children's Books by Roald Dahl
The Gremlins (1943)
The Gremlins is the story of Gus, a British World War II fighter pilot, who during the Battle of Britain turned to look out on the wing of his plane only to see an unusual but amazing sight: a little man, no more than six inches tall with horns growing from his head, drilling a hole in the plane's wing. Gus was the first man to ever see a Gremlin, and what happened after that would change the war, and the world, forever.
The Gremlins is the story of Gus, a British World War II fighter pilot, who during the Battle of Britain turned to look out on the wing of his plane only to see an unusual but amazing sight: a little man, no more than six inches tall with horns growing from his head, drilling a hole in the plane's wing. Gus was the first man to ever see a Gremlin, and what happened after that would change the war, and the world, forever.
James and the Giant Peach (1961)
James Henry Potter is a lonely nine-year-old orphan who lives with his greedy aunts, Sponge and Spiker. James dreams of going to New York City – a place his father told him, where dreams come true. One day, a mysterious old man presents James with a bag of magic, glowing crocodile tongues. When James spills them on the barren peach tree next to his home, a peach appears on the branch and grows to epic proportions. That evening, James sneaks out for a bite of the peach and discovers a tunnel leading inside. Entering it, he encounters a group of amazing insects, who will become his friends and take him on a magical journey to the place of his dreams.
James Henry Potter is a lonely nine-year-old orphan who lives with his greedy aunts, Sponge and Spiker. James dreams of going to New York City – a place his father told him, where dreams come true. One day, a mysterious old man presents James with a bag of magic, glowing crocodile tongues. When James spills them on the barren peach tree next to his home, a peach appears on the branch and grows to epic proportions. That evening, James sneaks out for a bite of the peach and discovers a tunnel leading inside. Entering it, he encounters a group of amazing insects, who will become his friends and take him on a magical journey to the place of his dreams.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964)
Five golden tickets are hidden beneath the wrappers of Mr Willy Wonka’s delicious chocolate bars – five golden tickets that will change the lives of those who find them. The winning children are invited through the gates of Mr Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory to see all the secrets and magic inside and to meet Mr Willy Wonka and his staff of Oompa-Loompas. For Charlie Bucket, a poor boy living within sight of the factory, winning the final ticket is just the starts of an unforgettable adventure.
Five golden tickets are hidden beneath the wrappers of Mr Willy Wonka’s delicious chocolate bars – five golden tickets that will change the lives of those who find them. The winning children are invited through the gates of Mr Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory to see all the secrets and magic inside and to meet Mr Willy Wonka and his staff of Oompa-Loompas. For Charlie Bucket, a poor boy living within sight of the factory, winning the final ticket is just the starts of an unforgettable adventure.
The Magic Finger (1966)
The narrator of The Magic Finger is a young girl with supernatural powers. She uses them to turn her bullying teacher into a cat. But what really upsets the girls is hunting, and so she turns the Magic Finger upon the deer-hunting, duck shooting Gregg family who live on the next door farm and the result is truly, gratifyingly amazing…
The narrator of The Magic Finger is a young girl with supernatural powers. She uses them to turn her bullying teacher into a cat. But what really upsets the girls is hunting, and so she turns the Magic Finger upon the deer-hunting, duck shooting Gregg family who live on the next door farm and the result is truly, gratifyingly amazing…
Fantastic Mr Fox (1970)
Boggis, Bunce and Bean are three rich, nasty farmers. They are driven wild by the night time visits of Mr Fox, who poaches chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys from the farms for his wife Mrs Fox and the four Small Foxes. The farmers join together to hunt and kill Mr Fox, but things don’t go exactly to plan. He’s not called Fantastic Mr Fox for nothing!
Boggis, Bunce and Bean are three rich, nasty farmers. They are driven wild by the night time visits of Mr Fox, who poaches chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys from the farms for his wife Mrs Fox and the four Small Foxes. The farmers join together to hunt and kill Mr Fox, but things don’t go exactly to plan. He’s not called Fantastic Mr Fox for nothing!
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (1972)
Charlie and Mr Willy Wonka, the unforgettable heroes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, return for a second magical adventure. We last glimpsed them inside the Glass Elevator, soaring through the Chocolate Factory. Now, as in all the best sequels, the action moves into a new orbit (quite literally!) as the Great Glass Elevator zooms up into Space with Mr Wonka, Charlie and the entire Bucket family inside. A crazy adventure ensues in which our travellers encounter vermicious Knids, the President of the United States and some miracle reverse-ageing pills.
Charlie and Mr Willy Wonka, the unforgettable heroes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, return for a second magical adventure. We last glimpsed them inside the Glass Elevator, soaring through the Chocolate Factory. Now, as in all the best sequels, the action moves into a new orbit (quite literally!) as the Great Glass Elevator zooms up into Space with Mr Wonka, Charlie and the entire Bucket family inside. A crazy adventure ensues in which our travellers encounter vermicious Knids, the President of the United States and some miracle reverse-ageing pills.
Danny, the Champion of the World (1975)
Danny thinks his dad is the most marvellous and exciting father a boy could wish for. Life is happy and peaceful in their gipsy caravan, until one day Danny discovers his dad has been breaking the law. What’s more, soon Danny has to join his father as they attempt to pull off a daring and devilish plot against their horrible, greedy neighbour, Mr Victor Hazell.
Danny thinks his dad is the most marvellous and exciting father a boy could wish for. Life is happy and peaceful in their gipsy caravan, until one day Danny discovers his dad has been breaking the law. What’s more, soon Danny has to join his father as they attempt to pull off a daring and devilish plot against their horrible, greedy neighbour, Mr Victor Hazell.
The Enormous Crocodile (1978)
The Enormous Crocodile lives in the brownest, muddiest river in Africa and dreams of having a nice juicy little child for lunch. The other jungle animals are appalled by his plans and swoop into action to foil the villain’s ‘secret plans and clever tricks.’
The Enormous Crocodile lives in the brownest, muddiest river in Africa and dreams of having a nice juicy little child for lunch. The other jungle animals are appalled by his plans and swoop into action to foil the villain’s ‘secret plans and clever tricks.’
The Twits (1980)
Mr and Mrs Twit seem to be an ideal couple. They are as foul as each other! But Mr and Mrs Twit cannot resist playing tricks upon each other. Mrs Twit gives Mr Twit a scare by dropping her glass eye into his mug. He retaliates by putting a frog in her bed. Next, she serves him wormy spaghetti. Ultimately, the Twits meet with a well-deserved ghastly surprise, cunningly hatched by the Muggle-Wump monkeys and the Roly-Poly bird.
Mr and Mrs Twit seem to be an ideal couple. They are as foul as each other! But Mr and Mrs Twit cannot resist playing tricks upon each other. Mrs Twit gives Mr Twit a scare by dropping her glass eye into his mug. He retaliates by putting a frog in her bed. Next, she serves him wormy spaghetti. Ultimately, the Twits meet with a well-deserved ghastly surprise, cunningly hatched by the Muggle-Wump monkeys and the Roly-Poly bird.
George's Marvellous Medicine (1981)
George has a ‘grizzly old grunion of a Grandma’ – a selfish old woman, who spends her days grouching, grumbling and griping about something or other. Grandma even thinks it’s time eight-year-old George stopped growing! But when Grandma tells him how delicious slugs and beetles taste and that she has dark, magic powers, George decides his got to do something. He sets about concocting a very special medicine to cure Grandma’s nastiness for good. The results are explosive in this knockabout comic romp.
George has a ‘grizzly old grunion of a Grandma’ – a selfish old woman, who spends her days grouching, grumbling and griping about something or other. Grandma even thinks it’s time eight-year-old George stopped growing! But when Grandma tells him how delicious slugs and beetles taste and that she has dark, magic powers, George decides his got to do something. He sets about concocting a very special medicine to cure Grandma’s nastiness for good. The results are explosive in this knockabout comic romp.
The BGF (1982)
When orphan Sophie is snatched from her bed by a Giant, she fears that he is going to eat her. But although he carries her far away to Giant Country, the Giant has no intention of harming her. As he explains in his unique way of talking, “I is the only nice and jumbly Giant in Giant Country! I is THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT! I is the BFG.” The BFG tells Sophie how he mixes up dreams to blow through a trumpet into the ears of children. But soon, all the BFG’s powers are put to the test as he and Sophie battle to stop the other Giants from tucking into the children of the world. The Royal Air Force and even the Queen become involved in this mission.
When orphan Sophie is snatched from her bed by a Giant, she fears that he is going to eat her. But although he carries her far away to Giant Country, the Giant has no intention of harming her. As he explains in his unique way of talking, “I is the only nice and jumbly Giant in Giant Country! I is THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT! I is the BFG.” The BFG tells Sophie how he mixes up dreams to blow through a trumpet into the ears of children. But soon, all the BFG’s powers are put to the test as he and Sophie battle to stop the other Giants from tucking into the children of the world. The Royal Air Force and even the Queen become involved in this mission.
Dirty Beasts (1983)
A picture book of nine comic verses featuring the most ghastly menagerie of Dirty Beasts you could ever hope (not) to meet! As well as Crocky-Wock, there’s The Pig who hatches a plan to avoid being eaten by Farmer Bland and The Cow who flies in the sky and performs a loop-the-loop before depositing a cowpat from a great height.
A picture book of nine comic verses featuring the most ghastly menagerie of Dirty Beasts you could ever hope (not) to meet! As well as Crocky-Wock, there’s The Pig who hatches a plan to avoid being eaten by Farmer Bland and The Cow who flies in the sky and performs a loop-the-loop before depositing a cowpat from a great height.
The Witches (1983)
The Grand High Witch has a fiendish plan for getting rid of all the children in England. First, her fellow hags will take over all the sweet shops. Next, they will sell poisoned sweets and chocolates which turn children into mice. Then, make way for the mouse traps… This terrible plan is overheard by the young boy narrator of the story. Fortunately his Grandma knows something about witches. Unfortunately, before he has a chance to consult her, he is turned into a mouse himself. Will the witches triumph? Are all the children of England doomed? This award-winning tale has all the answers.
The Grand High Witch has a fiendish plan for getting rid of all the children in England. First, her fellow hags will take over all the sweet shops. Next, they will sell poisoned sweets and chocolates which turn children into mice. Then, make way for the mouse traps… This terrible plan is overheard by the young boy narrator of the story. Fortunately his Grandma knows something about witches. Unfortunately, before he has a chance to consult her, he is turned into a mouse himself. Will the witches triumph? Are all the children of England doomed? This award-winning tale has all the answers.
Boy (1984)
Boy is a fascinating memoir of Roald Dahl’s childhood. Dahl shares his stories about his family, life at school and his first job. One of the most intriguing aspects of this book is that you can see the real events and preoccupations that shaped Dahl’s fiction writing.
Boy is a fascinating memoir of Roald Dahl’s childhood. Dahl shares his stories about his family, life at school and his first job. One of the most intriguing aspects of this book is that you can see the real events and preoccupations that shaped Dahl’s fiction writing.
Revolting Rhymes (1984)
Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood is no conventional telling of the tale. Nor are his comic versions of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and the Three Little Pigs.
Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood is no conventional telling of the tale. Nor are his comic versions of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and the Three Little Pigs.
The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (1985)
Billy dreams of re-opening the derelict sweet shop and filling it from top to bottom with Sherbet Suckers and Caramel Fudge. But one day, he finds that the shop is no longer derelict, and has been taken over by the amazing Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company. Billy makes friends with the giraffe with the incredible stretching neck, the pelican with a magical beak and the dancing monkey. Together, they set off on their biggest job ever – to clean the six hundred and seventy-seven windows (not counting the greenhouse) of the house belonging to the Duke of Hampshire.
Billy dreams of re-opening the derelict sweet shop and filling it from top to bottom with Sherbet Suckers and Caramel Fudge. But one day, he finds that the shop is no longer derelict, and has been taken over by the amazing Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company. Billy makes friends with the giraffe with the incredible stretching neck, the pelican with a magical beak and the dancing monkey. Together, they set off on their biggest job ever – to clean the six hundred and seventy-seven windows (not counting the greenhouse) of the house belonging to the Duke of Hampshire.
Going Solo (1986)
Going Solo is a memoir which picks up where Boy leaves off with Roald on his way to East Africa to take up a job with the Shell Oil Company in Dar es Salaam. Dahl is in Africa when World War Two breaks out and he leaves shell to join the Royal Air Force. This book details Dahl’s wartime exploits, which include having a luger pointed at his head by the leader of a German convoy, a crash-landing in no-man’s-land (and sustaining injuries that entailed having his nose pulled out and shaped!) and even surviving a direct hit during the Battle of Athens, when he was sufficiently ready to fly again – this time in hurricanes.
Going Solo is a memoir which picks up where Boy leaves off with Roald on his way to East Africa to take up a job with the Shell Oil Company in Dar es Salaam. Dahl is in Africa when World War Two breaks out and he leaves shell to join the Royal Air Force. This book details Dahl’s wartime exploits, which include having a luger pointed at his head by the leader of a German convoy, a crash-landing in no-man’s-land (and sustaining injuries that entailed having his nose pulled out and shaped!) and even surviving a direct hit during the Battle of Athens, when he was sufficiently ready to fly again – this time in hurricanes.
Matilda (1988)
Matilda is an exceptionally bright young girl with an insatiable appetite for books and reading. Her parent’s Mr and Mrs Wormwood, think she’s just a nuisance. Matilda thinks, rightly, that all their interested in is watching TV and making money by cheating people. She decides to punish them. She soon discovers she has supernatural powers which are not only going to prove useful at home but also at Crunchem Hall School where Matilda and her classmates must contend with the scariest headmistress of them all – Miss Trunchbull.
Matilda is an exceptionally bright young girl with an insatiable appetite for books and reading. Her parent’s Mr and Mrs Wormwood, think she’s just a nuisance. Matilda thinks, rightly, that all their interested in is watching TV and making money by cheating people. She decides to punish them. She soon discovers she has supernatural powers which are not only going to prove useful at home but also at Crunchem Hall School where Matilda and her classmates must contend with the scariest headmistress of them all – Miss Trunchbull.
Esio Trot (1989)
Mr Hoppy is a lonely, retired man with two loves – the flowers he grows on his balcony and Mrs. Silver, the lady who lives in the flat below. Mrs Silver does not know Mr Hoppy’s true feelings – he is too shy to tell her and she is preoccupied with her little tortoise Alfie. One day, Mrs Silver confides that she would give anything for little Alfie to grow bigger. It’s the chance Mr Hoppy has been waiting for and he embarks on a madcap scheme to make all their dreams come true.
Mr Hoppy is a lonely, retired man with two loves – the flowers he grows on his balcony and Mrs. Silver, the lady who lives in the flat below. Mrs Silver does not know Mr Hoppy’s true feelings – he is too shy to tell her and she is preoccupied with her little tortoise Alfie. One day, Mrs Silver confides that she would give anything for little Alfie to grow bigger. It’s the chance Mr Hoppy has been waiting for and he embarks on a madcap scheme to make all their dreams come true.
The Minpins (1991)
The Minpins is the story of Little Billy, who escapes his over-protective mother to explore the world beyond the garden gate. Beyond the gate lies The Forest of Sin. Tempted by the Devil, no less, Billy strays into the forest, where he meets the Minpins – tiny people who live within the hollow of trees. The Minpins tell Billy about the Red-Hot-Smoke-Belching-Gruncher, who preys on them. Billy embarks on a mission to rid the Minpins of their foe once and for all and sets off, on the back of a swan, to confront the Gruncher.
The Minpins is the story of Little Billy, who escapes his over-protective mother to explore the world beyond the garden gate. Beyond the gate lies The Forest of Sin. Tempted by the Devil, no less, Billy strays into the forest, where he meets the Minpins – tiny people who live within the hollow of trees. The Minpins tell Billy about the Red-Hot-Smoke-Belching-Gruncher, who preys on them. Billy embarks on a mission to rid the Minpins of their foe once and for all and sets off, on the back of a swan, to confront the Gruncher.