The Bad Book

This has been brewing for a few days now; The Bad Book, by children's author Andy Griffiths, has been attacked by the South Australian Liberal Party. State education Spokeswoman Vickie Chapman labeled the book "cruel, violent and disgusting".

Melbourne-based author Griffiths blames the controversy on "a new conservatism that seems to be creeping in". ... He said Ms Chapman's assertions were "essentially a misreading of the book", which shows "people doing bad things and suffering as a result". He said younger children "all pick up on the spirit of fun that's being created". "That's who I write for - I don't spend too much time explaining things to adults who try to judge absurd humour on the basis of logic," Griffiths said.