Australian children's author and illustrator Terry Denton has died aged 76, with his death announced on 22 September 2026 by his literary agency and publisher. Denton died surrounded by his family near Melbourne in Victoria on Monday. He was widely recognised for his distinctive illustrations and his decades-long contribution to Australian children's literature.

Denton became particularly well known through his creative partnership with author Andy Griffiths. The pair worked together for approximately three decades, producing the hugely successful Treehouse series. Their first book in the series, The 13-Storey Treehouse, was published in 2011 and became a major success in Australia and overseas.

The Treehouse books combined Denton's imaginative illustrations with Griffiths' humorous stories. The fictional versions of Andy and Terry were placed inside an increasingly unusual treehouse filled with strange attractions, games and unexpected adventures. The format proved popular with young readers and eventually reached audiences in about 35 countries. The original 13-Storey Treehouse book alone sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, according to the report.

The partnership eventually produced 13 Treehouse books. The series included titles such as The 26-Storey Treehouse, The 52-Storey Treehouse and The 78-Storey Treehouse. The 78-Storey Treehouse became the fastest-selling book in Australian history when it was released in 2016.

Griffiths paid tribute to Denton following the announcement of his death, describing their long creative partnership as a significant part of his own life and career. He recalled how the two artists worked differently but used those differences to strengthen their collaboration. Griffiths developed story structures while Denton contributed drawings and unexpected visual ideas.

Denton's career extended well beyond the Treehouse series. Before meeting Griffiths in the 1990s, he had already worked on almost 30 books. He also created and illustrated other children's works, including the Gasp! series, which was later adapted for television. His work across several decades helped establish him as a prominent figure in Australian children's publishing.

Among his career achievements was winning the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award in 1986 for Felix and Alexander. His work continued to be read by generations of Australian children, with several of his earlier books remaining popular decades after their original publication.

Denton was born and raised in Melbourne as the second youngest of five brothers. He is survived by his wife Kristen, his children Imogen, Eve and Max, and his grandchildren.

No cause of death was disclosed in the announcement. The report noted that Denton had experienced poor health in recent years, but no further details were provided.

His death marks the loss of an Australian creative figure whose illustrations became closely associated with some of the country's most widely read children's books. His work with Andy Griffiths gave Australian children a distinctive combination of humour, imaginative storytelling and highly recognisable artwork that reached readers well beyond Australia.