An extra-usual talent
Few writers have left such a gloriumptious legacy as Roald Dahl. His books continue to delight and inspire children (and adults) across the world, making lifelong impressions on readers through their wit, originality and underlying warmth. From the magical absurdism of James and the Giant Peach to the outrageous villainy of The Twits to the ingenious antics of Fantastic Mr Fox, Dahl’s tales are perfect for reading with your child and are guaranteed to have you both positively churgling.
13th September marks an annual celebration of Roald Dahl’s unique stories and language!
Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary
Please note: all book links lead to more information on Amazon.co.uk
Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary
If all this babblement sounds like complete wigglish, don’t be flussed – the Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary includes definitions of all Roald Dahl’s invented words, so you needn’t be biffsquiggled for long. You will also find the names of his characters and settings, explanations for how he created his words, and rhymes and synonyms to help your child discover more phizz-whizzing phrases.
With real citations from Roald Dahl’s children’s books and illustrations by Quentin Blake, this dictionary is engaging, accessible, and will inspire and encourage young writers and readers.
Our favourite Roald Dahl books
The BFG
Snatched by the giant from the orphanage where she lives, Sophie is taken to a land where she learns that other giants are not so friendly.
A classic ‘good defeats bad’ story, with the Queen enlisted to help too! If you like Roald Dahl’s invented words, then this book is an excellent place to start.
James and the Giant Peach
James Henry Trotter lives with two ghastly hags. Aunt Sponge is enormously fat with a face that looks boiled and Aunt Spiker is bony and screeching.
He’s very lonely until one day something peculiar happens. At the end of the garden a peach starts to grow and grow and GROW. Inside that peach are seven very unusual insects – all waiting to take James on a magical adventure.
Revolting Rhymes
This collection of hilarious and irreverent rhymes reimagines a number of classic nursery rhymes and fairy tales, often with darkly comic twists.
Be warned: you won’t find any ordinary ‘once upon a time’…
The Twits
Mr Twit is a foul and smelly man with bits of cornflake and sardine in his beard. Mrs Twit is a horrible old hag with a glass eye. Together they make the nastiest couple you could ever hope not to meet.
Down in their garden, the Twits keep Muggle-Wump the monkey and his family locked in a cage. But not for much longer, because the monkeys are planning to trick the terrible Twits, once and for all…
Matilda
Matilda is the world’s most famous bookworm, no thanks to her ghastly parents. Her father thinks she’s a little scab. Her mother spends all afternoon playing bingo. And her headmistress, Miss Trunchbull? She’s the worst of all.
But despite these beastly grownups trying to push her down, Matilda is an extraordinary girl with a magical mind. And she’s had enough. So all the terrible adults had better watch out, because she’s going to teach them a lesson they’ll never forget!
