Which David Walliams Book?

[Letsgetreadytorumbleagain]

My DS will be 7 soon and is starting to enjoy reading. He's read a couple of Dirty Bertie books. He has asked for a David Walliams book, but I'm unsure which would be the best to start him off on 🤷🏻‍♀️

Which ones have your children enjoyed and found funny?

All of them - but I think Bad Dad or Gangster Granny. (Although we started with Mr Stink and The Boy in a Dress). The World's Worst....are short stories so easily accessible too.

None. He’s a horrible person and the books are questionable at best.
Isn’t there something else he’d like?

None. They are all shit. If it wasn't for his name they would never have been published. Truly awful writing. (Primary school teacher here)

My DS liked Billionaire Boy best

It's what he's asked for - I know a few other children in his class have been reading his books. So maybe that's the only reason

What would you suggest?

David Walliams was great for my reluctant reader.

They are not the best written books in the world, but they helped DD make the transition from Horrid Henry to longer books, and she was 'stuck' on Horrid Henry for a long time.

I'd avoid all of them.

Billionaire Boy contains the word 'slag' and a reference to enlarged breasts.

Boy in a Dress contains a reference to porn mags under the bed.

Unsavoury, badly written garbage.

How about A Sea of Stories by Sylvia Bishop.

They are all awful but kids love them. Mr Stink is probably a good one to start.

Also he would probably enjoy Birthday Boy by David Baddiel.

Billionaire boy

None - he's a vile misogynist and a dreadful writer. Baddiel is better

DD loved the midnight gang. They do seem to help kids get into reading; in DDs case I was trying to expand her reading as she kept reading the same author over and over, and I thought the style of DW books might help. It worked - she reads a broad spectrum now.

As an alternative- Ronald Dahl?

Roald...bloody autocorrect

There is no alternative to RD

Worlds Worst Children. Short stories so manageable and accessible for young or not so engaged readers.
The recent Worlds Worst Teachers is also worth a shot.

None of them. They are hated in this house.

My DS loves the Worlds Worst Children and Teachers, he is 7, but he has also asked for and just started on Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

I agree, David Walliams writing style is pretty poor, and the stories lack imagination and originality. It is definetly his name that got him published avd not his litery talent - as he definitely has fuck all of that.

However, DS likes the stories, they make him laugh, and reading at bedtime is something as a family we all do, and DS is now doing this, so I let him get on with it.

Try Mr Gum by Andy Stanton, The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd, Charlie Changes into a Chicken (can’t remember author), and The Grunts by Philip Ardagh.

All a bit silly, suitable for his age range, well written and none of the meanness of Walliams.

Atticus Claw is a great series that worked for my reluctant reader

Agree the David Baddiel ones are better. Primary teacher here too that thinks the David Williams books are shite but they do get kids reading and I'd rather they read him than nothing at all!

Thanks all - lots of alternatives to think about!