[ home page ] [ channel4 ] [ writers toolkit ] [ secret passages ]
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff in Wales. Both his parents were
Norwegian and he was the only boy in a family with three sisters.
Roald's family was a very loving one, but when he was only three it
was hit by a terrible double tragedy. Firstly his oldest sister
died from appendicitis and then, only a couple of months later, his
father died of pneumonia and a broken heart. From then on Roald was
brought up by his mother and remaining sisters, and by his
grandmother in Norway where he and his sisters spent the long
summer holidays camping, boating, picnicking and swimming. It's
easy to see the influence of a loving grandparent in Roald's own
books, such as The Witches.
Roald hated his time at school and he left as soon as
possible. There was only one good thing that happened while he was
at school and that was that the boys were used as testers for
Cadbury's chocolate. This gave Roald a love of chocolate that
lasted the rest of his life and gave him the great idea for Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory.
Roald spent the first years of his working life
abroad, mostly in Africa, but when he married and had his five
children he came back to England and lived in Buckinghamshire,
where he spent most days just writing.
During his life Roald wrote over 20 books for
children. He wrote picture books and poetry as well as stories and
he wrote two books about his own life, Boy and Going Solo.
Matilda
Matilda is good and Matilda is brilliant. So brilliant that she just wants to spend all her time reading. But Matilda's parents think that reading is a waste of time. They want Matilda to sit and watch television with them and to join them in their nasty, mean-minded scams to diddle money off other people. Things are even worse at school. Ever met a head teacher like Miss Trunchbull? She twirls children around by their hair and makes Bruce Bogtrotter eat a whole chocolate cake as a punishment. Find out how Matilda survives and is rescued by her teacher, the marvellous Miss Honey. (9+)
Published in Puffin Books
The Twits
Can you think of anyone nastier than Mr or Mrs Twit? Two meaner people it would be hard to find. They certainly deserve each other - and the sticky end they both come to. Why? Well Mrs Twit's gruesome tricks include adding worms to Mr Twit's spaghetti. Ugh! To get his own back, Mr Twit tricks his wife into thinking that she's shrinking. Terror! Luckily, the birds and monkey know a trick or two, as well, and Mr and Mrs Twit get a very nasty dose of their own medicine. (8+)
Published in Puffin Books
The Witches
This is a story about REAL Witches. Not the fairytale kind that ride about on broomsticks, but witches that look so ordinary and do such ordinary jobs that you'd never suspect them of doing anything horrid. But they do. A real witch hates children with a red-hot sizzling hatred and will do anything to get rid of them. Scared? Find out how one small boy and his Grandmamma outwit the Witches, even the Grand High Witch herself, though not without getting into a lot of trouble along the way. (9+)
Published in Puffin Books
James and the Giant Peach
'Something is about to happen,' James told himself. 'Something peculiar is about to happen at any moment.' And something certainly does. James is transported away from his miserable life with his cruel aunts Spiker and Sponge by a wild transatlantic journey in a giant airborne peach. A host of talking insects including Glow-worm, Earthworm, Centipede and Old-Green-Grasshopper accompany him on this sky-high fantasy before he lands - splat - right on top of the Empire State Building. (9+)
Published in Puffin Books
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie Bucket is starving, and so are his parents and grandparents. Until his luck changes when he finds a Golden Ticket and wins a trip to visit Mr Willy Wonka's amazing chocolate factory. And what a place it is! A boat ride on a river of chocolate leads straight to the inventing room where Wonka, assisted by his trusty helpers, the Ooompa-Loompas, makes his magical, everlasting gobstoppers and chewing-gum meals. What happens to Charlie and the other Golden Ticket winners unfolds in this gloriously chocolatey world. (8+)
Published in Puffin Books
Fantastic Mr Fox
If ever anyone deserves to be called 'fantastic', it has to be Mr Fox. Holed up deep underground by the mean old farmers, Mr Fox has to think quickly to save his family from starvation. Three days without food or drink and his little children are running out of energy. Have they got enough strength to dig in the very particular direction that their father has chosen? And where will it lead them? After hours of tunnelling their destination becomes clear - and what a feast they have when they get there! (8+)
Published in Puffin Books
[ home page ] [ author - flash version ] [ author - non-flash version ] [ other authors - text only ]
No clips currently available for this author
