jokes and speech bubbles all over the page margins. Children loved finding every secret cartoon hidden inside the chapters.

Other Books by the Duo

Terry and Andy created many other silly storybooks together. They made the popular Just! series of books. This included titles like Just Tricking! and Just Annoying!. They also created laugh-out-loud books such as The Day My Bum Went Psycho. Another silly story they made was The Cat on the Mat Is Flat. They even made funny poetry in The Bad Book and The Very Bad Book. Their books showed young readers that reading can be super fun.

Drawing for Other Australian Authors

Terry drew pictures for many other well-known writers across Australia. He made lovely artwork for books written by the author Mem Fox. For example, he illustrated her funny tale called A Particular Cow. He also worked with an author named Paul Jennings. Together with Ted Greenwood, they made clever books like Duck for Cover. Terry also drew pictures for books by Natalie Jane Prior. These stories followed a mischievous cat named The Paw. He also drew pictures for children's books by Gillian Rubinstein. Terry was always eager to help bring stories to life.

Caring for the Environment

Terry cared very much about protecting nature and the great outdoors. He wanted future generations to enjoy a clean planet. Along with his friend Andy, Terry supported the September 2019 climate strikes. He encouraged young people to speak up about helping the Earth. He believed that children have powerful voices that can change things.

Remembering Terry Denton

Terry Denton passed away peacefully on 21 September 2026 in Mornington, Victoria. He was 76 years old and was surrounded by his family. People around the world remember Terry as a warm and creative artist. His books continue to bring joy, laughter, and giggles to young readers.

List of Selected Works

Books Written and Illustrated by Terry

• Felix and Alexander
• Gasp!
• Zapt!
• Splat!
• Squish!
• The Ultimate Wave
• Terry Denton's Really Truly Amazing Guide to Everything

Famous Treehouse Books

• The 13-Storey Treehouse
• The 26-Storey Treehouse
• The 39-Storey Treehouse
• The 52-Storey Treehouse
• The 65-Storey Treehouse
• The 78-Storey Treehouse
• The 91-Storey Treehouse
• The 104-Storey Treehouse
• The 117-Storey Treehouse
• The 130-Storey Treehouse
• The 143-Storey Treehouse
• The 156-Storey Treehouse
• The 169-Storey Treehouse