Andy Stanton
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2015}}
{{redirect|Mr. Gum|the comic book character|Atomics (comics)}}
{{For|the Pixar executive|Andrew Stanton}}{{Short description|English children's writer}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Andy Stanton
| image = Andy Stanton 20181206.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Stanton in Waterstones, Piccadilly, London, 2018
| birth_name = Andy Joel Stanton
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|11|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = London, England
| death_date =
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| occupation = Children's author
| language = English
| citizenship =
| education = Oxford University
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| notableworks = Mr Gum series
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| children =
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| awards = {{Plainlist|
{{Awards|Red House Children's Book Award (Overall)|2007|You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum!|author}}
{{Awards|Red House Children's Book Award (Younger Readers)|2007|You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum!|author}}
{{Awards|Blue Peter Book Award for Most Fun Story with Pictures|2007|You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum!|author}}
{{Awards|Roald Dahl Funny Prize|2008|Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear|author}}
}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.mrgum.co.uk/}}
| portaldisp =
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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.{{Cite web |last=Chilton |first=Martin |date=26 September 2011 |title=Andy Stanton and why the truth is a lemon meringue |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bath-childrens-literature/8789728/Andy-Stanton-and-why-the-truth-is-a-lemon-meringue.html#:~:text=Andy%20Stanton%20captivated%20an%20audience,like%20putting%20your%20hands%20up.%22 |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk}} Stanton's writing is influenced by Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton.{{cite news |last=Ingström |first=Pia |date=17 September 2015 |title=Sluka, kladda, läs! |language=Swedish |page=24 |newspaper=Hufvudstadsbladet |url=http://gamla.hbl.fi/kultur/2015-09-17/770734/sluka-kladda-las}}
Life
Stanton grew up in the London suburbs of Harrow and Pinner and attended Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith.{{cite web |last1=Pauli |first1=Michelle |title=Andy Stanton's 'cult humour for kids' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2011/jul/05/andy-stanton-mr-gum |access-date=15 January 2015 |work=The Guardian}} He studied English at Oxford University, but was "kicked out". He has worked as a film script reader, a cartoonist, and as a temporary medical secretary for the NHS.{{Cite news |last=Jacques |first=Adam |date=11 August 2012 |title=How We Met: Marianne Levy & Andy Stanton |language=en-GB |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-marianne-levy-andy-stanton-8026624.html |access-date=2022-10-11}}
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". Characters in the books include Old King Thunderbelly and Polly.
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,{{Cite web |last=Farry |first=Elthne |date=2008-03-16 |title=Rising star: Andy Stanton, Children's writer |url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/mar/16/booksforchildrenandteenagers.features |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} and the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2008 for Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear.
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.{{Cite news |last=Bennion |first=Chris |title=Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear review — inventive, mischievous and thrilling |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/mr-gum-and-the-dancing-bear-review-inventive-mischievous-and-thrilling-rq58l7d2b |access-date=2022-10-11 |issn=0140-0460}}
In 2022, the Magdeburg Theater staged a stage version of "Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree",{{Cite web |title=Mr Gum und der sprechende Kirschbaum - Theater Magdeburg |url=https://www.theater-magdeburg.de/inszenierungen/schauspiel/sz-20232024/wiederaufnahmen-2324/mr-gum-und-der-sprechende-kirschbaum/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.theater-magdeburg.de}} followed in 2023 by "Mr Gum and the Secret Hideout".{{Cite web |last=Rieß |first=Martin |title=„Mr. Gum und das geheime Geheimversteck“ im Theater Magdeburg |url=https://www.volksstimme.de/sachsen-anhalt/regionale-kultur/mr-gum-und-das-geheime-geheimversteck-im-theater-magdeburg-3737407 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.volksstimme.de |language=de}}
= Other books =
Additionally, Stanton has written several other books published by various publishers:
- Danny McGee Drinks the Sea (2016)
- Natboff! One Million Years of Stupidity (2018)
- When I Was a Child (2019)
- The Paninis of Pompeii (2019)
- Going to the Volcano (2020)
- The Story of Matthew Buzzington (2021)
- Sterling and the Canary (2021)
- Benny the Blue Whale: One Author's Descent into the Madness of AI (2023)
Personal life
Stanton is Jewish.{{Cite web |last=Kolirin |first=Lianne |date=26 January 2014 |title=What next for Andy Stanton, much-loved children's author? |url=https://www.thejc.com/life-and-culture/all/interview-andy-stanton-creator-of-mr-gum-1.431377 |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=www.thejc.com}} Stanton is one of 12 presidents of Better Planet Education.{{Cite web|url=https://betterplaneteducation.org.uk/team/andy-stanton|title = Andy Stanton | website=Better Planet Education }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.mrgum.co.uk/ Mr Gum] – series website by publisher Egmont UK.
- {{LCAuth|nb2007012634|Andy Stanton|2|ue}}.
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stanton, Andy}}
Category:English children's writers
Category:Writers from the London Borough of Harrow
Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford