Roald Dahl day takes place on September 13th to honour his birthday and the legacy he left behind with his books that became classics for us all.
Roald Dahl wrote over 20 children's books, as well as writing adult short stories, and memoirs. His prolific writing took place at the bottom of his garden in a small writing hut, where he wrote everything by hand - never learning to type.
His creativity shows in not just his fascinating premises and gloriously memorable characters, but also in the 250+ new words he invented, like snozzcumber (a disgusting vegetable in The BFG), a trogglehumper (a rather awful nightmare) and of course ones that became officially recognized like Human Bean and Oompa Loompa.
To reflect on the power of Roald Dahl's creative story telling, we got the Book Hero team to share some of his stories that have stuck with them from childhood long into being adults, and why they are the ones that we return to time and time again.
Dylan
It’s hard to choose a favourite Roald Dahl book, but The BFG was probably mine, with The Twits and The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me very close runners-up. I can still see the illustrations from these amazing books clearly in my head - and they’re no doubt partly responsible for giraffes still being one of my favourite animals today! I need to get back to the zoo ASAP 🦒
The BFG that has stuck with me for sure. Beneath this enormous, initially frightening giant is someone gentle, kind and wonderfully different. Maybe it helped teach me something I’ve carried into adulthood…never judge a person (or a book) by its cover! Some of the biggest, scariest people I’ve ever met have turned out to be big softies! It’s the little people you need to be careful of 🫢
“I is reading it hundreds of times,' the BFG said. 'And I is still reading it and teaching new words to myself and how to write them. It is the most scrumdiddlyumptious story.' Sophie took the book out of his hand. 'Nicholas Nickleby,' she read aloud. 'By Dahl's Chickens,' the BFG said.” ― Roald Dahl, The BFG
Theresa
Matilda is one of my all-time favourite stories. The clever pranks and silly adults have always made me laugh!
As a child, I was so excited to read about another girl who loved books and going to the library. I certainly couldn't relate to poor Matilda's home life, but just like Matilda, I had wonderfully kind and supportive friends, teachers and librarians.
Roald Dahl somehow managed to convince me that I could move an object if I stared at it long enough and concentrated really hard. Much to my dismay, my telekinesis powers never manifested. But the magic of Matilda and Roald Dahl lives on!
“So Matilda’s strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone.” ― Roald Dahl, Matilda
Roopa
Roald Dahl’s books were probably what got me into reading from a young age, so it’s really hard to pick just one favourite! I’ve reread them so many times over the years, and it’s been so lovely getting to read them to my girls now too. The Twits was always a favourite of mine, probably partly because it was short enough for me to read over and over again 😂.
The BFG, Matilda and The Witches were also firm favourites. I loved the magic of Matilda, and although The Witches absolutely terrified me as a kid, I could never resist picking it up for another reread! I also have such a strong memory of reading The Witches in primary school. One of my teachers was a big reader, and whenever we finished a book as a class, we got to watch the movie version.
I remember being so excited to watch The Witches after we finished the book, and it’s something I’ve carried on with my girls. There’s something so special about discovering these stories all over again through their eyes.
“In fairy-tales, witches always wear silly black hats and black cloaks, and they ride on broomsticks. But this is not a fairy-tale. This is about REAL WITCHES. The most important thing you should know about REAL WITCHES is this. Listen very carefully. Never forget what is coming next.” ― Roald Dahl, The Witches
Lizzy
Fantastic Fox has such a special place in my heart because it was the first chapter book I ever read to myself, and because of it I developed a slight obsession with foxes which persists to this day (I even have a fox tattoo that I did not plan but walked into a tattoo shop one time, saw a business fox, and felt it was fate). I love Fantastic Mr Fox for the found family element, with all the animals working together to survive the catastrophic actions of humans. I love the meals they all shared together underground too. I've always been a fan of survivalist fiction which I guess this would fall under.
I should probably also shout out Matilda who is a favourite character and inspired the naming of our daughter, Tilly! We love a book worm, and a little healthy dose of magic to survive the mundane everyday. My 4 year old now loves listening to bit of Matilda's story, especially the parts where Ms Trunchbull does her worst, like swinging children around by their pigtails, or forcefeeding them chocolate cake!
I'll also never forget reading Roald Dahl's adult short stories - particularly the one about the lady feeding the police 'lamb' (iykyk). If you haven't tried reading his short stories, and like fiction that can get a little weird and unexpected, I highly recommend them. They are such a great example of what a master of the craft he is.
“I think I have this thing where everybody has to think I'm the greatest.And if they aren't completely knocked out and dazzled and slightly intimidated by me, I don't feel good about myself.” ― Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Tim W
Just to mix it up, my favourite Roald Dahl book is Going Solo, the follow-up to his childhood memoir, Boy. I read it while I was on holiday when I was a teenager and was surprised by how extraordinary his own life was! Roald Dahl spent time working in East Africa and later flying for the RAF during the Second World War, and some of the things he went through are really unbelievable!
“I was already beginning to realize that the only way to conduct oneself in a situation where bombs rained down and bullets whizzed past, was to accept the dangers and all the consequences as calmly as possible. Fretting and sweating about it all was not going to help.” ― Dahl Roald, Going Solo
Eve
Roald Dahl was a significant author in my childhood. Yes, with a mother as a librarian, I had been brought up with all the iconic books, including all his tales. I was lucky enough to have the whole box set of his classics! They all hold a place in my heart, but the story of Matilda was my personal favourite. It showed me through true power, beauty, and importance of books in a child's life. I’ll never get to Matildas level, but when I progress in my reading journey, I still get reminded of her.
I also need to specially mention one of my favourite books in my collection, and that’s a huge pop up book of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! This amazing pop up book brought all of Roald Dahl's wacky characters and scenes to life! This form of reading is so magical to me, and as a visual learner, this story was easily brought to life to me as a child.
“So please, oh please, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away, And in its place you can install A lovely bookshelf on the wall. Then fill the shelves with lots of books.” ― Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Shirl
I remember my very first introduction to Roald Dahl was through The Twits. It was the first chapter book I ever read, it felt quite daunting venturing away from picture books. However, I was hooked from the start by all the crazy hijinks those two got up to, constantly trying to trick each other.
From then on, I went on to read every single Roald Dahl book I could get my hands on. The Witches was one of my favourites, especially the 1990 film starring Anjelica Huston. She was so good as the Grand High Witch! I also loved The BFG, James and the Giant Peach and Matilda. I can’t forget the lovely story of Danny, the Champion of the World or the hilarious George’s Marvellous Medicine.
Going back and remembering Roald Dahl and the impact he had on my reading makes me want to pick them all up and read them all over again!
“Well, maybe it started that way. As a dream, but doesn’t everything? Those buildings. These lights. This whole city. Somebody had to dream about it first. And maybe that is what I did. I dreamed about coming here, but then I did it.” ― Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach
Hannah
I love an underdog (or fox!) story and Fantastic Mr Fox has this in spades. Mr Fox outwits Farmer Boggis, Farmer Bunce and Farmer Bean who try to catch him as he steals from their farms to feed his family. His daring escapades actually carry quite a lot of tension for a kids story! Even though I guess Mr Fox must be the villain in the Farmers’ story, I like the fairy tale inversion where the fox is the protagonist we're cheering for!
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is another of my favourites, as Charlie beats the odds (another underdog story!) and finds an elusive golden ticket, winning a competition to go to Mr Wonka's chocolate factory. An all you can eat lolly factory was definitely something I could read and dream about for hours! Charlie and the Chocolate Factory holds such a sense of magic and fun and I might have to do a re-read!
“There is something about very cold weather that gives one an enormous appetite. Most of us find ourselves beginning to crave rich steaming stews and hot apple pies and all kinds of delicious warming dishes; and because we are all a great deal luckier than we realize, we usually get what we want—or near enough.” ― Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Tim (The 'Toyman')
The first Roald Dahl book I read from cover to cover was The BFG - I think it was actually the first non-picture book I ever read... 🤔 Anyway the Roald Dahl books that really stuck with me were perhaps his lesser known ones... 'Boy' - with the whole 'rat in the sweet jar' plot & then the subsequent cane (spoiler alert). Danny the Champion of the World - with the ingenious plan to put the pheasants to sleep.
But probably the book that stays with me daily is 'George's Marvelous Medicine' - which kid doesn't wonder what mixing things together will do? Or was it just me? Haha - I was always curious as to what happened if you just put a lot of random things together & mixed them up... luckily I had enough sense not to taste it - but I would be lying if I said I hadn't done it... to this day I cannot look at the contents of my bathroom cupboard the same way & not wonder what would happen if all the contents were mixed together... 🤔🤨😈
“George didn't say a word. He felt quite trembly. He knew something tremendous had taken place that morning. For a few brief moments he had touched with the very tips of his fingers the edge of a magic world.” ― Roald Dahl, George's Marvellous Medicine
