Roald Dahl |
 |
"Had I not had children of my own, I would have never written books for
children, nor would I have been capable of doing so."
Born to Harald and Sofie Magdalene Dahl on September 13, 1916, in
Llandaff, Norway.
Married on July 2, 1953 to actress Patricia Neal. They had
five children, to whom he attributes his success as a children's author.
Divorced Patricia Neal in 1983
Married Felicity Dahl in 1983
Died November 23, 1990 in Oxford, England. |
Resources:
The Official Roald Dahl Page
- So much to do! From fun games and recipies, to lesson plans and
advice for teachers.
Roald Dahl Fan Site -
Talk about resources! This page wrote the book on it! Tons of info about
Dahl. And millions of resources for teachers! It gets 10 out of 10 on the
resource scale. |
The BFG |
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Easily one of Roald Dahl's best, The BFG (also known as The Big Friendly
Giant) is a classic tale of someone daring to be different. The BFG lives
in the land of the giants, nasty creatures who gobble up children in the
night. But, the BFG dares to be different, and sometimes has to sacrifice
a great deal for it. This book is an absolute necessity for any library.
It not only teaches wonderful virtues, it does it in a hilarious way!
-Meg McGonagall, Senior Calculo
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory |
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A first glance at the story would give you an impression it's for a
6-years-old kid, although it's not true. I find this story suitable for all
ages, since it's fun for the young, along with Dahl's sense of humor; and
a serious story for the older with Dahl's magnificent experiences in life.
Charlie Bucket, a simple poor boy, gets a ticket to a
most spectacular place on earth: Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. What will
he find there? Why was he really invited to Willy Wonka's factory? What does
Charlie learn aside from the sweetness of chocolate? Only reading will tell!
-Alex Granger, Calculo Extraordinaire |
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Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator |
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Information coming soon
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Danny the Champion of the World |
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A touch on the more serious side of Dahl, this work is still thoroughly
enrapturing, for both young and old. Danny and his father, who live in a
gypsy caravan and tend a gas station, have a very unique and wonderful father-son
relationship. "My father, without the slightest doubt, was the most marvelous
and exciting father any boy ever had." Danny feels like a very lucky boy,
until he discovers his father's one vice. Soon Danny finds himself the mastermind
behind the most incredible plot ever attempted against nasty Victor Hazell,
a wealthy landowner with a bad attitude. But will they pull it off? Read
it, and find out for yourself, cause I'm not telling.
-Meg McGonagall, Senior Calculo
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Esio Trot |
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This book is practically begging to be made into a film!
A cute, innocent tale of
a man in love with the woman who
lives in the apartment below him, and he has
to find a way to impress to girl of his dreams. He gets
his chance, thanks to a little tortoise. It's definitely not your classic
boy-meets-girl tale, but it's incredibly entertaining, funny, and all-around
a great book. Its only fault is the book is too short! I wish
we could have seen a sequel, but perhaps we'll have to leave that up to Hollywood
screenwriters.
-Meg McGonagall, Senior Calculo
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George's Marvelous Medicine |
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What child hasn't wished for some magic cure for grumpy old people? This
delightful story of a young boy's efforts to rid his Grandmother of her grumpy
edge, decides to create a 'marvelous medicine' using ingredients from around
the house. Roald Dahl's imagination shines through in every page of this
hilarious tale. Read along, rapt at the strange effects his medicine has,
although, we don't recommend that you try this at home. :)
-Meg McGonagall, Senior Calculo
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James and the Giant Peach |
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Dahl never ceases to amaze me with how perfectly he captures the innermost
desires of a child. This book comes so close to child psychology it's
mind-boggling. James, an orphan left to be tended by his two despicable aunts,
wants nothing but a loving family again. He finds his family in the most
unusual of places: inside a peach. Truly a classic of children's literature,
James and the Giant Peach is a must-read for every child, or
adult for that matter. Read it, now!
-Meg McGonagall, Senior Calculo
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The Magic Finger |
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Information on this book coming soon
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Matilda |
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Yet another example of Dahl's ability to so expertly capture the mind
of a child. Matilda is a prodigy, born to an idiot family. She has a natural
zest for reading, an amazing, incredible, stupendous mind... and
all her parents want or expect of her is to sit in front of the television.
Thanks to a wonderful teacher, (aptly named 'Ms. Honey') Matilda learns there's
more to life than the latest soap opera; there's a wealth of knowledge waiting
at school. However, there's more, much more, to this story than
a girl and her books. There are so many twists and turns, twits and
beasts, that it's so unpredictable it will have readers clamoring for more.
Definitely highly recommended, without a doubt. (Also, it has some of the
best character names I've ever come across. Who wouldn't love a name like
'Bruce Bogtrotter'?)
-Meg McGonagall, Senior Calculo
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Revolting Rhymes |
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This book is just as much for adults as it is for children.
There are so many hidden jokes, it's hilarious. Dahl adds his own delightful
spin on classic fairy tales with witty rhymes, and impecable comedic timing.
Read them aloud, or use this as inspiration for a class play. I once
participated in a rendition of the tale of Little Red Riding Hood from this
book, and it had the crowds howling with laughter. Read
it, and have a good giggle.
-Meg McGonagall, Senior Calculo
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The Witches |
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This book was first read to me by my mother when I was eleven.
Horribly ill, being put through tests of all sorts, my mother would sit there
and read The Witches to me, pausing every now and then to add comments
of her own: "Ewww!" "Eugh!" "What the...?"
If ever there was a book for young boys, this is it. Dahl's
imagination is at its utmost boyish level in The Witches. His charming
descriptions are incredibly enjoyable, and bring out that child in you.
I highly recommend it, and honestly, it's not that
disgusting...
-Meg McGonagall, Senior Calculo
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The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More |
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A collection of six wonderful short-stories, this book is a true
testimony to Dahl's skills as a writer. Four of the six were originally published
in journals for adults, and two contain child characters, and one is
a biographical essay. Each one is as entertaining and
compelling as the next, even though my personal favorite is the
one that speaks of Dahl's adventures as a pilot in Africa. It gives an
interesting insight into Dahl's life, as well as being entertaining for children
and adults alike. Truly a treasure in any collection.
-Meg McGonagall, Senior Calculo
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