Roald Dahl Story Day, held on 13th September each year, celebrates the stories, characters and worlds created by the world’s number one storyteller. Creator of children’s fiction and short stories for adults, Roald Dahl has sold over 300 million books worldwide, and have been translated into 64+ different languages. To celebrate we wanted to explore some of his best-loved children’s books.
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James and the Giant Peach was the first of Roald Dahl’s stories for children, released in 1961. The story follows James Henry Trotter who lives with his dreadful aunts, Spiker and Sponge and ends up having a weird and wonderful journey inside a giant peach – and was adapted into a film in 1996.
Fun Facts about James and the Giant Peach
James’s parents were eaten by an ‘enormous angry rhinoceros’ when he was only 4 years old.
Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge’s peach tree had never grown a single peach before the giant peach.
The giant peach fed 10,000 children.
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In 1970, Fantastic Mr Fox was published, following a fox who feeds his family by outwitting three farmers named Boggis, Bunce and Bean. In 2009, the book was adapted into an award-winning film by Wes Anderson, with George Clooney and Meryl Streep as the voices of Mr and Mrs Fox.
Fun Facts about Fantastic Mr Fox
Mr Fox could smell a farmer from 50 yards away.
Mr Fox knows his way around the farms ‘blindfolded’.
The most frightening noise for a fox is the sound of shovels.
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Matilda was published in 1988 and tells the story of a gifted girl who was born into an unkind family. The book was so popular that ‘Matilda’ became the 10th most common name in the UK! The well-loved story has been adapted for both stage and screen, with a new adaptation of the film coming in 2022.
Fun Facts about Matilda
Matilda had perfect speech by 1 ½ years old and knew ‘as many words as most grownups.
The Wormwood house is called the Cosy Nook.
The floor of the Chokey is only 10 inches square.
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The BFG follows ten-year-old Sophie on the adventure of a lifetime when she meets the Big Friendly Giant. Published in 1982, the BFG has been adapted twice – into an animated film in 1989, and more recently in 2016 by Steven Spielberg.
Fun Facts about The BFG
The BFG’s arm is as thick as a tree trunk.
The BFG is likely as old as the earth.
The BFG used his spare time to read all of Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, and thousands of other books.
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was published in 1964 and is about a young boy who wins a tour of the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world, led by a rather unusual sweet maker – Mr Willy Wonka. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the most widely read Roald Dahl book, and has been successfully adapted for stage and screen – with a prequel film set to release in 2023.
Fun Facts about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie’s family is made of 6 grown-ups and 1 child.
Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory was about 50 times larger than every other chocolate factory in the world.
Charlie found his Golden Ticket on January 31st and his visit to the factory was on February 1st.
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We hope you enjoy celebrating Roald Dahl Story Day – why not take a quick look at our splendiferous range of official Roald Dahl cards, suitable for all occasions, now at ROALD DAHL CARDS
