The 13-Story Treehouse: Monkey Mayhem! (The Treehouse Books, 1)

by Andy Griffiths

Other authorsTerry Denton (Illustrator)
Paperback, 2015

Call number

J GRAPHIC NOVEL GRI

Publication

Square Fish (2015), Edition: Reprint, 272 pages

Description

Who wouldn't want to live in a treehouse? Especially a 13-story treehouse that has a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a tank full of sharks, a library full of comics, a secret underground laboratory, a games room, self-making beds, vines you can swing on, a vegetable vaporiser and a marshmallow machine that follows you around and automatically shoots your favourite flavoured marshmallows into your mouth whenever it discerns you're hungry. Life would be perfect for Andy and Terry if it wasn't for the fact that they have to write their next book, which is almost impossible because there are just so many distractions, including thirteen flying cats, giant bananas, mermaids, a sea monsters pretending to be mermaids, enormous gorillas, and dangerous burp gas-bubblegum bubbles!… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
For the parent or grandparent who is looking for a book to enchant their middle grade youngster’s imagination, this would be a good choice. This author and illustrator have provided 3rd to 7th graders with a hilarious read which is written in a very humorous cartoon and text format. The main
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characters, Andy and Terry, have been charged by their publisher to produce the book they had promised, which is now overdue, by the very next day.
The book becomes the comical story of how it came to be, and it literally explodes off the page with laughs as the reader learns of all their escapades on a single day in their lives. Andy and Terry seem like overgrown kids, and the reader will romp through the pages with them, as they alternate between procrastination and determination in their effort to fulfill their obligation. The banter between them will absolutely delight youngsters.
In this first book of a new series, Andy, the author, and Terry, the illustrator, live in a wonderful, imaginary 13-story treehouse, with amenities a child can only dream of: see-through pools, an automatic marshmallow dispenser that knows to spit them into your mouth when you are hungry, a video conferencing telephone. The wondrous discoveries on each floor will enchant the 8-12 year old. Magical things occur as if they are everyday occurrences, and the ordinary becomes extraordinary under the pens of both these talented men. The drawings are so much fun to explore, although some are a bit too busy as to become complicated, most are really easy to unravel and follow. They are simply drawn and very clever. Each new chapter follows from the preceding anecdote and is illustrated appropriately.
There is one cautionary note to parents. Some language is not politically correct and might not be considered acceptable. The use of terms like stupid and birdbrain do occur, but they are not overused and seem appropriate to the episode, rather than insulting. There are some silly violent behaviors but nothing bad really seems to happen as a result. Also, lying is discussed as a method of solving a problem. Although some of the episodes are a bit gruesome, none are over the top, and in the end, the reader will definitely be left chuckling and not concerned. The escapades are really witty, and the silly humor in this book will give every reader something to smile or laugh about.
Overall, after all is said and done, this book sure captured the way young middle school kids talk to each other and think.
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LibraryThing member GRgenius
What starts out as a day in the life of two young lads living in the uber-awesome treehouse of anyone's dreams, morphs into a race to meet their publisher's deadline and ends in an adventure so wild, so crazy, so catnary-flying-in-the-clear-blue-sky.

It's set up "Wimpy Kid" or "Dork Diary" style
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meaning less on the words, more on the artwork but both pieces depend equally on each other for the story to be told. With the turn of a page, you're whisked inside the treehouse that appears from the outside to simply be a ginormous tree, free to explore the multi-story structure complete with a bowling alley, a room full of pillows, a theater, a library, and....a secret underground laboratory where random acts of genius (and not) are carried out on a daily basis. Yes, there is fun to be had and fun that has been had but there was also a deadline forgotten and Mr. Big Nose their publisher is none too happy. Any authors out there know that feeling?

The cast of characters encountered varies, if you haven't guessed that as of yet. From the cat turned catnary to the sea-monkeys, from a sea-monster to a GIANT gorilla, and a little bit of everything in between, you've definitely got your plate full here...but that's not even mentioning our leads, Andy and Terry (wait a second, aren't those the names of the author and illustrator?).Andy is the writer of the duo; Terry is the illustrator. Though each would like to claim the title of the other as well, a contest between the two revealed in the story nets the true winners. You'll laugh along with their antics, make their worries your own, and while away a piece of your afternoon as you read all about them rushing to meet their publisher's deadline...only after having a few more adventures that put off the inevitable.

A great way to insert a reading break in your day and something that will definitely keep your imagination running in tip top order. Though a work of fiction aimed at children the creativity employed will attract a wider range of readers....even if only to satisfy their curiosity. The way the story wraps around on itself is another stunning point you have to read to see and again begs the reader to ponder just how much of this work was fiction...versus fact.

**review copy was received in exchange for my honest review - full post can be viewed on my site**
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LibraryThing member sorayaduff
great for all ages and its so good with fanticy i love the book and the 26 story tree house its funny and good
LibraryThing member pnh002
For some reason, as of late, middle grades have caught my attention. I've been reading them nonstop knowing that I have other review books that HAVE to be read, but I can't stop reading them. I'm not sure what it is, but I can't put them down. And this one was no different.
When I was a little
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girl I always wanted a treehouse. But considering I never had a tree big enough to hold one, I never got to have one. Lucky for me, I was able to live that childhood dream out through this book. And even more lucky for me, this tree house isn't an ordinary one. It's a 13 story treehouse with story after story of cool things to do and see. Throughout the entire book I was super jealous of all the cool things they had distracting them from writing and illustrating the book. I wanted to get out and join them with the "catnary" issue. It seemed really fun.
It was a really cute read and it kept me laughing the entire time. I can't wait to see what else these two have in store for the kiddos.
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LibraryThing member Ella.Kennen
Hilarious, stream-of-consciousness, heavily illustrated book for the upper elementary set.
LibraryThing member AB4Books
This hilarious book is about two boys whose names are Andy and Terry. To show you what I mean, one day Andy comes down to get breakfast and he sees Terry painting a cat bright yellow. He says that he is turning it into a canary! They live in an unimaginable 13-story tree house. The reason why the
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tree house is so unimaginable is because I bet you it would take a really long time for you to build it and in the book, it said it took them a bout a day or 2. Andy and Terry are writers. If you look closely, Andy and Terry are the author and illustrator of the book. They write their books in the tree house. Their mean publisher’s name is Mr. Big Nose. The reason why Mr. Big Nose is so mean is because Andy and Terry always send their books in late. While they are writing their book, they have all sorts of adventures from flying cats to sea monsters. They end up writing their book about what they did that day. Then, they give it to Mr. Big Nose. He publishes it and does all the stuff that publishers do.
I would rate this book from 1-10, as 8.It is a great book that each child should read. This is such a good book even though it is for kids 3 years younger than me I still love it.
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LibraryThing member Sullywriter
More manic, zany goofiness this time with a metafictional twist. Lots of fun that will particularly appeal to fans of the Wimpy Kid and Big Nate series.
LibraryThing member paula-childrenslib
Who wouldn't want to live in a treehouse? Especially a 13-story treehouse that has a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a tank full of sharks, a library full of comics, a secret underground laboratory, a games room, self-making beds, vines you can swing on, a vegetable vaporiser and a
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marshmallow machine that follows you around and automatically shoots your favourite flavoured marshmallows into your mouth whenever it discerns you're hungry. Life would be perfect for Andy and Terry if it wasn't for the fact that they have to write their next book, which is almost impossible because there are just so many distractions, including thirteen flying cats, giant bananas, mermaids, a sea monsters pretending to be mermaids, enormous gorillas, and dangerous burp gas-bubblegum bubbles!
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LibraryThing member pussreboots
The 13-Story Treehouse by Any Griffiths and Terry Denton is a graphic novel hybrid about an author and his illustrator friend who live together in a 13-story treehouse. They should be writing their next book but are too busy playing and having adventures.

The appeal here is in the illustrations. The
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treehouse is elaborate and silly. They have self-making beds, a marshmallow machine, a shark tank, and a bowling alley, among other conveniences.

Apparently Griffiths and Denton have written a ton of stuff together. I haven't had the pleasure of reading any of their other collaborations yet. For fans who have, this book offers a fictional look behind the scenes.

This book reads like a behind the scenes episode of Phineas and Ferb (rather like the Tri-Stone Era episode). Imagine if Jeff "Swampy" Marsh and Dan Povenmire goofed off too long and then made an episode about it.
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LibraryThing member Salsabrarian
All-out, non-stop wackiness involving sea monkeys, flying cats, giant gorillas and bananas, and two boys on deadline to write a book. Humorous and light reading for reluctant readers and those just wanting something easy-breezy.
LibraryThing member Writermala
Are you a parent like me who thought the spelling ought to be "Storey" not "Story?" Well you're wrong. There are indeed 13 stories, and each 'story' in this book is imaginative and fun. This book transcends genres. It could be classified as Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Humour, Fiction, Sci-Fi..and the
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list goes on. What is important is that it is ideal for children. You could start reading aloud to children as young as three years of age and help them read it as soon as they start reading. Older children will love reading it by themselves. The pictures are also a lot of fun.

All in all a wonderful children's book.
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LibraryThing member bah195
The 13-Story Treehouse is a hilarious tale geared to middle grade readers and has illustrations that are fun to explore. The stories are short and hold a child's interest. The book is a great one for a child to read to their parents.
I won a copy of this book and I'm voluntarily writing a review.
LibraryThing member cougargirl1967
Very kooky story, I think a child would find it even funnier.
LibraryThing member blbooks
First sentence: Hi, my name is Andy. This is my friend Terry. We live in a tree.

Premise/plot: Andy and Terry live in a treehouse--a LARGE treehouse at that. They write books together. They are past due for their current book, oh no! And they are having trouble concentrating on their work, their
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project. They keep getting distracted by MANY things (many monkey related, though somehow sea monsters also make an appearance). Will they ever finish their book? And if they do finish their book will children like you read it?

My thoughts: Very meta. I think this one may have kid appeal. I am NOT the target audience. The humor, in my opinion, is very age-specific. There's a target age group--or humor/maturity phase--that this one was written for directly. Granted humor is always subjective. It is the first in a series.
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Awards

Bluestem Award (Nominee — 2016)
Independent Booksellers' Book Prize (Shortlist — Children's — 2015)
Golden Archer Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2018)
WAYRBA: Western Australia Young Readers Book Award (Winner — Younger Readers — 2012)
The Indie Book Award (Longlist — 2012)
COOL: Canberra’s Own Outstanding List (Fiction for Older Readers — 2012)

ISBN

1250070651 / 9781250070654
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