If Roald Dahl and Mr Bean had a literary love child, it would be David Walliams. Since bursting onto the children’s book scene in 2008 with The Boy in the Dress, the Britain’s Got Talent judge and former Little Britain star has sold over 50 million books worldwide, been translated into 55 languages, and become the UK’s fastest-growing children’s author of the last decade.
Whether your child is already obsessed with Gangsta Granny or you’re a nostalgic adult secretly binge-reading Mr Stink on the train, this is the definitive, up-to-date list of every David Walliams book in publication order – complete with quick-fire summaries, recommended reading ages, and the ones that will make you laugh (and cry) the hardest.
David Walliams Books in Order: The Ultimate Reading Guide for Kids (and Big Kids!)
| # | Year | Title | Age Guide | One-Line Vibe | Tearjerker Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008 | The Boy in the Dress | 8–12 | Football-loving Dennis discovers the joy of wearing a dress | ★★★☆☆ |
| 2 | 2009 | Mr Stink | 8–12 | Chloe befriends a hilarious (and smelly) tramp who changes her life | ★★★★☆ |
| 3 | 2010 | Billionaire Boy | 8–12 | The richest 12-year-old in the world just wants a friend | ★★★★☆ |
| 4 | 2011 | Gangsta Granny | 8–12 | Ben thinks his granny is boring… until he discovers she’s an international jewel thief | ★★★★★ |
| 5 | 2011 | Ratburger | 8–12 | Zoe’s evil stepdad wants to turn her pet rat into a burger. Gross-out heaven. | ★★★☆☆ |
| 6 | 2012 | Camp David (Adult Memoir) | 16+ | (Not a children’s book – his hilarious autobiography) | N/A |
| 7 | 2013 | Demon Dentist | 8–12 | The scariest (and funniest) dentist you’ll ever meet | ★★★★☆ |
| 8 | 2013 | Grandpa’s Great Escape | 8–12 | Jack’s grandad thinks he’s still a WWII Spitfire pilot – heart-melting | ★★★★★ |
| 9 | 2014 | Awful Auntie | 8–12 | Stella’s aunt is trying to steal the family castle… and possibly murder her | ★★★★☆ |
| 10 | 2015 | The Midnight Gang | 8–12 | Five hospital kids form a secret club to make wishes come true | ★★★★★ |
| 11 | 2016 | The World’s Worst Children (Short story collection) | 7–12 | Ten hilariously awful kids – perfect for reluctant readers | ★★★☆☆ |
| 12 | 2016 | Grandma’s Great Escape (Re-release of Grandpa’s Great Escape in some territories) | – | Same book! | – |
| 13 | 2017 | Bad Dad | 8–12 | Frank’s dad goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit – high-speed emotion | ★★★★★ |
| 14 | 2017 | The World’s Worst Children 2 | 7–12 | More gloriously naughty kids! | ★★★☆☆ |
| 15 | 2018 | The Ice Monster | 8–12 | Victorian orphan Elsie teams up with a woolly mammoth – yes, really | ★★★★☆ |
| 16 | 2018 | The World’s Worst Children 3 | 7–12 | The trilogy is complete! | ★★★☆☆ |
| 17 | 2019 | Fing | 8–12 | Myrtle wants a monster pet. She gets more than she bargained for. | ★★★★☆ |
| 18 | 2019 | The Beast of Buckingham Palace | 9–14 | Darker, dystopian future London with Prince Alfred as hero | ★★★★☆ |
| 19 | 2020 | Slime | 8–12 | A magical slime that can transform into anything – pure Walliams chaos | ★★★★☆ |
| 20 | 2021 | Gangsta Granny Strikes Again! | 8–12 | The long-awaited sequel! Ben is back and the black diamonds are too | ★★★★☆ |
| 21 | 2021 | The World’s Worst Parents | 7–12 | Because awful adults deserve their own book | ★★★☆☆ |
| 22 | 2022 | Spaceboy | 8–12 | America’s richest girl blasts off on an intergalactic adventure | ★★★★☆ |
| 23 | 2022 | Robodog | 8–12 | The police replace dogs with robots… disaster and hilarity ensue | ★★★★☆ |
| 24 | 2023 | The Blunders | 7–11 | Meet the most disastrous family in history | ★★★★☆ |
| 25 | 2023 | Astrochimp | 7–11 | A chimp in space – illustrated by Adam Stower | ★★★★☆ |
| 26 | 2024 | Mega Monster | 8–12 | A school science experiment goes spectacularly wrong | ★★★★☆ |
| 27 | 2024 | The World’s Worst Monsters | 7–12 | Brand-new short story collection of creepy creatures | ★★★☆☆ |
| 28 | 2025 | Little Monsters Rule! | 7–11 | Out now (2025) – the naughtiest Little Monsters take over! | ★★★★☆ |
Note: Publication dates are for the UK hardback first editions.
Which David Walliams Book Should You Read First?
- Just starting out? → Gangsta Granny or Mr Stink – universally loved and guaranteed to hook even the most reluctant reader.
- Love laugh-out-loud gross humour? → Ratburger or Demon Dentist
- Want something that will make you cry happy tears? → Grandpa’s Great Escape, The Midnight Gang, or Bad Dad
- Younger readers (6–9)? → The World’s Worst Children series or Little Monsters Rule!
Fun Facts to Impress Your Kids
- David writes every single morning from 6 am – 12 pm, no matter what.
- Gangsta Granny has been adapted into a BBC film starring David himself as the hairdresser Mike!
- He’s beaten J.K. Rowling to the top of the children’s bestseller list multiple times.
- Tony Ross (the illustrator) also illustrated Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton books – the ultimate seal of approval.
Final Thought
Fifteen years in, David Walliams isn’t slowing down. His books manage that rare trick of being side-splittingly funny while sneaking in big lessons about kindness, bravery, and never judging a book (or a tramp, or a granny) by its cover.
So grab the popcorn, snuggle up, and work your way through the list – just don’t blame me when your child starts calling you “Raj” or demanding cabbage soup for dinner.
Which David Walliams book is your family’s favourite? Drop it in the comments – I read them all!
Happy reading, you little monsters! 🐀💎🚀
(Last updated: December 2025 – bookmark this page because another book is probably already on the way!)
