To ban David Walliams’ books

[Strictlycomeparent]

When his books first started coming out (pre me having kids) I was a bit surprised as his comedy is very much not family friendly. I read one when mine were little and was totally shocked by the attitudes it was promoting in children. The books seemed mean and unpleasant. He is someone who I have never understood how his brand of ‘funny’ is seen as anything other than a kind of bullying.

So I decided not to ever buy them for my kids and ask family members not to either. I mentioned this to a friend and she thought I was being very strange and acted like they were children’s classics that I was depriving my children from.

AIBU?

YDY, honestly!

I’m curious to know what has brought this thought on at 10 to 6 in the morning, seems a bit random.

He is the poor man's roahl Dahl and no literary giant. I think he possibly the first celeb to start peddling shi t childrens' books.

Ah. Not affectionately known in this house as 'The Dead Mom Books'.

Im with you.

Totally agree!

Yes - way too early! Blame my child and then being over caffeinated 😂

I don’t like them but they worked wonders in getting a younger DS reading and enjoying books. He is now 16 and has a massive love of reading.

I don’t blame you but not to do with attitude just the shameless copying of Dahl’s style, the endless lists to pad things out and the terrible, terrible writing full stop.

Mine are now 15 and 17 but I remember them well and not with fond memories. I never banned any books (eldest has just finished American Psycho 😣) because I was just grateful they were reading and as my mother always said if you don’t read the bad you have nothing to compare to.

I never bought them for my kids either, mostly because I thought they were a bit rubbish (like pp said, a knock off Roald Dahl).

Someone did buy my son one once, but I'm not sure he read it very often. It was.... fine.

But I think there are much better authors and books out there.

YANBU. Recently he was on a tour of theatres promoting his book to school kids on school trips. Quite a few parents refused to allow their child to go to see him and in the end only a handful of children went. Parents did explain their feelings to the school, that the objection was that author rather than the opportunity to go and meet an author.

Well i dont care what people do or dont buy their own kids but this 'i will ban you from buying my kids whatever' attitude is worse than what 99% of what people would normally buy kids anyway

I banned them. I don't like his comedy and he gives me the creeps.

I heard Oliver Jeffers who wrote Stuck talking on a radio show about how celebrity books take business away from proper authors.

My DD has a few of his books, given to her as presents by people who don't know her that well. She's dyslexic and autistic and reading is a real battle of wills. She will not go near his books. I read Gangsta Granny to her and remember feeling how you do. DD enjoyed watching the film though.

I have mixed feelings.

However they were the books that 12 years ago or so moved DD2 'up' a level (from Horrid Henry) and got her wanting to read, so I think they absolutely do have their place. (She only ever managed Dahl as audio). (I also think the earlier books were better than the later ones).

About a third of the space in the children’s section of our high street book shop is taken up by celebrity authors- David Walliams being a notable one. It always annoys me that new (and better) authors just don’t stand a chance. I know it’s all about money, I get it, but I hate it!

I think some of the earlier ones were ok, more proper prose and stories but later they were incredibly crass and lazy, especially the "world"'s worst..." Series' . However, I also teach teens and despair at the drop off in reading that happens around year 7/8 so if it gets them past those choppy waters then I'd grit my teeth and allow it.

I think some kids like them and some don’t. We had a lot of the books when they were small and they read some of them just as they read other authors. Not sure they remember anything about them now. If a child reads them and it gets them reading books then great. Wasn’t really my cup of tea honestly but then neither was Roald Dahl tbh. Personally I wouldn’t ban any book but just encourage them to read books that interest them.

I'd rather them be ready David Williams than on social media or trying to be furries like some girls in my DDs year 6 class.

I did allow them but the kids knew I didn’t like his tone. I said I felt they were cruel rather than funny and like reading something written by the mean kid in the class.

I would say that once they were mature enough to see it, they couldn’t unsee it and moved away from him

Absolutely this, get them reading, no matter what, could be the TV times

If someone is a stuck reader or reluctant then it gets them reading all good

Exactly. I think there is often too much snobbiness around what people are reading rather than focusing on getting people enjoying reading.

I haven’t banned them, but I certainly won’t be picking them for my kids.

I also haven’t read any Roald Dahl with mine. Wonderful stories, horrible books.

I didn’t ban then but wouldn’t buy any so DS had to get them from the library. Luckily he’s passed the stage now. I see them being given away often on our local free stuff Facebook page. My mum banned Enid Blyton when I was a child!

A lot of children are drawn to them and if they'll read those when they are not inspired by anything else then that's all well and good in my book! They will soon move past that age and if they've helped them not abandon reading altogether in the meantime and get on to the next stage I don't have a problem.

My DD wouldn't be where she is now if it wasn't for the dire series that is the Rainbow Fairies- but she loved them and they transitioned her from Biff and Chip to real books!

I'm not a massive fan. David Baddiel has written far far better children's book for that type/age group in my opinion but doesn't get the recognition.