Giles Andreae (born March 16, 1966 in London) is a British writer and illustrator known for his children's books and for creating iconic characters like Purple Ronnie and Edward Monkton. He studied at Eton College and Worcester College at the University of Oxford, where he developed the character of Purple Ronnie while facing a diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 22.
His most famous work is Giraffes Can’t Dance (1999), an international bestseller that celebrates self-acceptance and diversity. Other popular titles include Rumble in the Jungle, Commotion in the Ocean, Pants, and Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs, many of which have been adapted into TV series and theater.
In addition to his literary work, Andreae has been involved in visual poetry projects for institutions like the Natural History Museum and Selfridges. He is an ambassador for the Arts Award and has been a board member of the UCL Cancer Trust, having overcome cancer in his youth.
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He currently lives in Oxfordshire with his wife, Victoria, a children's clothing designer, and their four children.
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