Terry Denton, Illustrator of Andy Griffiths' Treehouse Series, Dies at 76

Terry Denton, the beloved Australian children's book illustrator and author, has died at the age of 76. Denton passed away on Monday, surrounded by his family.

Denton was best known for his decades-long collaboration with author Andy Griffiths, most notably on the wildly popular Treehouse series of books. Griffiths described working with Denton as a "delight" and recalled their time together with great fondness, stating, "I've never laughed so hard as I did when working with him, whether in the writing room or on stage. He was a true clown and much beloved - both in real life and as a character in the Treehouse series."

Denton's agent and family, including his wife Kristin, children Max, Imogen, and Eve, and his grandchildren, released a joint statement remembering his impact. "Dad gave joy to millions of children around the world and after all those stories and all those lives he touched, he always came home to us," they said. "We are so grateful that his stories will continue to live on, bringing wonder, laughter and comfort to generations yet to come - and most especially to his beloved grandchildren, who will grow up knowing him through the magic he left behind."

Beyond his work with Griffiths, Denton also illustrated books for authors such as Mem Fox and Paul Jennings. He was also a prolific writer and illustrator in his own right, having penned and illustrated over two dozen of his own books, including the Gasp! series, which was adapted into a television show.

The 13-book Treehouse series achieved international success, being translated into 35 languages and selling more than 13 million copies globally. His publisher, Pan Macmillan, stated that Denton will be remembered for his "extraordinary imagination and joyful humour" that will endure through his extensive body of work.