If your children (or indeed you!) have yet to discover the joyous David Walliams books then you are in for a treat. Like a modern day Roald Dahl, who incidentally David was inspired by, his writing is fun, engaging and brilliantly bizarre. His characters are everyday and unique - from Billionaire Boy to Gangsta Granny - and wonderfully relatable even with their eccentricities.
What Walliams manages with all his tales is to bring humour and silliness to moving and difficult topics. From the boy who didn't fit in (in The Boy In The Dress) to a man who everyone avoids because he smells (Mr Stink) and the wild but lovable rabble in World's Worst Children, outsiders are heroes in his books. He pulls reluctant readers and booklovers in immediately and has you eating up his words, and the worlds he creates, in no time.
Whether you've read them all and just want to read them in order, or you're yet to embark on sharing these tales with your children, then here are all of David Walliams' books in order:
David Walliams' Children's Books
Perfect for children age 9 and up.
1. The Boy In The Dress - 2008
The first book Walliams released (to critical acclaim) is about a 12 year old boy called Dennis whose life is pretty bleak after his mum leaves. That is, until he makes friends with a girl over their love of Vogue magazine... and dresses.
2. Mr Stink - 2009
Chloe has befriended Mr Stink, the stinkiest, swankiest tramp in town and decides to hide him in her garden shed... and keep him a secret of course. But as Chloe finds out, it's hard to keep someone as stinky as Mr Stink a secret for long...
3. Billionaire Boy - 2010
Lots of kids, and adults too, wonder what it'd like to be rich and have everything you want... well Billionaire Boy Joe knows exactly what it's like and whilst he has his own bowling alley and an orang-utan for a Butler, he doesn't have any friends.
4. Gangsta Granny - 2011
Ben's Grandma is boring and staying at her house is the most boring thing ever. Or so Ben thinks. In a surprising tale of an elderly international jewel thief who ropes her grandson in to steal the Crown Jewels, Ben realises that staying with his Granny is the most exciting thing he's ever done.
5. Ratburger - 2012
So funny you'll have to hold your sides from splitting, Ratburger is the funny story of Zoe and a cast of family, friends and locals who seem to be out to get her... and her pet rat. Will she stop them? You'll have to read it to find out!
6. Demon Dentist - 2013
You'd expect a shiny coin under your pillow in exchange for your tooth right? Wrong! Something sinister has come to town and instead of financial rewards, children are waking up to slugs and spiders and earwigs crawling out from underneath their pillows. What, or who, could possibly behind it all?
7. Awful Auntie - 2014
Aunt Alberta is on a mission to stop Lady Stella Saxby from inheriting the wonderful Saxby Hall. But Stella is a smart cookie and along with her friend Soot makes a plan (that includes a mischievous chimney sweep ghost) to make sure her awful auntie doesn't triumph!
8. Grandpa's Great Escape
This beautiful adventure story will shine a light on the special bond between grandparent and grandchild, even if the Grandpa at the heart of this tale forgets his grandson Jack's name and wears his slippers to the supermarket. Taking to the skies in a spitfire, Grandpa is the unlikely hero who saves the day.
9. The World's Worst Children - 2016
Ten delightfully dreadful tales of ten delightfully dreadful children make up this brilliant book, perfect for a hilarious bedtime. From Blubbering Bertha, Dribbling Drew and Sofia Sofia... which one do you think is the worst?
10. The Midnight Gang - 2016
Finding himself in hospital after being hit on the head by a cricket ball, Tom is initially scared of the scary porters and matrons stalking the ward. But when he meets four other patients who discover their dreams can really come true, they form the midnight gang and magic (and friendship) ensues.
11. The World's Worst Children 2 - 2017
The wickedly worst children are back, this time though, they're even worse! More tales of gruesome, horrifying and disgusting children, you won't believe how bad they can be...
12. Bad Dad - 2017
Frank's dad is in prison for a driving the getaway car in a bank robbery. Frank decides to break his dad free from prison for one night so he can give the money back but first, they'll have to go through the formidable crime boss, Mr Big.
Picture Books
Perfect for younger readers ages 3 and up.
1. The Slightly Annoying Elephant - 2013
Do you know a big blue elephant with a bossy streak that likes to turn up uninvited? Well, once you've read this warm and funny story, you certainly will!
2. The First Hippo on The Moon - 2014
Two huge hippos. One ENORMOUS dream. Who can make it to the moon first? 3 ...2 ...1 ...BLAST OFF!
3. The Queen's Orangutan - 2015
It all goes bananas when the bored Queen makes a brilliant birthday wish for... you guessed it... an orang-utan!
4. The Bear That Went Boo - 2015
A mischievous little bear cub who loves to go Boo! But doesn't know when to stop? It can only be the brilliant written and beautifully illustrated tale by Walliams and illustrator Tony Ross.
5. There's a Snake In My School - 2016
When everyone else brings in creatures of the furry, four legged kind for bring-you-pet-to-school-day, what does Miranda do? She brings in her pet snake, Penelope of course. Whilst the headmistress is horrified, and doesn't think Penelope belongs in a school, this snake has other ideas...
If you're just starting out with the world of David Walliams, you could do worse than getting our 5 book boxset of his most popular tales. And of course, you can always pick up his other books as you work your way through his collection. See them all (and find out more about this brilliant children's author) on our David Walliams author page.
