The Blunders by David Walliams

Oscar has just finished The Blunders, and it’s another strong one for children who love funny, slightly chaotic stories.

This is very much what you’d expect from a David Walliams book — lots of humour, over-the-top characters and a storyline that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

What Is The Blunders About?

When I asked Oscar to sum it up, he said:

“A family of stupid people who are trying to gain back money for a mistake Bertie Blunder made.”

Which feels like the perfect, straight-to-the-point explanation.

It follows a very chaotic (and very silly) family trying to fix a big mistake — with plenty of things going wrong along the way.

What Makes It So Funny?

Oscar said what stood out most wasn’t just one moment, but:

“Just the casual humour flow in the book — natural David Walliams style.”

So rather than one big funny scene, it’s the constant stream of humour that keeps it entertaining.

That said… the circus element definitely stood out as a more surprising (and slightly chaotic!) part of the story.

Favourite Character

Oscar’s favourite was Cedric the ostrich:

“He seems so casual but causes trouble everywhere.”

Which tells you everything you need to know about the tone of this book.

The characters are exaggerated, a bit ridiculous, and very memorable — exactly what younger readers tend to love.

Is The Blunders Too Silly?

This is always a question with David Walliams books — and Oscar’s take was:

“Just the right amount of chaotic behaviour… same for the humour.”

So if your child enjoys:

• silly humour
• over-the-top characters
• slightly ridiculous situations

This will land really well.

Reading Level & Age Suitability

Oscar found this:

“Quite easy for all readers with that David Walliams style.”

So from a parent point of view, this makes it a great option for:

• children building reading confidence
• independent readers in KS1–lower KS2
• kids who enjoy Tom Gates-style humour

Oscar suggested 4+, which might be a little optimistic for independent reading — I’d probably say:

👉 7+ for most readers
👉 Younger if reading together

Is It a Book Kids Will Re-Read?

Oscar said:

“You could go back to it after a bit of time because the humour just doesn’t get old.”

Which is always a good sign for this style of book — it’s not just a one-time read.

Final Verdict

⭐️ 9/10 from Oscar

A fun, easy-to-read book with lots of humour, memorable characters and just the right level of chaos to keep children engaged.

If your child enjoys funny books and doesn’t want anything too heavy, this is a really solid choice.

Final Thoughts From Me

Books like this are such a great balance alongside the bigger, more immersive reads.

They give children something:

• light
• entertaining
• confidence-building

And sometimes that’s exactly what they need between longer or more complex books.