Australian author of children's books, Andy Griffiths, finds himself on the defensive as his latest creation “The Bad Book” has certain lawmakers up in arms…

From Author Weaves Violence Into Kid's Book (AP via Yahoo News):

…”This book is completely unacceptable … and I urge all teachers and principals to ensure their school does not own a copy,” [South Australian lawmaker Vickie] Chapman said Thursday. “It also could encourage children to participate in some life-threatening behavior.”

…Chapman questioned what type of message it was sending to children.

…On one page of the book a child says to his mother: 'Mummy can I run across this very busy six-lane highway with my eyes shut?' to which the mother replies: 'Well, I don't know' … the child later runs across the road with a picture of him getting hit by a car…

“The Bad Book” was published in 2004 and was recently voted the favorite children's book in Queensland state.

Apparently there is another segment in the book where a child lights himself on fire. So here's the question: is this a case where kids-get-the-joke-and-oversensitive-parents-do-not or is this author just out of his mind?

seems appropriate right now.