Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

David Walliams Books

Santa and Son is a lively, funny Christmas adventure that brings together all the elements young readers love: mischief, mayhem and for this time of year, some festive magic. The story is set on Christmas Eve inside the world’s most famous toy shop and follows Santa and his son as they find themselves accidentally locked in with a group of bumbling robbers. What unfolds is a fast-paced, comedy-packed escapade where ordinary toys become imaginative tools for stopping the baddies – think pogo sticks, slime, bubble guns and remote-controlled helicopters.

The physical comedy, quick dialogue and visual gags help to keep the pace brisk, making it an engaging read-aloud for KS1 and a fun independent read for lower KS2, but I know from experience that year 5 and 6 would also love this! Santa and Son is a festive, fast-paced and crowd-pleasing adventure that will undoubtedly appeal to children who enjoy humour, action and a touch of Christmas chaos. A fun addition to school libraries and classroom book corners during the winter term.

A hilarious, touching and extraordinary new fable from David Walliams, number one bestseller and one of the fastest growing children’s author across the globe.

Joe has a lot of reasons to be happy. About a billion of them, in fact.

You see, Joe’s rich. Really, really rich. Joe’s got his own bowling alley, his own cinema, even his own butler who is also an orangutan. He’s the wealthiest twelve-year-old in the land.

Yes, Joe has absolutely everything he could possibly want. But there’s just one thing he really needs: a friend…

The fifth screamingly funny novel from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing children’s author in the country, now available in paperback.

From the bestselling author of Gangsta Granny and Demon Dentist comes another hilarious, action-packed and touching novel – the story of a little girl called Zoe. Things are not looking good for Zoe. Her stepmother Sheila is so lazy she gets Zoe to pick her nose for her. The school bully Tina Trotts makes her life a misery – mainly by flobbing on her head. And now the evil Burt from Burt’s Burgers is after her pet rat! And guess what he wants to do with it? The clue is in the title…

From the author that is being called ‘a new Roald Dahl’, Ratburger is not to be missed!

From number one bestselling author David Walliams comes another heartfelt but hilarious hoot of an adventure

Stella Saxby is the sole heir to Saxby Hall. But awful Aunt Alberta and her giant owl will stop at nothing to get it from her. Luckily Stella has a secret – and slightly spooky – weapon up her sleeve…

The eighth novel from NUMBER ONE bestselling author, David Walliams – now available in paperback!

Jack’s Grandpa…

*wears his slippers to the supermarket

*serves up Spam à la Custard for dinner

*and often doesn’t remember Jack’s name

But he can still take to the skies in a speeding Spitfire and save the day…

An exquisite portrait of the bond between a small boy and his beloved Grandpa – this book takes readers on an incredible journey with Spitfires over London and Great Escapes through the city in a high octane adventure full of comedy and heart.

Illustrated by the award-winning Tony Ross.

Welcome to the Midnight Gang! Midnight is the time when all children are fast asleep, except of course for… the Midnight Gang. That is when their adventures are just beginning…

When Tom gets hit on the head by a cricket ball, he finds himself at Lord Funt Hospital, and is greeted by a terrifying-looking porter. Things go from bad to worse when he meets the wicked matron in charge of the children’s ward… But Tom is about to embark on the most thrilling journey of a lifetime!

The Midnight Gang tells an extraordinarily heartwarming and, of course, funny story of five children on a hospital ward – and on a quest for adventure! It is a story of friendship and magic – and of making dreams come true. Readers are set to be utterly spellbound by this heartfelt story that will bring magic to everyone.

Read David Walliams’ bestselling children’s book, Bad Dad, a fast and furious adventure for boys and girls aged 7–12. Beautifully illustrated by artistic genius Tony Ross.

David Walliams’ riches-to-rags story will have you on the edge of your seat and howling with laughter!

Bad Dad is a fast and furious, heart-warming new children’s book about a father and son on an adventure – and a thrilling mission to break an innocent man into prison … It’s a high-speed cops-and-robbers adventure with heart and soul about a father and son taking on the villainous Mr Big – and winning!

Dads come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

There are fat ones and thin ones, tall ones and short ones.

There are young ones and old ones, clever ones and stupid ones.

There are silly ones and serious ones, loud ones and quiet ones.

Of course, there are good dads, and bad dads …

Bestselling author David Walliams raced to the top of the book charts once again with Bad Dad, his tenth children’s novel.

From No. 1 bestselling children’s author David Walliams comes his biggest and most epic adventure! Illustrated by the artistic genius Tony Ross.

This is the story of a ten-year-old orphan and a 10,000-year-old mammoth…

Read all about it! Read all about it!

ICE MONSTER FOUND IN ARCTIC!

When Elsie, an orphan on the streets of Victorian London, hears about the mysterious Ice Monster – a woolly mammoth found at the North Pole – she’s determined to discover more…

A chance encounter brings Elsie face to face with the creature, and sparks the adventure of a lifetime – from London to the heart of the Arctic!

Heroes come in all different shapes and sizes in David Walliams’ biggest and most epic adventure yet!

Fly into a fiery and fantastical future with No. 1 bestselling author David Walliams, in an epic adventure of myth and legend, good and evil, and one small boy who must save the world…

Illustrated by the artistic genius Tony Ross!

It is 2120 and London is in ruins.

The young Prince Alfred has never known a life outside Buckingham Palace – but when strange goings-on breach its walls and stalk the corridors in the dead of night, he is thrust into a world of mystery, adventure and monsters.

And when his mother, the Queen, is dragged away to the Tower of London, Alfred must screw up his courage and battle to save her, himself… and the entire city.

In a future of myths and legends, join the bestselling David Walliams and venture forth into his most enthralling tale yet!

The hilarious children’s book from No. 1 bestselling author David Walliams – a fantastically funny tale illustrated by artistic genius Tony Ross.

WELCOME TO THE ISLE OF MULCH…

This little island is home to a large number of HORRIBLE grown-ups who like nothing more than making children miserable. The most AWFUL one of all is Aunt Greta Greed who owns the whole island.

Something needs to be done about them. But who could be brave enough?

Meet Ned – an extraordinary boy with a special power. SLIMEPOWER!

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