Prominent Australian children’s author Andy Griffiths will bring his wacky humour to the nation’s capital.

Canberra Writers Festival (CWF) organisers are introducing a new event to the event’s calendar: the CWF Kids YA (young adult) Day, which will run at the National Museum of Australia on 26 October.

One of the events is Andy Griffiths and Bill Hope Adventure: You & Me and the Peanut Butter Beast, where the duo will turn the attendees into the book’s main character.

Mr Griffiths told CD the session would feature a live drawing demonstration and take suggestions from the audience.

“I’ll be there guiding proceedings and teasing and provoking the audience and arguing with them,” he said.

“People just love these sessions because Bill is a very talented and fast drawer.”

Mr Griffiths said attendees would catch a glimpse of what the pair’s writing room process was like.

“We’re just entertaining ourselves doing the funniest and most surprising drawing and story ideas we can,” he said.

“For the session, we let the children in on that and let them make their own suggestions, which has been successful.

“Parents are delighted as well, often agreeable and as surprised as the children. So, we cater to the whole family.”

The session will run from 11 am to noon, followed by a book signing and photography opportunities.

While many writers’ festivals catered to older readers, Mr Griffiths said it was wonderful to see a focus on the younger generations.

“Where else are our future readers going to come from but children?” he said.

“My whole self-appointed mission is to turn children onto books from an early age, so they associate books with pleasure, excitement, expansion and escape.

“And, once they’ve got the keys to be able to read, they will literally have the universe at their fingertips.”

After graduating from university and becoming a high school English teacher, Mr Griffiths used humour when he discovered many students thought reading and writing were “boring”.

He turned to self-publishing in his early career and has now been an author for many decades, writing countless children’s books.

These books have been read by many generations of families — from the Just books in the 90s to The Day My Bum Went Psycho, which was releasedin 2001, through to the children of now who are reading their way through his Treehouse series.

“It’s gratifying to see that multi-generational thing going. You and Me is catering to a new generation.

“I’m pinching myself to have had the longevity as a writer that I’ve had.

“We’ve just subtly reimagined and recalibrated as we’ve gone along.

“…The latest book features children who have been pestering me to be in the books — that’s why it’s you and me; it’s me reminding you of one of our amazing adventures we’ve had together, so the reader is the other character.”

CWF Festival artistic director Andra Putnis said the Kids and YA Day was added to the festival because storytelling for all ages should be celebrated.

“Children and teens included!” she told CW.

Putnis, an author herself, said that it was important to foster a love of reading, creativity and stories in younger generations.

“The annual CWF is the perfect chance to do this,” she said.

“Books help young people develop greater empathy for, and understanding of, the stories of others, and broaden horizons.

“It’s also wonderful for children to meet their book heroes, so come down and say hi to Andy Griffiths.”

She said the event catered to both children and adults to have a fun day.

“Lots of the events highlight much-loved family favourites and prioritise laughs for everyone. It’s going to be a huge amount of fun for Canberra families!” Putnis said.

“For example, bring the children (and their pet photos or drawings along) for a fun-for-all-ages session with Craig Silvey, author of the much-loved Runt.

“Craig is back with Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping, and he’ll chat with Canberra’s best-selling writer and vet, Karen Viggers. This is a book for all ages.”

Ms Putnis said there would also be Let’s Have a Draw Off — a fast-paced, family-friendly showdown between Bill Hope, Eleri Harris (A Loo of One’s Own), and David Conley (The Book About Life Before Dinosaurs).

“(They will) go head-to-head in a live drawing competition, with the audience calling the shots,” she said.

“Expect outrageous creations, and the joy of seeing stories literally sketched into life before your eyes. Entertainment for the adults too!”

There will also be an opportunity for children to create poems and songs and design their own garden, and of course, draw, and for the YA, there will be some talks.

The theme for the day is Find Your Storyteller, with dressing up in your favourite book character being encouraged, but not mandatory.

Tickets are $15. For more information, visit canberrawritersfestival.com.au/kidsandyaday