In 1969 he became a teacher and taught academically-challenged students for 25 years. In 1973 he published his first book, which debunked the main myths about serving in the military. During the years that followed, Daniel Pennac published many novels and essays, including Better than Life, published in 1992 by Gallimard, which won him international acclaim. Among others, Daniel Pennac is the author of La Saga Malaussène (first volume published in 1985), Messieurs les enfants (199), and School Blues (which won him the Prix Renaudot in 2007).
He has also written widely for children (Cabot-Caboche, Eye of the Wolf, and the Kamo books).
As a comics writer, Daniel Pennac published La Débauche in 2000 with Jacques Tardi, two Lucky Luke albums in collaboration with the novelist Tonino Benacquista and the illustrator Achdé, and, in 2015 with Florence Cestac, he published A Love for the Ages.