The World’s Worst Superheroes

By David Walliams

Illustrated by Adam Stower

Reviewed by Barbara Braxton

Term 3 of the Australian school year is upon us and as usual, in many schools, the focus is Children’s Book Week and its theme for this year, Book an Adventure.  But for all that we might create displays to entice young readers to journey into the jungle, the desert, out to space under the ocean or even to the frozen lands of the North and South Poles, there are always going to be those who think that reading holds nothing for them and the best adventures are seen on screen where the can watch passively with minimal effort.

But what if you could entice them into the world of reading by offering a book that involves superheroes, humour, easy reading, short stories, lots of illustrations and was by one of the must-read authors their peers are raving about?  This new addition to Walliams’ World’s Worst series The World’s Worst Children, The World’s Worst Teachers, The World’s Worst Parents and The World’s Worst Pets is full of the action and absurdity that appeal to that mid-primary age group who are able to read independently but are not sure they want to.  Whether it’s someone like Clive who is a Scrabble superhero, the league of retired superheroes or an ageing queen who was bored with regal life and longed for action and adventure, there are ten new stories to read, to pick up and put down without having to read all 336 pages from go to whoa and just indulge in without too much deep thinking – although there is a serious side to the stories for those who want to delve deeper.

This is a light-hearted read that continues Walliams’ intention of providing stories that kids want to read so they actually do so, and will be greeted with delight if young fans find it on the New for You shelf at a time when school is all about books and reading and they’ve yet to find a reason to participate.  Imagine the possibilities for costumes for the annual book character parade!

HarperCollins, 2025

David Walliams

Adam Stower

Barbara Braxton