The Boy In The Dress

Written by David Walliams

Narrated by David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Sharmistha Michaels and 2 more

The debut children’s novel from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing children’s author in the country.Brilliantly performed by David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Sharmistha Michaels, Oscar Michaels and Nitin Ganatra

Dennis was different.

Why was he different, you ask?

Well, a small clue might be in the title of this book…

Charming, surprising and hilarious – David Walliams’s beautiful first novel will touch the hearts (and funny bones) of children and adults alike.

Now David teams up with an all star cast to produce an audiobook with a difference. This lavish production brings the hilarious voices behind Little Britain to your nearest earphones. And it tells a fantastic story too…

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Nov 1, 2008
• ISBN: 9780007307142

David Walliams

David Walliams continues to take the literary world by storm. His tenth novel, BAD DAD, was an immediate number one, following the triumph of THE MIDNIGHT GANG, the biggest-selling children’s book of 2016. THE WORLD’S WORST CHILDREN 2, spent four weeks at industry number one. David’s books have now exceeded 100 non-consecutive weeks at children’s number one, and have been translated into 53 languages, selling more than 35 million copies worldwide.

Reviews for The Boy In The Dress

[laviniarossetti · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book, again like Mr Gum, was a half love and half fashion book, about a little boy called Dennis. He and his friend Lisa were really into fashion, and thought that it was unfair that boys aren't allowed to wear pretty dresses like girls. Then they decided that boys should be allowed to wear dresses and handbags and cool sunglasses, so Dennis put them on, trying to fool everyone into thinking he was a girl. And sure enough, it worked.

Mr Hawtrey, the head-teacher, expelled Dennis from his school. Dad was very angry with his son too. Dennis and Lisa thought this horrible for wearing girl-clothes - and when it comes to the Final on Football, and Dennis isn't allowed to play, will their team still win?

This book was great, funny, outstanding and was pretty strange, too. But do you agree with Dennis and Lisa?

[howifeelaboutbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

David Walliams is hilarious, and this book is funny and touching. Quick read, highly recommended for middle graders regardless of gender.

[sasham-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great read for 6-12 age group with good messages about being yourself and accepting your friends for who they are even when they don't fit into society's usual standards. Also a good jumping off point for discussions about transgender / cross dressing and assumptions about gender roles. A beautifully written and illustrated book with enough humour to encourage reluctant readers.

[andrew1theqm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was set to read this book as part of a challenge and wasn't expecting too much from it, but I have to say I was wrong! This was a very enjoyable book that I read in one session and it cleverly handled some sensitive issues in a way that would be very accessible to children. I say bravo on achieving this, and I do feel it is a book all children should read, so much scope for discussion from this in a classroom setting. There were two great lines in this book which will stay with me, 'Dennis you can be whoever you want to be' (what a wonderful message) and 'If you believe it everyone else will too'. These are wonderful messages for every child to hear. This is not what I expected from this 'actor/author/comedian'.

[Seonji Shim · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is very, very, very interesting ????? ?+??+?+?+?+?=!?!?!?=Boy wearing a dress?‍♂️?‍♀️?=?‍♀️?!?!

[Shin Hyunjoo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The sound effects are so great I loved it ?

[Annie Sang · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was hilarious and funny when dad talk to the head master like THAT.

[Kristen Di Rocco · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

it made me fell so so good and i just loved it

[Lauren Wood · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of my favourite books keep it up! Just know you are also my favourite author and also my idol

[Aaron Lewis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a good book because it teaches young children that even if you are a boy you can wear a dress and even if you are a girl you can wear shorts.

[julia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the way it took at the boy in the dresses. On soccer

[thesmellofbooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A boy arriving at school in a dress and makeup? Not, okay.Or so everyone thinks.I love almost everything about this book, from the look into a sad and closed down family to a boy's desire for more splendid things, and for room to be who he is and find support. There are marvellous Vogue scenes, mischievous moments (plenty), and a plot that twists awfully around the vulnerable protagonist.There is only one moment of less generous humour in an expanse of compassion and glee. A wonderful book.

[knitwit2_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Written for a juv. audience. Sad elements, such as abandoned by his mother, depressed/repressed father. Good elements; friendship, family pride

[eden21-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was not as funny as i thought

[carothelibrarian · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

PLUS - * It's a good theme for a children's book - being different, finding your own identity, standing out from the crowd, accepting people for just who they are.* There are some amusing asides from 'the author' as he directly addresses the reader, and a couple of clever uses of font style and size when there are whole pages of laughing or shouting.MINUS - * I wanted to like it, really I did but...* It just seemed somewhat cliched. I thought maybe it was trying to be deliberately tongue-in-cheek but in the end I thought not. * Some passages seemed to be a sequence of stock phrases from other stories:"It hadn't really been summer in their house again" after Mum left."You might be thinking... that the two brothers would be brought closer together. Sadly it only drove them apart."OVERALL - * Amusing (but not "hilariously funny" as it says on the cover). Not a bad book, but it just didn't do what I wanted it to.

[Sarah Osborne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it I loved how it says that even Boy can where dresses

[Thea Kociraj · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome, an incredible story. It has a strong message. I love it ❤

[Shobha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved the story and the inspiration that you can dress how you want it

[samantha0109-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

David William's The Boy in the Dress is so amazing and funny and the ideas in the book are very unique.In the beginning the narrator started talking about this boy(forgot the name) and how he lived with his dad, and how his mother moved out after constant fights with her and his father. After that they started burning every picture that has their mom it, which was his dads idea. Even though their dad never wanted any of their sons talking about her. Even though their dad said no talking about her, the boy start talking about her but not in front of his dad but in his room. The secret that the boy is hiding is that he has this picture on a magazine of a look alike dress that her mom wore at a trip to the beach. One day he meets this girl and he started going to their house and they start hanging out and they started reading magazines and having fun. One day the girl made him a dress and he started wearing trying it on and she put makeup on him and they started having fun. This book was good at the beginning but it started getting boring when i was going up but i think other people will like this book. These characters are very regular but the boy is brave enough to try on a beautiful, gold color dress, high heels and even put make up on him also, he wore a wig to really make him look like a girl. Then the girl wanted to fool everyone by thinking he is a she. I can not make any connection of seeing any guy dressed up as a girl that's believable. It must have been so funny!

[bubble4tea · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

David Walliams' The Boy In The Dress cracked me up with laughters throughout the whole book!  The story is about a boy named Dennis and his older brother John, whose parents are divorced. The boys remain with their father, who doesn't like to talk about his wife's death. Dennis finds comfort in his mother's left-behind clothes. Dennis buys a copy of Vogue magazine, but is caught by his horrified father; John calls him 'Denise'. At school that day Dennis is given detention, where he meets the glamorous Lisa James, who ultimately lends him a dress which he wears to school. Which makes Dennis very embarrassed and even gets expelled from school. But a miracle happens.....Dennis turns into a hero!

[Jane Doe · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome cool ? good ? weird funny ? ? good

[enrico tracanzan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thai book was amazingly interesting and full of content, I loved the way the author (David Walliams) kept the right information secret to make you always want to continue reading!

[shahnareads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh boy, what can I say? This book is adorably funny and clever and sweet. I loved it so much. The illustrations are wonderful and I love the message.

I have loved David Walliams for years. I am a huge fan of Little Britain. Every time I read one of his books I fall more in love with him. He's perfect.

[silverthistle · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I like David Walliams, I do. All his charridee work and I loved him as Greville in 'Capturing Mary', so I'll give a star for that. His boook.....not so much....but it was funny, so there's another star.

2 stars.
Hmm, might have to give another one because it's maybe the book that will ease the torment of a lot of little adorable boys in dresses. "Hey! Did you read that Walliams book about the kid in the dress? It was hysterical! Wanna put on some dresses.....for a laugh?....C'mon, it'll be funny.."

So anyway, dear reader, we're here to discuss 'the boy in the dress'. Well, a star got knocked off for the times I was referred to as Dear Reader, for a kick-off. That really bugs. And another star hit the dust because, well, as funny as the book is, it's just a little bit sad too. It 'might' give the impression that all you need to do is be great at football, hook up with the coolest girl in the school and have a headteacher with great dress sense, and you're all set. It might not, but what do I know?!

It's probably opened a lot of doors for little boys up and down the country and that's a good thing, but I can't help but feel that if anyone else had written this it would never have been picked up. Quentin Blake as illustrator doesn't hurt either.

[emhromp · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a book I rarely come accross, unfortunately. It has the best kind of humour in it, it's very warm, very realistic, just very very good. I would recommend this book to any kid, or adult.

[martensgirl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. It is very funny, yet explores the issue of cross-dressing and tolerance without being preachy. I know some boys who have read this and I think it has changed their outlook. A boy who wears a dress is still good at football- who knew!

[Maya Hall · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Super duper wuper truper kuper funny ? h h h

[mfeil_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book promotes individuality, tolerance and understanding. I love it! The illustrations and humor definitely keep the reader interested. I think this would be a good book to have on my classroom bookshelf, especially for individual reading. This book is a good conversation starter about gender stereotypes and cross-dressing for upper elementary students about to go on to middle school.Age: 9-12

[jellyn_7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this in the YA section, but it reads more like a tween or even younger book to me. Perhaps slightly aided by the illustrations, which are reminiscent of Roald Dahl books.Turns out there's a reason they're reminiscent of those! It's the same illustrator.Dennis likes dresses and when a girl encourages him in this interest, he's soon dressing in one. He even passes quite well, until a mishap at school.The ending is heartwarming, if not very realistic.What gave me the most trouble with this book was the American 'translation'. It was odd and inconsistent. It used double quotes, but didn't put a period after Mr and Mrs. It changed the spelling of color, but not mucous. It changed football to soccer, but crisps and chips remained. It would've been better if they'd left well enough alone. It's pretty clear from the pictures what kind of football would've been meant!I didn't know anything about the author until I'd finished reading it. Turns out he's some sort of comedian celebrity known for dressing like a woman? And there's an odd 'a' in his name'.I don't know that transgender kids will see themselves in this book. Even transvestites would be pushing it. His reasons for wanting to wear a dress don't sort of click in with the reasons as I understand them for those two groups. But, it does at least say to boys (or tries to say) that it's okay to wear a dress. That some boys do do that. (There's a picture of the author as a kid, wearing a dress.)It's also good in that his friend is Sikh and a local shopowner who plays a pretty large part is Indian. It's not all white all the time. Saris even get mentioned without being explained. (Really a wonder they didn't throw in a footnote for those stupid American kids.)So, on the whole, not bad. You might want to read the original British version though if you can. I think it would be less annoying.

[Melissa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

i love the book because,boys are wearing dresses,and not many boys wear dresses.
But im still not going to wear a dress!