What to Read After... David Walliams

Published on: 17 February 2025

David Walliams has become a hugely popular author for children, but if you know young readers who have torn through all his stories and need some more inspiration, we have plenty of suggestions!

 

 

What do children love about Walliams’ books? Above all it's because they're funny. There are a LOT of LOLs – together with outrageous comedy villains whom we can recognise straight away, rather like the baddie in a pantomime. On top of that, the hero children feel ordinary and relatable. Illustrations by former Children's Laureate Quentin Blake and latterly Tony Ross and Adam Stower make these books come alive and, although long, they are a fairly easy and whizzy read.

 

So how can fans of Walliams sustain their love of reading when they've finished his books, or gone to secondary school and grown out of them? Try some of our suggestions of titles we think they will enjoy.

 

For the obvious suggestion...

 

For funny and inventive storytelling (plus a large helping of the wonderful Quentin Blake) Roald Dahl is a hugely renowned author. Check out some of our favourite of his books here.

 

For those mainly in it for the laughs...

 

 

Sam Copeland is a brilliant comedy writer with zany, energetic books. Some of our favourites are: Alex vs. Axel: The Impossible Quests, Charlie Changes into a Chicken and The Underpants of Chaos.

 

For similarly silly humour and glorious mishaps, you can’t go wrong with Pooja Poori’s excellent book A Dinosaur Ate My Sister and its sequel A Robot Squashed My Teacher. Alternatively, try Serena Patel’s Anisha, Accidental Detective, Luan Goldie’s Skylar and the K-Pop Headteacher or Jen Carney’s The Day My Dog Got Famous for some guaranteed laugh out loud moments.    

 

And then there's Pamela Butchart! Anything by this hilarious writer would work; try Petunia Perry and the Curse of the Ugly Pigeon or any of the Izzy and Friends series for quality storytelling combined with a healthy dollop of humour!

 

For funny books with a touch of poignancy...

 

 

Frank Cottrell Boyce's Millions would be a perfect read for those who loved Walliams' Billionaire Boy. In fact, Frank has written many superb books – don’t miss Framed, Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth, The Wonder Brothers or Noah’s Gold.

 

Lisa Williamson’s Best Friends Forever is a rib-tickling funny read which also explores some very poignant issues about friendship and the transition to secondary school.  

 

For older children who need to move on from David Walliams...

 

Many children race through David Walliams when they're at primary school but then find themselves bereft at secondary when the 'what to read after' question becomes truly pertinent.

 

First of all, any and all books by the late, great Louise Rennison would be a good start. Try Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging for starters - it's not as grown-up as its name suggests and would be perfect for an 11-year-old.

 

Nathanael Lessore’s King of Nothing is ridiculously funny and captures contemporary teenage humour brilliantly. While you're at it, Holly Smales' Geek Girl is just great and has the bonus appeal of being a well know TV series which might be an extra incentive for more reluctant readers.

 

Northern Soul by Phil Earle contains a wonderful balance of humorous, cringeworthy and meaningful moments as its 14-year-old, football-obsessed protagonist explores his feelings for a new crush.

 

For a bit of fantasy and adventure...

 

 

Cressida Cowell’s How to Train Your Dragon series is a classic in its genre and boasts a perfect balance of humour and epic fantasy – a must read for fans of the film. Cressida’s newer series The Wizards of Once is also fantastic!

 

Another book which transports its readers into a magical world of mythical beasts and adventure is Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures; a beautifully written, fast-paced thriller which will have you hooked from the outset!

 

Other fantasy and adventure titles which Walliams fans might enjoy include Transcendent by Patrick Gallagher, Relic Hamilton by Joseph Coelho and Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna.

 

We hope these suggestions will inspire readers after exploring Walliams' books. If you want more fun from David, why not check out this brilliant pack of fun activities, which you can download here (PDF).