Ratburger

Ratburger follows Zoe, a young girl living in a council flat with her grieving father and her stepmother Sheila. After losing her mother as a baby and facing daily bullying at school, Zoe finds solace in training animals to perform tricks. When Zoe discovers a small rat in her room, she realizes it has a natural talent for dancing. She names him Armitage and begins teaching him tricks in secret, knowing her stepmother would never allow her to keep him. The story becomes a tale of determination as Zoe works to protect her unusual pet while navigating school troubles, family tensions, and an unexpected threat that puts both her and Armitage in danger. This children's novel explores themes of friendship, perseverance, and finding joy in unexpected places. Through Zoe's story, Walliams crafts a narrative that balances humor with genuine emotional depth.

Readers say this children's book hits a sweet spot between humor and heart, while maintaining Walliams' signature gross-out comedy style. Parents report their kids age 7-12 laugh out loud at the absurd situations and villainous characters. Liked: - Fast-paced plot keeps reluctant readers engaged - Memorable characters, especially the evil burger van owner - Quentin Blake's illustrations complement the story - Empowering message about standing up to bullies Disliked: - Some parents found certain scenes too dark or scary for young children - A few readers felt it relied too heavily on body humor - Several noted similarities to Roald Dahl's writing style Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.7/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.7/5 (900+ ratings) "Perfect mix of funny and gross that kids love" - Amazon reviewer "Made my 9-year-old a Walliams fan" - Goodreads reviewer

Mr. Gum and the Biscuit Billionaire by Andy Stanton A young girl faces off against a peculiar villain in a town filled with absurd characters and outlandish schemes.

The Demon Dentist by David Walliams Children begin to uncover dark secrets when a mysterious new dentist arrives in town with sinister plans.

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell A Viking boy defies expectations by befriending a dragon and embarking on unconventional adventures.

The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths Two friends live in a fantastical treehouse where they encounter bizarre situations and strange creatures.

The World's Worst Children by David Walliams A collection of tales about mischievous children who find themselves in outrageous predicaments.

🌟 David Walliams was a successful comedian and actor on "Little Britain" before becoming one of the UK's bestselling children's authors 🐀 The character of Burt, the evil burger van man who grinds rats into his burgers, was inspired by real-life food scandals in Britain 📚 "Ratburger" has been adapted into a successful TV movie for Sky One, starring Sheridan Smith and David Walliams himself ✏️ Illustrator Tony Ross, who brings the book's characters to life, is also famous for illustrating Roald Dahl's works and the "Horrid Henry" series 🎭 The book's blend of dark humor and heart-warming moments follows a similar style to Roald Dahl's writing, whom Walliams has cited as a major influence on his work