Roald Dahl

[thisagain]

I have just started reading some Roald Dahl books to my nearly 6 year old son. I have read Fantasic Mr Fox and just started the BFG. My son asked for this next as is familiar with the story from the film. A year ago I tried to read him my favourite book, Danny the Champion on the World. I got as far as the first few lines where Danny's mum dies and he cried for ages and began worrying about me dying - so I quickly gave up!

In what order do you think the books should be read? I mean what do you think are the least dark and easiest to understand? I was keen to read Matilda but when I glanced at it I realised that the wording was more complex than I remembered.

The Giraffe, the Pelly and Me is a good one for younger kids. As is The Enormous Crocodile.

I think the Twits and the Enormous Crocodile are both great for younger kids. My 9 year old still finds The Witches too dark.
I would reread yourself first to check.

I started my DS on The Twits & George's Marvellous Medicine.

I remember being massively freaked out by the BFG as a small child, the idea that a stranger could look through your window whilst you slept used to give me nightmares.

Roald dahl often kills the parents in his books. It was deliberate in order to allow the children to experience real adventure and peril.
Charlie and the chocolate factory is fun, the giraffe the pelly and me, esio trot (although I don't like the story of that one, he lies his way into a relationship).
Avoid the witches and James and the giant peach if he's sensitive. The parents getting killed by a rhinoceros is sad.

The Enormous Crocodile, The Giraffe, the Pelly and Me, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Magic Finger, Esio Trot, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Twits have all gone down well with my 4 year old. The first two are short enough to read in a single sitting. We're planning James and the Giant Peach next.

As with all these things, a lot depends on the child. Some will not like things that upset others. The sheer revolting-ness of some Dahl characters is enough to upset some kids. The Giraffe the Pelly and Me really is a good starter though as it is lyrical and I can't think of anything upsetting in it!

The Magic Finger is good for that age.

My 4yo has really enjoyed George's Marvellous Medicine, the BFG, Charlie and the chocolate factory, Charlie and the great Glass elevator, the giraffe the Pelly and Me and Esio Trot.

Ooh, and she loves Matilda, mainly because she's already taught herself to read so is now (according to her) teaching herself to move things with her mind!

Thanks everyone!

I never liked the Twits but love the others. I always read George's Marvellous Medicine to my year 2 classes!

If he is familiar with traditional fairy tales then don't forget Revolting Rhymes. It's still my favourite

"A few weeks later, in the wood,
I came across Miss Riding Hood.
But what a change! No cloak of red,
No silly hood upon her head.
She said, Hello, and do please note
My lovely furry wolfskin coat.''

mrsmortis Mine too - although my favourite lines are:

"Ah, Piglet, you must never trust
Young ladies from the upper crust.
For now, Miss Riding Hood, one notes,
Not only has two wolfskin coats,
But when she goes from place to place,
She has a PIGSKIN TRAVELING CASE."

I think the BFG and The Witches are too scary for young or sensitive children. I think they need to be old enough to rationalise that giants and witches don't really exist - I'm not sure my 8 year old is quite there - he definitely still believes in the tooth fairy and Father Christmas anyway! I was frightened by them at around age 8 or 9, although I did read them by myself rather than with a parent, which may have made a difference. Plus, love of reading often comes with an overactive imagination!

We have done the Enormous Crocodile, the Giraffe the Pelly and Me, the Twits and George's Marvellous Medicine. I have the BFG ready to go, but not sure I'm ready to introduce my dc to man eating giants!

We started reading 'Boy' over the summer and ds1 read ahead and got nightmares from the bit where he gets the cane. I confiscated it after that and re-read it myself to see if the chapters were suitable.
But nearly made the same mistake with David Copperfield (an edited, young readers version), had to stop reading (out loud) on chapter 3 when a picture of a cane appeared.