Hello everyone! I hope you are doing well and enjoying your summer! September is just around the corner. I think September is a great month. The weather is still warm, and there is a sense of new beginnings. Even though it is many years since I was in school, I still feel a sense of anticipation when September arrives.
A special day which occurs in September is Roald Dahl Day! It is held every September 13, which is Roald’s birthday. I loved reading his books, and my favourite is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Here are some ideas to mark the occasion of this beloved author’s birthday.
Let’s Read Roald!
Roald Dahl’s Even More Revolting Recipes illustrated by Quentin Blake, recipes by Lori-Ann Newman
Food is a large part of the hilarity in Roald Dahl’s books. Who can forget the BFG’s snozzcumbers, the wonderful treats made in WIlly Wonka’s factory, and James’s giant peach? In this book you will find yummy recipes inspired from the books.
To tempt the taste buds and tickle the imagination: Sherbet Slurpers, Magic Green Crystal, Nishnobblers, The Royal Breakfast, A Plate of Soil with Engine Oil, Bean’s Cider, Hot Noodles made with Poodles on a Bed of Garden Hose, and many, many more all taken from Dahl’s wonderful stories.
Make a request from the library.
Never Grow Up by Roald Dahl
A brand new picture book inspired by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake It’s rotten when you’re very small, You hardly get a say at all. It’s “No!” and “Quiet!” and “That’s enough! ” By golly, life – it can be tough . . . Inspired by the work of the world’s number 1 storyteller, this picture book is a guide to growing up the Roald Dahl way, with gloriumptious illustrations by Quentin Blake. A celebration of all the tremendous things children have in store – from adventure to inventions, chocolate cakes to rhino poo – along with a reminder that the very best grown ups are those who hold on tight to the kid inside.
Place a hold on this new release here.
Boy [electronic resource] : tales of childhood by Roald Dahl (an E-audiobook)
Where did Roald Dahl get all of his wonderful ideas for stories? From his own life, of course! As full of excitement and the unexpected as his world-famous, best-selling books, Roald Dahl’s tales of his own childhood are completely fascinating and fiendishly funny. Did you know that Roald Dahl nearly lost his nose in a car accident? Or that he was once a chocolate candy tester for Cadbury’s? Have you heard about his involvement in the Great Mouse Plot of 1924? If not, you don’t yet know all there is to know about Roald Dahl. Sure to captivate and delight you, the boyhood antics of this master storyteller are not to be missed!
Place a hold on this delightful tale here.
Roald Dahl Readalikes
If you enjoy Roald Dahl’s books, here are suggestions that you might want to try!
Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier
This is the utterly beguiling tale of a ten-year-old blind orphan who has been schooled in a life of thievery. One fateful afternoon, he steals a box from a mysterious traveling haberdasher–a box that contains three pairs of magical eyes. When he tries the first pair, he is instantly transported to a hidden island where he is presented with a special quest: to travel to the dangerous Vanished Kingdom and rescue a people in need. Along with his loyal sidekick–a knight who has been turned into an unfortunate combination of horse and cat–and the magic eyes, he embarks on an unforgettable, swashbuckling adventure to discover his true destiny.
Place a hold on this item here.
The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon
Archer B. Helmsley wants an adventure. No, he needs an adventure. His grandparents were famous explorers . . . until they got stuck on an iceberg. Now Archer’s mother barely lets him out of the house. As if that would stop a true Helmsley. Archer enlists Adelaide–the girl who, according to rumor, lost her leg to a crocodile–and Oliver–the boy next door–to help him rescue his grandparents. The Doldrums whisks us off on an adventure full of sly humor, incredible detail, and enormous heart.
Place a hold on this item here.
The League of Beastly Dreadfuls by Holly Grant
A creepy Victorian house, secretive aunties, and a great escape combine in this debut that is part Mysterious Benedict Society, part Roald Dahl, and all quirky, smart, hilarious storytelling. Anastasia is a completely average almost-eleven-year-old. That is, UNTIL her parents die in a tragic vacuum-cleaner accident. UNTIL she’s rescued by two long-lost great-aunties. And UNTIL she’s taken to their delightful and, er, “authentic” Victorian home, St. Agony’s Asylum for the Criminally Insane. But something strange is going on at the asylum. Anastasia soon begins to suspect that her aunties are not who they say they are. So when she meets Ollie and Quentin, two mysterious brothers, the three join together to plot their great escape!
Place a hold on this item here.
Your Turn
What is your favourite Roald Dahl book? They are great read alouds to share with your child. Or maybe you will find a new author to enjoy from the list! And, don’t forget to celebrate Roald Dahl Day on September 13! Share your comments below, or email us at childkpl@kpl.org.
POST WRITTEN BY KAREN B., CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMER