David Walliams

[Navelgazers]

He's on the wall of my child's school as author of the month. I just do not see the appeal - as I see it he got into writing easily, already being a celebrity, and found success as he used the same illustrator as Roald Dahl - Quentin Blake.

There have been threads in the past about him, and now this
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/10/david-walliams-recorded-derogatory-remarks-britains-got-talent-bgt-contestants

Basically, saying really offensive things about some BGT contestants, on mic. Of course they were going to be leaked.

I’ve only read The bear who went Boo - so boring and unfunny. It’s the knowing nod to adults I cannot bear.

YANBU.

I read something about the promotional budgets publishers give to DW and other celeb authors and how that in turn influences sales and shelf space etc. It really opened my eyes and saddened me to realise that popular books are not necessarily ones people rate or even enjoy, and it is shocking that I hadn't realised how manipulated we all are.

My DC are readers bit not overly interested in DW thank goodness. The casual racism in the depiction of for eg the corner shop worker is appalling. One DC had a while class focus on DW books that went on and on, I couldn't bear them!

For those seeking new ideas to get DC into reading I find lists like those on The Reader Teacher and Mr Bodd's Blog really good. There's so many Instagram accounts featuring new titles too, of you search #kidsbookstagram for example. Libraries are fantastic at exposing you to new genres and authors and librarians are great at suggesting what you might like next based on previous enjoyment.

Walliams is a sexist racist prick and a terrible writer.

They do! They get borrowed

If there's anything in particular you want you can order it.

I used to like him, but not any more. His first few books were good (boy in dress, gangsta granny) , then they became formulaic.
Dahl was a miserable anti semite but an amazing author. Hard to reconcile.

Walliams is walking ick. I read a few of the early ones when older boy was into them and didnt see the appeal.
At the moment I am reading Wilf the mighty worrier series by Georgia Pritchett.
Highly recommend them we are on our third read through of the series. 8yo ds will pick them up and read them on their own. There are some proper laugh out loud bits in there.

I really struggle getting books for my grandchildren - most of the popular choices are so badly written.

Some of my favourite childhood memories are of a wonderful primary school teacher who spent the last half hour of every school day reading to us. I still remember The Hobbit; The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe; The Secret Garden. I miss those sort of books.

Nor surprised in any way, surely most thought he was a creep.

One of those situations where I actively avoid anything the man is on, so I don't know too much about him and maybe shouldn't comment, but the overwhelming impression I get of him is total and utter prick. First impressions are usually right. Same with Musk - seemed like a nob from the start, looks like he is one. And I agree with you @ArseMenagerie ITV is just full of awful 'entertainment' for awful people. I won't have it on in my house.

Enid Blyton was a massive racist, if we’re talking about objectionable authors!

How old is your little one? The Terry Pratchett books for younger readers are amazing, if he’s old enough for them. Malorie Blackman‘s children’s books are great, and he can move up to her YA stuff as he gets older.

Try the ‘Uncle’ series by JP Martin, who also used Quentin Blake as his illustrator. They are absolutely wonderful books for children. They were first published in the 60s and have got a bit of a cult following now. The author died a long time ago, but there’s nothing nasty on his Wiki page.

I'm an illustrator for children and he is REVILED in our industry. His books are filled with boring, tired, rude tropes. You should not be encouraging your children to read his books just because they are sold in supermarkets and are easily accessible. Would you encourage meanness in your children? That's what these books are. Same for Roald Dahl - they might be classics but they are not appropriate.

There are hundreds of other, not famous people that write books for children that would be delighted if you bought their books. There are hundreds of bloggers and twitter users and teachers that spend all their time recommending age-appropriate books for your children. You should definitely check them out.

Here's a link -

www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/bookfinder/

I loved the Chronicles of Narnia as a kid. The fact that they are Christian allegory is probably the reason they’ve fallen out of favour, but if people don’t mind that, then I highly recommend them.

And the Secret Garden was wonderful!

Do you like Mr Men?

DW is the only thing we’ve been able to get TDS to read successfully, independently. And get them to read to us too. They have no love for reading whatsoever, but in the days that we “enforced” reading, this was all they could get through without being miserable.

So I personally can forgive pretty much anything DW has done, for giving us a few happy silly moments at bedtime.

Katherine Rundell has some great adventure stories
also have a look at Sophy Henn and Atinuke

The christmasaurus books are just magical.

I hate The Christmasaurus. It's a long time since we read a children's book whose core message was that if a child does not have a male parent and a female parent living in marital bliss, their life will be sad and inadequate. I will say for Roald Dahl that he stamped gleefully all over that narrative.

He doesn't even write 'his' books...

Is there controversy about the Mr Men? Or Roger Hargreaves?

He is disgusting. Would never buy his book.

Dahl is no better.

If it helps, my end of primary son has read and enjoyed all 3 of those (and the rest of the Narnia books) - although I'd forgotten (or had a different less brutal version) how awfully sad the start of The Secret Garden is.

Walliams’ books are awful. I thought I was missing something as everyone else seems to rave about them. So glad others agree.

Something about him bothers me. He doesn't seem like a nice guy. I avoid.

There are plenty of children's authors who are lovely people (Julia Donaldson springs to mind) but I wonder if some people gravitate to writing children's books because they are emotionally stunted and don't get on with adults. Children are less judgemental.

Echo comments about the book trust lists being good.

I do also think recommendations in waterstones are a good bet. They don't take money to promote books in the same way as other sellers - which is one of the reasons they tend to be more expensive.

Some wonderful books out there.

Ive been given a bunch of DW books second hand but I've not given them to DS yet. If I'm honest I'm torn about it as I can't stand him but it feels rude not to as they were gifts.

I have to say that this thread is giving me food for thought about how much I dislike the man and his style / stories and is making me inclined to gift them away myself.

Totally agree that there is something 'off' about him, and I'm not remotely surprised to hear he is centre of a scandal. I doubt it will be the last too.