I was delighted when Burak from Books2DoorUK asked if I would be willing to review some of their titles for them and when a selection arrived within less than 24 hours of my ordering them I was extremely impressed. Their service and pricing are excellent.

Today I’m starting off by reviewing The World of David Walliams Book of Stuff which is available for purchase from Books2Door here.

The World of David Walliams Book of Stuff

A spectacularly funny feast of all things Walliams for super-fans, new fans and anyone who likes laughing out loud a lot. In glorious colour throughout!

Welcome to the World of David Walliams. This spectacularly funny book is bursting with Walliams wonderment!

Insider sneak peeks, brilliant character quizzes, fabulous fun facts, design your own Walliams book cover and meet Raj in a brand new comic book adventure never seen before. You even get exclusive access to behind-the-scenes content from David Walliams himself.

Hours of entertainment for all the family and the perfect companion to David’s novels. Featuring colour illustrations from the iconic Sir Quentin Blake and the artistic genius Tony Ross.

My Review

of

The World of David Walliams Book of Stuff

Everything you ever wanted to know about David Walliams and his books…

I have a confession. Although I’ve watched David Walliams’ books dramatised on television and thoroughly enjoyed those programmes, I have never actually read one, partly because I felt, quite erroneously, that their popularity was more to do with celebrity than quality. How wrong can you be? If The World of David Walliams Book of Stuff is representative, I’m going to have to buy them all and read them immediately, because I thought it was utterly brilliant!

Although I’m not familiar with the written work of David Walliams, my total enjoyment of The World of David Walliams Book of Stuff was unaffected. I was able to recognise and understand many of references and I’m certain that any fan of David Walliams’ work would adore every page of this vibrant and entertaining book. I so admired the effervescent style and pitch perfect tone for children.

Much of the humour is lavatorial and crude; exactly what children love and, as an adult rapidly approaching their 60th birthday, I found myself laughing aloud too. I genuinely think The World of David Walliams Book of Stuff is a book that can resonate with, and amuse, children of ALL ages. However, alongside the entertaining humour and frequent silliness, is actually a very perceptive and subtly poignant sub-text, such as in Joe Spud’s letter to Santa or a Day in the Life of the Grubb Twins, so that children could explore loneliness and bullying, for example, in a safe environment. It is this contrast between the humour and seriousness that works so well. After the Midnight Gang secret files section, the comment ‘And please, whatever you do, whoever you are, wherever you are… never stop dreaming! No one can take your dreams away from you‘ genuinely brought a tear to my eye.

The illustrations by Quentin Blake and Tony Ross are wonderful, transporting me back to those of the books I read as a child and stirring pleasurable memories as well as exemplifying this text so brilliantly. I loved the fact that children can learn to draw like Tony Ross. In fact, the interactivity of The World of David Walliams Book of Stuff is sheer genius. I now have a title of a book to write, Moody Hairdresser, and although I might well substitute suggested chocolate drops for rabbit droppings, I certainly fancy making Rabbit Dropping Roll from Mrs Trafe’s Cookery Book Range. There are quizzes, spot the difference pages, snakes and ladders, cover designs, memory challenges and loo roll modelling that will occupy and entertain children for hours.

I loved The World of David Walliams Book of Stuff. It’s amusing, entertaining and joyful so that I forgot I was a middle aged adult and felt transported back to the innocent pleasures of childhood. What I found incredibly effective was the acceptance of children, their dreams and aspirations and the credibility and guidance given to youngsters woven into the playful comedy.

The World of David Walliams Book of Stuff is glorious and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

About David Walliams

David Walliams is an actor, a judge on TV talent show Britain’s Got Talent and is currently the fastest growing children’s author in the UK.

Since beginning his publishing career in 2008, David Walliams has taken the children’s literary world by storm. His sixth book Demon Dentist was published in September 2013 and went straight to number one in the bestseller charts.

Previous bestsellers Ratburger and Gangsta Granny were also immediate number one hits, and the paperback of Gangsta Granny remained at number one for an incredible 22 weeks in the UK charts.

David is well known for his work with Matt Lucas. Together they created Little Britain, which has won numerous international awards including three BAFTAs and is now shown in over 100 countries. David and Matt followed Little Britain with the hugely popular spoof airport documentary series Come Fly With Me.

You can follow David on Twitter @davidwalliams and visit his website for more details. There is also a World of David Walliams Facebook page.