Today is the 100th birthday celebration of Roald Dahl so it seemed only fitting that we mark this momentous occasion of someone who he has shaped the childhood of so many of us. And continues to do so with our own children.
Growing up Roald Dahl’s books were always a firm favourite. Being picked down from the shelf for bedtime stories and eagerly being devoured as we became old enough to read ourselves. There is just something about a good book that continues to entice me today. The flick of the pages as the story unfolds. I am definitely still a bit of a book worm and I mean a real book. If you are like me then head over to Rock My Style where Lisa is trying to be convinced on the benefits of the Kindle. For me it has to be those lovely pages that remind me so much of my childhood love of stories.
Our Favourite Books
To start with we thought we would share the team’s favourite books and what Roald Dahl means to them.
Me {Lottie}
My favourite Roald Dahl book was perhaps not one of his best known. The Giraffe and The Pelly and Me is one of those books that will always remind me of being little. When I say it was my favourite book I must caveat it with the fact it wasn’t actually my book, it was my sisters, but I loved listening to it with her or stealing it to read whilst snuggled up in bed. To me his books symbolise everything that is fun about being a child. That amazing imagination and the thought that you can or create anything you want. And always always for me they are synonymous with Quentin Blake’s fabulous illustrations that just bought everything to life. When it came to films it had to be Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. It was every kids dream and I remember endlessly wishing it existed in real life. Molly and Alice already have the full box set of books sat at Nanny’s house ready for endless bedtime stories.
Lorna
I absolutely LOVED reading Gorgeous Marvellous Medicine. I can still vividly remember my mum and I reading it together when I was little. We were in fits of hysterics reading about Grandma and her disgusting ways, so much so my mum was crying with laughter. I also remember Matilda being released and before I’d got a chance to read it, my mum had finished it in the night.
All Roald Dahl books was such a massive part of my childhood. I kept all my copies (as battered as they are), which my boys have now read and hopefully Anabelle will one day too. We still haven’t got around to watching the new BFG film which we’re desperate to see. I think my boys and I need a cinema date this weekend as this was by far the boys favourite story.
Lisa {RMS}
My favourite ever Roald Dahl book was, by far and away, the story of that fearless little heroine, Matilda. I shared her love of books and her hatred of Miss Trunchbull. I’m a sucker for a happy ending and a film that does the book justice, and am trying not to wish away the days until Lyra is old enough for me to take her to see Matilda The Musical.
Lolly
Whilst on the fiction side of things I’d have to say that Matilda is probably my favourite book (due in part to her love for books which I massively identified with and still do), this was closely followed by the shorter and lesser known story – The Magic Finger. The power to do good by pointing my finger at someone and blasting out superpowers appealed to my eight year old self; I’m not going to lie…it still does. I can’t not mention Roald Dahl’s amazing autobiographies Boy and Going Solo though and I urge anyone who hasn’t read them to do so. He was a truly awe-inspiring and incredibly interesting man.
Roald Dahl Goodies
Of course we felt it only right that we left you with a spot of dirty enabling. It is not just the fabulous books but a whole myriad of items that will help you create a magical Roald Dahl world for your littles.
The fabulous Quentin Blake and Roald Dahl wallpaper would make an amazing addition to any children’s bedroom. They can go to sleep dreaming of chocolate like Charlie or the amazing Matilda. Osbourne and Little also have the most fabulous Cockatoo wallpaper.
When I saw the Fantastic Mr Fox curtains in Rufus’ nursery tour I fell a little bit in love. They were just so fun and have been styled to perfection in this gorgeous retro room. You can get a myriad of fabrics that could be made in to curtains or cushions. I was just a little bit excited to spy The Giraffe and The Pelly and Me fabric. Oh my. You can find ready made versions here and I have to say that Giant Peach fabric is just the best.
If your kids have fallen in love with the BFG then they may want to go sleep dreaming of his visits in this bedding set.
How about some cute lunch boxes to carry their everlasting gobstoppers or lickety splits.
We do love a quote here at RMLtd and none seems more apt than this one from Etsy.
What was your favourite Roald Dahl book and have you started sharing them with your little’s yet? And always remember…..
“If you only have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely”
Image by Shutterbox Films
I am the proud but bemused parent of a little girl who is obsessed with crocodiles! A version of crocodile was one of her first words, closely followed by “nap!” Snap. So we have just started to read the Enormous Crocodile which she loves, even in truncated form as she is quite little for the full shebang.
I loved the BFG, his character, his gentleness. Also Fantastic Mr Fox- it’s great when the goodies win in spite of the odds stacked against them, and I love fox designs still- have a foxy duvet cover and phone case and planning more. I don’t feel quite so good about foxy victories anymore though since losing a number of chickens to a vulpine visitor…
Oh I forgot! When S was born my lovely mama gave her a print from Matilda and this (badly remembered by me) quote:
“The books transported her into wonderful worlds filled with exciting things and interesting people.”
Or something like that. Away from home or I’d look properly!
I can’t pick just one story! They’re all so good! Absolute favourites have to be George’s Marvellous Medicine and Fantastic Mr Fox but The Magic Finger and The Enormous Crocodile are close too. At 4 months my little boy is a bit young for them yet (!) but as a teacher I loved reading these to my class 🙂
I’m with Lorna. Rik Mayall bringing Georges Marvellous Medicine to life on Jackanory is one of the most enduring memories of my childhood. Amazing.
Ah yes Philippa I remember that too. What a star xxx
Ahhh I love this post so much, it has reminded me of lots of amazing books to enjoy with Elle as she grows. Roald Dahl is such a huge part of childhood for us all and it’s so lovely to be able to share his work with our little ones 🙂
I have to admit I’m not a fan myself – maybe I was already too old when I first discovered his stories m. But my husband adores Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and can’t wait to read it to our little boy!
I loved Danny the Champion of the World and Matilda… That is if I had to choose. I can’t think of a book I didn’t love by Dahl.
I love the fantastic Mr Fox curtains!
Since I am German I don’t know his books too well. However I read his autobiographies and enjoyed them immensely. I have to ask though, when do you start reading to them? And do you start with always the same one for bedtime for example so it sets a good routine? Or do you swap all the time?
I started reading to my children when they were a couple of months old Anja. Very short stories to begin with, with lots of pictures. I’d mainly point at things on the page and let them turn the pages. They eventually happily sit and listen to a story when they were one. I’d also let them pick the book. Sometimes it would be the same for a couple of nights, other times it would be different each time. Julia Donaldson has always been a firm favourite in our house, but we also enjoy Percy the Park Keeper too xxx
I think it has to be The Witches for me. I can remember it being the first book that scared me a little bit. I also remember my teacher read a few pages of the book to the class every day when I first started junior school. Is there anyone who wasn’t a bit scared at the thought of the Grand High Witch?!
Yes! And the movie too! Scary!
The Witches movie… Oh my it was so scary!
I had George’s Marvellous Medicine on tape which entertained the whole family on mammoth car journeys to Germany.
I love all the books but a particular (and somewhat niche) fave is Esiotrot! Beautiful story.