David Walliams to write a new World's Worst volume for HarperCollins Children's Books

HarperCollins Children’s Books has announced a new collection of 10 “utterly hilarious, laugh-out-loud adventures” from the bestselling author David Walliams including another The World’s Worst volume and his first ever Christmas novel.

The World’s Worst Superheroes, his 43rd book for children, will be published in hardback on 22nd May 2025 (£14.99) "in electrifying colour, wonderfully illustrated by epic talent Adam Stower", with simultaneous e-book and audio editions, HarperCollins said. It includes 10 short stories.

The publisher added: "The laugh-out-loud funny World’s Worst series has been delighting generations of young readers since 2016 and the publication of The World’s Worst Children. Two more World’s Worst Children volumes followed before The World’s Worst Parents, The World’s Worst Teachers, The World’s Worst Pets and, most recently in 2023, The World’s Worst Monsters.  

“This brand-new story collection, The World’s Worst Superheroes features the bravest, strongest and silliest superheroes the world has ever seen... [It] is a must for summer reading and beyond and leads a charge of new-title releases for 2025, guaranteeing giggles galore all year long for Walliams readers everywhere.” 

Walliams first-ever Christmas novel will be published in October and “tells the hilarious, heartwarming, action-packed story of a boy and his father – who works as a Santa in a grotto – coming together to save Christmas from some nefarious thieves”, HarperCollins said. “It’s brimming with humour and heart, the classic hallmarks of Walliams, with a wonderfully festive fuzziness.”  

In November, there will be a new picture book collaboration with Adam Stower, following the bestselling Grannysaurus.

HarperCollins Children’s Books fiction publisher Nick Lake said: “This year will mark David’s 18th year of laugh-out-loud, chart-topping bestsellers. Walliams does funny like no other and this year we have a sensational line-up of publishing to delight readers of all ages, hook the most reluctant and create shared reading moments for families everywhere. The stories zing with life with the wonderfully witty and characterful illustrations of Adam Stower.” 

Walliams said: “This World’s Worst collection has been the most fun to write. I could let my imagination run riot in the surreal world of superheroes and supervillains. Adam’s illustrations are superb and I hope this book will be loved not just by readers but also reluctant readers everywhere.” 

Stower said: “I was thrilled when I was told that this latest collection was going to be the World’s Worst Superheroes. There are Superheroes and Supervillains galore in these hilarious stories. They are endlessly creative and so fun to illustrate. There are always characters and escapades in David Walliams’ books that I have never drawn before in all the years I’ve been illustrating, which makes these books so exciting to work on. I hope the readers love them too.” 

Walliams’ latest book was his first murder mystery, Super Sleuth, also illustrated by Stower.