From the bestselling creator of the Treehouse comes You & a laugh-out-loud, action-packed, fully illustrated adventure series perfect for fans of funny books, reluctant readers, and kids aged 6 to 12.
Hey, you - yes, you!
Remember when we found that really deep hole and you jumped in and I had to jump in to rescue you and at the bottom of the hole we found the cave of the legendary Peanut Butter Beast?
That was one of our deepest - and most dangerous - adventures ever!
What? You don't remember?
Well, have I got a story for you!
Let me remind you how it all went down ... and down ... and down ... and down.
Andy Griffiths is Australia’s most popular children’s writer. He is the author of over 20 books, including nonsense verse, short stories, comic novels and plays. Over the past 15 years Andy’s books have been New York Times bestsellers, won over 50 children’s choice awards, been adapted as a television cartoon series and sold over 5 million copies worldwide.
Andy is best known as the author of the much-loved Just! series and The Day My Bum Went Psycho. In 2008 Andy became the first Australian author to win six children’s choice awards in one year for Just Shocking!, smashing his previous record of 4 awards for The Bad Book in 2005.
In 2008 Andy and his wife Jill collaborated with The Bell Shakespeare Company on the popular and critically acclaimed theatrical production Just Macbeth! which was nominated for two Helpmann Awards. In July 2010 Just Macbeth!completed a return sold-out season at the Sydney Opera House before heading to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it received rave reviews. The book of the play was shortlisted in the children’s section of the 2010 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.
Andy has had a long-standing collaboration with the multi-talented illustrator Terry Denton. Together they have produced theJust! series, the wildly popular The Bad Book and The Very Bad Book, the ridiculous illustrated guide What Bumosaur is That?, and the Seussian-inspired early readers The Cat on the Mat is Flat and The Big Fat Cow that Goes Kapow! Their latest book is The 13-Storey Treehouse (September 2011).
Am I too old to read this? Probably yes. Did I still enjoy it anyway? Also a yes!
Catering to the younger middle-grade audience, this is a fun, comic-style book with huge illustrations all throughout. Every little detail and every dialogue is written playfully, yet in such a sincere manner that I couldn’t help but laugh and grin back to back.
The names of those trees (like Jellius Wobblyius) and the reasoning behind them were pretty comical. There’s even a diagram of the belly of the beast that ate them 🤭. So hop on to this adventure that keeps going and going. But just like all adventures, it does come to a stop, and that is how the new ones begin.
The story is lighthearted and perfect if you want to give your mind a break, like I did after some heavy reads. I’m already awaiting their next big adventure, and I mean REALLY REALLY BIG! (iykyk).
P.S. I also loved the turtles debating at the beginning about whether they’re part of the book or not.
You and Me and the Peanut Butter Beast (You & Me, #2) by Andy Griffiths is a very short children’s book best suited, in my view, for bedtime or story time for toddlers under the age of two. When I refer to “children” here, I do so deliberately, because I genuinely believe that any average child older than that deserves far more respect for their developing intellect and imagination. I have read many children’s novels and picture books, and while they often rely on the unnatural, the unexpected, and the whimsical—talking animals, exaggerated scenarios, and fantastical plots—they usually do so with purpose. The best children’s stories entertain while also offering a gentle moral or insight into life, emotions, relationships, or problem-solving, all wrapped in fun and creativity. These kinds of books encourage curiosity, imagination, and emotional growth. Unfortunately, I don’t feel Andy Griffiths achieves that balance here. In short, this book falls well below what a child should reasonably expect from a story. Rather than nurturing a child’s mind or encouraging exploration of ideas, it feels dismissive of a child’s capacity to think, wonder, and grow. For any child over the age of two, the message comes across as: you’ll believe anything, so we won’t challenge you. I strongly believe children should be guided toward growth—mentally and emotionally—in ways that are playful, engaging, and age-appropriate, not held back in an intellectual holding pattern. For these reasons, this book earns a one-star rating from me, even when judged purely as a bedtime story for young children.
"You and Me and The Peanut Butter Beast" by Andy Griffiths was such a playful read - I giggled all the way through! I really enjoyed it, especially because it made me feel like a kid again.
It’s a fast-paced children’s book with lots of fun and cute illustrations scattered throughout. If you love reading comics, you should definitely give this book a try because it gives off that same vibe with its big illustrations and catchy phrases.
The book has more pictures than words in it, which perfectly fed my inner child who loves picture books. It’s such an adorable and adventurous read, and the best part is how the author portrayed the characters - it felt so realistic, almost like you were inside the story yourself.
If you’re looking for something light, refreshing, and fun, this is the perfect book to pick up. Although it’s marketed as a middle-grade book, I think adults will enjoy it just as much - I definitely did! 🙈
There are so many exciting adventure scenes that you’ll find yourself flipping through the pages non-stop. Overall, it was a super entertaining read, and I definitely recommend it. Now I can’t wait for the next book in the series! 🫶
Another action packed adventure unfolds as two brave adventurers, you and me, plunge into a mysterious hole in the ground. As they tumble deeper and deeper, they decide it's no better time for a peanut butter sandwich picnic. As they are enjoying their sticky snack, and wearing a bit of the peanut butter, they fall into another hole landing in a field of plants including a hungry carnivorous plant. Luckily, they are rescued by Batrat who swoops them away to the safety of a cave. This safety is short-lived when they come across the Peanut Butter Beast. Covered in goo from their earlier feast, You and Me make a run for it but are chased down another hole, ending up at the centre of the earth. They come across the Knucklehead twins, Johnny and Jimmy, who have been searching for the Peanut Butter Beast. A hilarious, high-energy read perfect for those who love the tree-storey series. Thank you to Novel Insight for a pre-published novel.
I thought the book was cute. It was a quick fun read and my son loved it. I also liked that it was a modified comic book style and the just added to the storyline of the book. It was a fun read and had a lot of great one liners in it. This is a great children's book and one that I know my kids will want me to read to them again and again.
This was the perfect beginning to middle reader book. It was easy and fun to read and focused more on pictures than words making it a good book for beginning readers.
👦🏻 read: After finishing the first book I decided to continue with this one. Now, the peanut butter craze came into the plot and Knucklehead is once again the subject of this funny story. The characters are as creative and funny like the ones in “Story Treehouse series” that I used to obsess, love and read. The only difference in this series is that the optics and plot are genuinely funny and entertaining. It is perfect for reluctant readers who wanted more illustrations rather than 100% words and honestly it is worth reading.
Momma: Back again with new adventures and characters! This quirky duo knows how to get into some crazy scenarios and meet the quirkiest side kicks along the way. We dove back into the world and had a hard time putting it down, always eager to find out what twist is around the next corner.
Mini: A giant hole, peanut butter monster, and the knuckleheads! I liked this one too, instead of finding something lost they kinda had to escape instead. I can’t wait to read more adventures!
Not sure why the only copy of this is listed as not published yet, it’s been on shelves in NZ for months.
Anyway, it’s another wacky, entertaining adventure with some familiar characters and a new antagonist. Fun with great illustrations (love the style and line work for this series).
First, I want to start off by saying thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this before it is sent out to the public.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I totally think my kiddos will as well. I absolutely love that the author makes you feel like you are there and a part of the story...This is a very fun adventure story for kids. I don’t think it’s a high level of reading so I think from 3rd grade on up should be able to enjoy it.
We get to see the Knucklehead brothers, and they get the characters into trouble again... but no fear we manage to get out of it!
I really liked the illustrations and the adventure. <3
Butter my socks and call me Susan!! This was such a jolly read. The little details in the illustrations only added to the fun. A laugh out loud book for me.
Loved reading this book and especially loved meeting Andy Griffiths and Bill Hope in Canberra. It was amazing to get their autographs and hear about how to write books!
Note: I received a DRC from NetGalley in exchange for a review. “From the bestselling creator of the Treehouse comes You & a laugh-out-loud, action-packed, fully illustrated adventure series perfect for fans of funny books, reluctant readers, and kids aged 6 to 12.
Hey, you - yes, you!
Remember when we found that really deep hole and you jumped in and I had to jump in to rescue you and at the bottom of the hole we found the cave of the legendary Peanut Butter Beast?
That was one of our deepest - and most dangerous - adventures ever!
What? You don't remember?
Well, have I got a story for you!
Let me remind you how it all went down ... and down ... and down ... and down.”
Just like the previous book in the “Adventure Unlimited” series, Book 2 is just as fun, if not more fun than the previous installment. Once again, Bill Hope’s illustrations are detailed and incredibly fun. There are some fun jokes, the characters are fun once again, and the story itself is fun and imaginative. Kids will be sure to have loads of fun with this quick and fun story. ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
This book is a fun and silly read! It is fast-paced, full of adventure and has super fun illustrations.
I loved how the characters are named ‘you’ and ‘me’; it kind of makes the reader feel as though they are part of the adventure themselves.
While You and Me and the Peanut Butter Beast by Andy Griffiths is aimed at kids aged 6–12, this book proves that illustrated books are not just for kids and can be enjoyed by adults too.
This book is hilarious, with comparatively less dialogue and a lot more focus on pictures, making this book perfect for beginners who are intimidated by reading and for kids who think books are boring.
I absolutely loved reading this one. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.