# Andy Stanton

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Andy_Stanton
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Andy_Stanton.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Stanton
> Source revision: 1337411882
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

"Mr. Gum" redirects here. For the comic book character, see [Atomics (comics)](/source/Atomics_(comics)).

For the Pixar executive, see [Andrew Stanton](/source/Andrew_Stanton).

English children's writer

Andy Stanton Stanton in Waterstones, Piccadilly, London, 2018 Born Andy Joel Stanton (1973-11-14) 14 November 1973 (age 52)[1] London, England[1] Occupation Children's author Language English Education Oxford University Notable works Mr 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 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](/source/Roald_Dahl) and [Enid Blyton](/source/Enid_Blyton).[1]

## Life

Stanton grew up in the London suburbs of [Harrow](/source/Harrow%2C_London) and [Pinner](/source/Pinner) and attended [Latymer Upper School](/source/Latymer_Upper_School) in [Hammersmith](/source/Hammersmith).[3] He studied English at [Oxford University](/source/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](/source/National_Health_Service).[4][3]

## Works

Source:[2]

### *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](/source/Red_House_Children's_Book_Award), two [Blue Peter Book Awards](/source/Blue_Peter_Book_Awards) for Best Book With Pictures,[5] and the inaugural [Roald Dahl Funny Prize](/source/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](/source/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](/source/David_Tyler_(producer)) for [BBC Audio](/source/BBC_Audio), with the author himself reading. Additionally, the first four books in the series were recorded, with [Kate Winslet](/source/Kate_Winslet) narrating, in 2012.

#### Stage

Stanton wrote the book and lyrics for *[Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear - The Musical!](/source/Mr_Gum_and_the_Dancing_Bear_-_the_Musical!)* which premiered at the [National Theatre](/source/Royal_National_Theatre) in July 2019.[6]

In 2022, the [Magdeburg Theater](/source/Theater_Magdeburg) 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:

- *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.[9] Stanton is one of 12 presidents of [Better Planet Education](/source/Better_Planet_Education).[10]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HBL_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HBL_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-HBL_1-2) Ingström, Pia (17 September 2015). ["Sluka, kladda, läs!"](http://gamla.hbl.fi/kultur/2015-09-17/770734/sluka-kladda-las). *Hufvudstadsbladet* (in Swedish). p. 24.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_2-2) Chilton, Martin (26 September 2011). ["Andy Stanton and why the truth is a lemon meringue"](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). *www.telegraph.co.uk*. Retrieved 11 October 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-The_Guardian_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-The_Guardian_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-The_Guardian_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-The_Guardian_3-3) Pauli, Michelle. ["Andy Stanton's 'cult humour for kids'"](https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2011/jul/05/andy-stanton-mr-gum). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 15 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Jacques, Adam (11 August 2012). ["How We Met: Marianne Levy & Andy Stanton"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-marianne-levy-andy-stanton-8026624.html). *The Independent*. Retrieved 11 October 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_5-1) Farry, Elthne (16 March 2008). ["Rising star: Andy Stanton, Children's writer"](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/mar/16/booksforchildrenandteenagers.features). *the Guardian*. Retrieved 11 October 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Bennion, Chris. ["Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear review — inventive, mischievous and thrilling"](https://www.thetimes.com/article/mr-gum-and-the-dancing-bear-review-inventive-mischievous-and-thrilling-rq58l7d2b). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0140-0460](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0140-0460). Retrieved 11 October 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Mr Gum und der sprechende Kirschbaum - Theater Magdeburg"](https://www.theater-magdeburg.de/inszenierungen/schauspiel/sz-20232024/wiederaufnahmen-2324/mr-gum-und-der-sprechende-kirschbaum/). *www.theater-magdeburg.de*. Retrieved 27 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Rieß, Martin. ["„Mr. Gum und das geheime Geheimversteck" im Theater Magdeburg"](https://www.volksstimme.de/sachsen-anhalt/regionale-kultur/mr-gum-und-das-geheime-geheimversteck-im-theater-magdeburg-3737407). *www.volksstimme.de* (in German). Retrieved 27 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Kolirin, Lianne (26 January 2014). ["What next for Andy Stanton, much-loved children's author?"](https://www.thejc.com/life-and-culture/all/interview-andy-stanton-creator-of-mr-gum-1.431377). *www.thejc.com*. Retrieved 11 October 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Andy Stanton"](https://betterplaneteducation.org.uk/team/andy-stanton). *[Better Planet Education](/source/Better_Planet_Education)*.

## External links

- [Mr Gum](http://www.mrgum.co.uk/) – series website by publisher [Egmont UK](/source/Egmont_UK).

- [Andy Stanton](https://lccn.loc.gov/nb2007012634) at the [Library of Congress](/source/Library_of_Congress), with 2 library catalogue records.

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Czech Republic Spain Netherlands Korea Sweden Poland Israel Artists MusicBrainz People DDB Other IdRef Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Andy Stanton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Stanton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Stanton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.