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Have your children read all the Roald Dahl books? If you’re tracking how many Roald Dahl books you’ve read, download this free printable booklet so you can keep track of all of the books, your reviews, and the ratings.
This printable booklet gives you fun facts, space for your chapter book reviews, a place to put how many stars you give each book, and a chance to say if you’d recommend the Roald Dahl book to a friend.
Consider the Author’s Beliefs
But before you read on, I need to address the very big, very awful problem with the author Roald Dahl and his books. Dahl confirmed publicly that he was anti-Semitic, and many of his readers have concerns that many of the characters and representations in his writing represent not only this anti-Jewish prejudice but also racism, misogyny, and sexual innuendo. Read this for yourself in Time magazine and the BBC.
I feel disturbed and sad about this. This is why I’m telling you so you can make an informed decision. The big question I ask myself is: can we separate the art from the artist? the creation from the creator?
If the answer is no, then don’t read Roald Dahl’s books.
If the answer is yes, then carefully read the Roald Dahl books with a critical eye, keeping in mind the author’s biases and prejudices.
It’s a complicated situation to come to terms with yet, I urge you to consider it before you read his books.
Roald Dahl Books
Which books by Roald Dahl do you like best? Here are some of the most popular choices for children.
But first, you can always buy this 16-book collection.
These books by Roald Dahl are generally comprehensible for children who are about age 7 to 10. They’re written at a complexity on the upper end of beginning chapter books.
Matilda
Matilda is a Roald Dhal book about a girl with horrid parents who goes to a school with a bullying headmistress but a kind teacher. Matilda not only is a reader but also has some magic! It’s my favorite of all Roald Dahl books because girl power and reading. I also like the movie versions— do you? Now, there’s a new version of the movie you can watch on online, also.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory gave us several movies based on the book — with some creepiness from both movie versions, in my opinion. Charlie is about a boy who wins a competition to visit a candy factory owned by Mr. Wonka.
The second book in the series is Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. It continues the adventures of Charlie, the new owner of the factory and his grandparents and Mr. Wonka.
Make up your own Words with this word-inventing activity inspired by Charlie and the Cholate Factory.
James and the Giant Peach
James and the Giant Peach is weird. With mean aunts and homes of fruit and talking animals, this is one of Dahl’s most bizarre worlds! Have you read this?
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Another Roald Dahl book made into a movie is Fantastic Mr. Fox. This is my least favorite story and movie. It’s about Mr. Fox who steals from farmers. And he has plans to outsmart them.
George’s Marvelous Medicine
Want a fun book-related idea? Try this pretend play activity after you read George’s Marvelous Medicine!
Mischief and Mayhem
Mischief and Mayhem! is the most recent publication credited to Roald Dahl, published after his death. It’s a compilation of mischief-making stories from Roald Dahl’s books with delightful mischief-making ideas for YOU to do on your own. It’s a quick read and might be a April Fools Day favorite.
Remember when Augustus Gloop jumped into the chocolate river when touring Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory? That’s one of the stories in Mischief and Mayhem! Next is a trick that you can do — a hot chocolate trick that has you mixing hot chocolate but giving someone gravy instead. BLEURGHHHH.
Read the story from Mr. Fox about stealing chickens from Boggis’s Chicken House Number One. After you read that, learn “How to Steal a Prehistoric Creature.” All you need is one-time machine, one sherry trifle, and one net. Easy peasy. Kids will discover stories in Mischief and Mayhem from many of Roald Dahl’s books. This will surely get them interested in reading the books again or for the first time.
Illustrations in Roald Dahl Books
Kids love the whimsical illustrations in Dahl’s books created by Quentin Blake — they’re always a perfect companion to the stories. Read along with the novels and admire the illustration as you listen to the audio.
Review the 13 Best Roald Dahl Books
What Roald Dahl books have you read and enjoyed?
I’ve included 13 Roald Dahl books in this free pdf booklet –with space for adding an extra book of your choosing.
The titles include:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.
James and the Giant Peach
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Danny, the Champion of the World
The Enormous Crocodile
The Twits
George’s Marvellous Medicine
The BFG
The Witches
Matilda
Esio Trot
Mischief and Mayhem
If you haven’t read The Vicar of Nibbleswicke, it’s one of the shortest books and quite funny. My students would laugh out loud (not just inside their heads) at the silliness.
BUT –be aware that the word “park” is said backward. (krap) I learned this lesson the hard way by reading it out loud to my 5th graders without previewing it first. Whoops!
Print out the free Roald Dahl pdf booklet to get started!
Here’s a sample of what the pages look like in the booklet.
You have my permission to use this Roald Dahl booklet in your classrooms and homes.
Won’t this be a fun way to get kids reading and writing?
Find more funny books for kids.
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