David Walliams Books in Order

How to Read David Walliams’s Books

Since his debut children's novel in 2008, David Walliams has become one of the most successful children's authors in the world, often compared to Roald Dahl for his mix of humor, heart, and slightly grotesque adult villains. Because the vast majority of Walliams's books are standalone novels, readers have a lot of flexibility when deciding where to start.

However, there are a few series connections, recurring characters, and historical settings that can enrich the reading experience. This guide breaks down the best ways to tackle the World of David Walliams, whether you want to follow the publication timeline, explore his connected universe, or dive into his short story anthologies.

The Recommended Starting Points

If you are new to David Walliams, jumping into his catalog at random is perfectly fine, but starting with his absolute best works will help you appreciate his signature style. Here are the three best entry points:

• Gangsta Granny (2011): Widely considered Walliams's masterpiece, this heartwarming and funny book follows young Ben, who discovers his seemingly boring granny is actually an international jewel thief. It is the perfect representation of Walliams's ability to balance laugh-out-loud comedy with genuine emotional depth. It also has a direct sequel, making it the best starting block.
• Mr Stink (2009): His second novel, illustrated by the legendary Quentin Blake, tells the story of a lonely girl named Chloe who befriends a local homeless man and hides him in her garden shed. It is full of compassion, sharp humor, and social commentary suitable for young readers.
• Billionaire Boy (2010): A hilarious morality tale about Joe Spud, the wealthiest twelve-year-old in the world, who has everything he could ever want except for a friend. It offers a great message about what truly matters in life, packed with absurd humor.

The Gangsta Granny Duology

While most of Walliams’s novels are self-contained, he wrote a direct sequel to his most famous book. These should be read in chronological order to follow the continuity of Ben's family and his adventures:

1. Gangsta Granny (2011): Ben is sent to stay with his boring grandmother every Friday, only to discover her secret past.
2. Gangsta Granny Strikes Again! (2021): Set after the events of the first book, Ben is pulled into a new mystery when a series of high-profile thefts occur, mimicking the style of the Black Cat.

The World's Worst Collections

Walliams has written a highly popular series of short story collections focusing on exaggerated, comical characters. These anthologies are packed with colorful illustrations and bite-sized tales. While they can be read in any order, this is their publication sequence:

• The World's Worst Children (2016): Ten stories of deliciously mischievous and disgusting kids.
• The World's Worst Children 2 (2017): Another batch of hilariously awful kids.
• The World's Worst Children 3 (2018): The final entry in the children-focused trilogy.
• The World's Worst Teachers (2019): Shifting the focus to the most dreadfully funny educators.
• The World's Worst Parents (2020): A collection of embarrassing, bizarre, and chaotic moms and dads.
• The World's Worst Pets (2022): Feisty and funny animals causing absolute mayhem.
• The World's Worst Monsters (2023): A monstrously funny collection of beasts.
• The World's Worst Superheroes (2025): The newest addition, showcasing hilariously incompetent heroes.

Standalone Novels in Publication Order

If you want to watch Walliams's style evolve—along with his collaborations with illustrators Quentin Blake, Tony Ross, and Adam Stower—reading his novels in order of release is a fantastic path. Here is the publication order of his primary novels and key releases:

1. The Boy in the Dress (2008): Walliams's debut novel about a boy who loves soccer and fashion, celebrating individuality.
2. Mr Stink (2009): A heartwarming tale of kindness and friendship.
3. Billionaire Boy (2010): A funny story about the limits of wealth.
4. Ratburger (2012): A dark, comedic tale about a girl named Zoe and a villainous burger van owner.
5. Demon Dentist (2013): A spooky adventure involving teeth left under pillows turning into horrible things.
6. Awful Auntie (2014): A Gothic mystery featuring a young heiress fighting to save her home from her awful aunt.
7. Grandpa's Great Escape (2015): A moving story about a boy and his grandfather, an ex-RAF pilot living with dementia, planning a daring escape.
8. The Midnight Gang (2016): A group of children in a hospital ward who go on midnight adventures to make dreams come true.
9. Bad Dad (2017): A father-son story about a getaway driver trying to do the right thing.
10. Blob (2017): A short, sweet story about a boy and a very unusual creature.
11. The Ice Monster (2018): A historical adventure involving a Victorian orphan and a frozen woolly mammoth.
12. Fing (2019): A comedic tale about parents trying to find a mythical creature called a 'Fing' for their demanding daughter.
13. The Beast of Buckingham Palace (2019): A futuristic sci-fi adventure set in a dark London.
14. Slime (2020): An origin story of slime, set on the Isle of Mulch.
15. Code Name Bananas (2020): A World War II adventure featuring a boy, a gorilla, and a grand escape.
16. Megamonster (2021): An action-packed school adventure on a volcanic island.
17. Spaceboy (2022): A sci-fi adventure about a young girl and a mysterious crash-landing.
18. Robodog (2023): A futuristic superhero dog tale set in Bedlam.
19. The Blunders (2023): A family of upper-class eccentrics trying to save their crumbling estate.
20. Super Sleuth (2024): A detective mystery story starring a young sleuth.
21. Santa & Son (2025): A festive Christmas adventure.
22. Bot (2026): Walliams's latest technological adventure.

Understanding the Historical and Futuristic Settings

Although they are standalones, several of Walliams's books are set in distinct time periods rather than the modern day. If you want to read them based on historical context, here is how they fit:

• The Ice Monster (Set in 1899): Follows Elsie, a homeless orphan in Victorian London, who discovers a woolly mammoth.
• Awful Auntie (Set in 1933): A classic Gothic setting in a grand country house during the winter of 1933.
• Code Name Bananas (Set in 1940): Set during the London Blitz of World War II, involving the London Zoo.
• Grandpa's Great Escape (Set in the 1980s): Nostalgic setting capturing the twilight years of World War II fighter pilots.
• The Beast of Buckingham Palace (Set in 2120): A futuristic, dystopian version of London where the monarchy is under threat.

The Connected Universe: Raj the Newsagent

While the stories are independent, David Walliams created a shared universe through a single recurring character: Raj, the local newsagent. Raj is friendly, funny, and infamous for trying to sell expired sweets or bizarre multi-buy deals (like buy ten, get one free). He acts as a comforting, familiar presence across the books.

Raj appears in the majority of the modern-day novels, including The Boy in the Dress, Mr Stink, Billionaire Boy, Gangsta Granny, Ratburger, Demon Dentist, and The Midnight Gang. He even breaks the fourth wall to introduce several stories in the World's Worst collections. Paying attention to Raj's cameos is a delightful treat for readers making their way through the entire bibliography.

Other Formats: Graphic Novels, Picture Books, and Non-Fiction

In addition to his novels and short story books, Walliams has branched out into other formats. For younger readers, his picture books illustrated by Tony Ross and Adam Stower, such as The Slightly Annoying Elephant (2013) and Grannysaurus (2022), are excellent introductions. In 2024, Walliams released his first graphic novel, Astrochimp, bringing a new comic-style format to his bibliography. For older readers and fans of his comedy career, his memoirs like Camp David (2012) offer a fascinating peek behind the curtain of his rise to fame.