My oldest daughter does not love to read. It is a chore, an assignment, something she must check off a list before doing what she really wants. She's eight. But as an English Major, rabid reader, and writer, this stomps on my heart. I've been reading to her since she was 2 months old. Where I have failed her? She tried Harry Potter...loved book one but snored through 2 then stopped. (I know!) She loved The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, but never finished Prince Caspian and only read Dawn Treader so she could see the movie with her friends. I think I've established she's a tough nut to crack. Gratefully, her 3rd grade teacher started reading Matilda by Roald Dahl to her class. My daughter immediately checked it out from the library and gobbled down the rest of the story in two days. Since Matilda, she's read every book he's written and now enjoys reading...don't get me wrong, it is still a chore but she likes it.
I've always loved Roald Dahl. James and the Giant Peach is still an all time favorite. But I had never read The BFG. So I pried it from my daughter's small fierce fingers.
The BFG by Roald Dahl
published in 1982
The Hook: After being kidnapped by a 24-ft giant, little Sophie befriends the gentle dream-catching giant and they team up to stop the human-bean-eating giants.
Why I loved it: Style and imagination. Roald Dahl is an amazing storyteller and his ability to make up believable jibberish is next level. You can open the story to any page and find no less than 5 crazy made up words that children love. Am I right or left? Exactly. Delumptious from the first to the last page. Great for both boys and girls. Who doesn't want to foil people-eating giants? Although, a girl as the protagonist may turn some boys off.
Other MMGMers:
Ah, what a wonderful book. I'm glad she has discovered them. Give her a try on the Oz books as well (my MMGM topic this week), because they some of that wonderful, slightly twisted, logic and charm to them as well. My kids all had a particular teacher who loved them and got them hooked in 2nd grade by reading them aloud, so in 3rd grade they were churning through them at a great pace.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the linkage!
ReplyDeleteOh, I adore THE BFG! And MATILDA. And all of his books. Glad your daughter found something to be passionate about.
Try the Wayside School books with her too. My "reluctant" reader (younger son) liked Dahl and Sachar and precious little else.
Roald Dahl's books are amazing, and THE BFG is my favorite of his. I read it to my son several months ago, and he loved it.
ReplyDelete