Parents pull David Walliams books from shelves after abuse claims

The Guardian reported that families are removing David Walliams titles from their homes following sexual offence allegations against the author. Parents said they are replacing the books with works by other writers, fearing the accusations could affect their children’s perception of the stories.

In one west London household, a mother named Sarah said she would take the books away "so they don’t realise" and, if asked, would explain that "his choices aren’t great and that I think we should be reading other books". Her children, aged eight, six and four, had previously dressed up as Walliams’s characters for World Book Day and enjoyed his distinctive illustrations.

Independent bookshops, according to the same report, had already stopped stocking Walliams’s titles before the allegations became widely known. The shift in both private and retail collections shows a rapid response to the controversy surrounding the author.

Why it matters

The removal of popular children's books highlights how allegations against an author can quickly influence reading habits and retail decisions.

Key details

Location

United Kingdom · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

14 Nov 2026, 00:25 IST

Key names

David Walliams, Sarah, World Book Day, London

Section

World

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianFamilies clear homes of David Walliams books after sexual offence allegations 14 Nov, 00:25

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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