2016 marks 100 years since the birth of Roald Dahl—the world’s number one storyteller. There will be celebrations for Roald Dahl 100 throughout 2016, delivering a year packed with gloriumptious treats and surprises for everyone.
Roald Dahl said, “
If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”
The Roald Dahl Literary Estate believes in doing good things. That’s why ten percent of all Roald Dahl income goes to charity partners.
In honor of Roald Dahl's 100th birthday, Penguin Young Readers will publish new collectible hardcovers editions of some of Roald Dahl's beloved stories on September 6, 2016, including
Matilda,
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator,
Fantastic Mr. Fox, and
James and the Giant Peach. Here's a look at the new covers:
I've loved Roald Dahl's stories since the very first time I picked up
Matilda as a kid, and I find that as an adult, I might love them even more, especially because I have the opportunity to share them with my own daughter. The wonderful people at Penguin and Wunderkind PR sent me a copy of
James and the Giant Peach to review, so I've got our thoughts below, plus more about Roald Dahl and the 100 Year Celebration, along with a giveaway.
Title: James and the Giant Peach
Author: Roald Dahl
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Puffin Books
Publication Date: February 11, 2016 (first published 1961)
Source: paperback received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon |
Barnes & Noble
Phizzwhizzing new cover look and branding for the World's NUMBER ONE Storyteller!
James Henry Trotter lives with two ghastly hags. Aunt Sponge is enormously fat with a face that looks boiled and Aunt Spiker is bony and screeching. He's very lonely until one day something peculiar happens. At the end of the garden a peach starts to grow and GROW AND GROW. Inside that peach are seven very unusual insects - all waiting to take James on a magical adventure. But where will they go in their GIANT PEACH and what will happen to the horrible aunts if they stand in their way? There's only one way to find out . . .
"A true genius . . . Roald Dahl is my hero" - David Walliams
Now you can listen to James and the Giant Peach and other Roald Dahl AUDIOBOOKS read by some very famous voices, including Kate Winslet, David Walliams and Steven Fry - plus there are added squelchy soundeffects from Pinewood Studios!
Also look out for new Roald Dahl apps in the App store and Google Play- including the disgusting TWIT OR MISS! and HOUSE OF TWITS inspired by the revolting Twits.
It's not every day that you read a story of a boy orphaned when his parents were killed by a rampaging rhinoceros. I've always loved how imaginative the story of
James and the Giant Peach is, and I really loved the movie adaptation, but there is just something about sharing the story with a child that can't compare.
This was by no means our first time reading
James, but I think it was the first time Katie was able to contribute to the reading, which made it all the more special. It's amazing how much heart and spirit Roald Dahl put into this book. It's a timeless story of triumph and perseverance, and it will always be a favorite of mine...and now Katie's.
When I asked her what her favorite part of the story was, she told me that it was when the peach crashed through the fence to flatten the evil aunts. And I don't think I could honestly pick a better favorite scene from the story either.
GIF it to me straight:
About the author:
Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was born in Wales of Norwegian parents. In 1951, Roald Dahl met his future wife, the American actress Patricia Neal, who starred in films including The Day the Earth Stood Still, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Hud, for which she won an Oscar. After establishing himself as a writer for adults, Roald Dahl began writing children's stories in 1960 and wrote two of his best-known novels, James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the U.S.
In September 1964, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was published initially in the U.S. with the U.K. following a few years later. It would go on to become one of the most famous and best-known of Roald's stories. The idea for the story grew out of his own well-documented love of chocolate and his school-day memories of acting as a taster for a famous chocolate factory. These first stories were written as entertainment for his own children, to whom many of his books are dedicated.
Today, Roald Dahl’s stories are available in 58 languages and have sold more than 200 million books. With more than 40 million Roald Dahl books in print in the U.S. alone, Dahl is considered one of the most beloved storytellers of our time and his popularity continues to increase as his fantastic novels, including James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, delight an ever-growing legion of fans.
Find Roald:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
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ROALD DAHL 100 CELEBRATORY BLOG TOUR
September 6 -
Lost In Lit - The Witches Feature - Revisiting The Witches as an adult
September 8 -
Cuddlebuggery - Quentin Blake's Illustrations of Roald Dahl's Books Feature
September 9 -
Paper Cuts - The Giraffe, the Pelly and Me Excerpt
September 10 -
Novel Novice - George's Marvelous Medicine Excerpt
September 11-
Who R U Blog - Charlie and the Glass Elevator Feature - Trivia
September 12 -
The Book Swarm - Danny, The Champion of the World Excerpt
September 12 -
Book Belles - James and the Giant Peach Feature - Book to Movie
September 13 - Roald's birthday! -
Mundie Kids - The BFG Review
September 13 - Roald's birthday - I Am A Reader - James and the Giant Peach Excerpt
September 13 -
The Novel Life -
Lessons that Roald Dahl has taught me feature
September 17 -
Book Briefs - Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
September 17 -
Andi's ABCs - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Feature - ABCs
Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was one of the world’s most imaginative, successful and beloved storytellers. He was born in Wales of Norwegian parents and spent much of his childhood in England. After establishing himself as a writer for adults with short story collections such as Kiss Kiss and Tales of the Unexpected, Roald Dahl began writing children's stories in 1960 while living with his family in both the U.S. and in England. His first stories were written as entertainment for his own children, to whom many of his books are dedicated.
Roald Dahl’s first children’s story, The Gremlins, was a story about little creatures that were responsible for the various mechanical failures on airplanes. The Gremlins came to the attention of both First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who loved to read the story to her grandchildren, and Walt Disney, with whom Roald Dahl had discussions about the production of a movie.
Roald Dahl was inspired by American culture and by many of the most quintessential American landmarks to write some of his most memorable passages, such as the thrilling final scenes in James and the Giant Peach - when the peach lands on the Empire State Building! Upon the publication of James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl began work on the story that would later be published as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and today, Roald Dahl’s stories are available in 58 languages and, by a conservative estimate, have sold more than 200 million copies.
Roald Dahl also enjoyed great success for the screenplays he wrote for both the James Bond film You Only Live Twice in 1967 and for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, released one year later, which went on to become a beloved family film. Roald Dahl’s popularity continues to increase as his fantastic novels, including James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, delight an ever-growing legion of fans.
Two charities have been founded in Roald Dahl’s memory: the first charity, Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, created in 1991, focuses on making life better for seriously ill children through the funding of specialist nurses, innovative medical training, hospitals, and individual families across the UK.
The second charity, The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre – a unique cultural, literary and education hub – opened in June 2005 in Great Missenden where Roald Dahl lived and wrote many of his best-loved works. 10% of income from Roald Dahl books and adaptations are donated to the two Roald Dahl charities.
On September 13, 2006, the first national Roald Dahl Day was celebrated, on what would have been the author’s 90th birthday. The event proved such a success that Roald Dahl Day is now marked annually all over the world. September 13, 2016 is Roald Dahl 100, marking 100 years since the birth of the world’s number one storyteller. There will be celebrations for Roald Dahl 100 throughout 2016, delivering a year packed with gloriumptious treats and surprises for everyone.
*Excerpted from NPR’s November 14, 2013 interview with Lucy Dahl, “Roald Dahl Wanted His Magical Matilda To Keep Books Alive”
Lucy: “I remember waking up in the night and going to the bathroom and seeing the glow of the light in the little [writing] hut while it was still dark outside.
“His hut was a sacred place. ... We were all allowed to go in there, but we only disturbed him when we absolutely needed to because he used to say that his hut was his nest. You would walk in and the smells were so familiar — that very old paper from filing cabinets. And he sat in his mother's old armchair and then put his feet up on an old leather trunk, and then on top of that he would get into an old down sleeping bag that he would put his legs into to keep him warm.
“He then had a board that he made that he would rest on the arms of the armchair as a desk table and on top of that he had cut some billiard felt that was glued on top of it, and it was slightly carved out for where his tummy was. When he sat down ... the first thing he did was get a brush and brush the felt on his lap desk so it was all clean.
“He always had six pencils with an electric sharpener that he would sharpen at the beginning of each session. His work sessions were very strict — he worked from 10 until 12 every day and then again from 3 until 5 every day. And that was it. Even if there was nothing to write he would still, as he would say, ‘put his bottom on the chair.’"
Monday, September 5, 2016
{Blog Tour} Roald Dahl 100 Year Celebration & Giveaway #roalddahl100
2016 marks 100 years since the birth of Roald Dahl—the world’s number one storyteller. There will be celebrations for Roald Dahl 100 throughout 2016, delivering a year packed with gloriumptious treats and surprises for everyone.
Roald Dahl said, “If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”
The Roald Dahl Literary Estate believes in doing good things. That’s why ten percent of all Roald Dahl income goes to charity partners.
In honor of Roald Dahl's 100th birthday, Penguin Young Readers will publish new collectible hardcovers editions of some of Roald Dahl's beloved stories on September 6, 2016, including Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and James and the Giant Peach. Here's a look at the new covers:
I've loved Roald Dahl's stories since the very first time I picked up Matilda as a kid, and I find that as an adult, I might love them even more, especially because I have the opportunity to share them with my own daughter. The wonderful people at Penguin and Wunderkind PR sent me a copy of James and the Giant Peach to review, so I've got our thoughts below, plus more about Roald Dahl and the 100 Year Celebration, along with a giveaway.
Author: Roald Dahl
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Puffin Books
Publication Date: February 11, 2016 (first published 1961)
Source: paperback received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
It's not every day that you read a story of a boy orphaned when his parents were killed by a rampaging rhinoceros. I've always loved how imaginative the story of James and the Giant Peach is, and I really loved the movie adaptation, but there is just something about sharing the story with a child that can't compare.
This was by no means our first time reading James, but I think it was the first time Katie was able to contribute to the reading, which made it all the more special. It's amazing how much heart and spirit Roald Dahl put into this book. It's a timeless story of triumph and perseverance, and it will always be a favorite of mine...and now Katie's.
When I asked her what her favorite part of the story was, she told me that it was when the peach crashed through the fence to flatten the evil aunts. And I don't think I could honestly pick a better favorite scene from the story either.
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Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Top Ten Tuesday: Childhood Favorites We'd Love to Revisit
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the awesome ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. Apparently, they are overly fond of list-making and love to share their bookish lists with the rest of us book nerds. =) We're game.
I was pretty limited on what I could read growing up. The shelves at home were full of adult novels, and that's what stemmed my obsession with VC Andrews books. I read them all. At least the ones before she died, none of the garbage that came out after. The Sweet Valley Twins and Baby Sitters Club, I remember making my gram take me to the library every weekend so I could take some of them out. :) A Wrinkle in Time was one of my favorite "have to read for class" books. They told us to read the first 2 chapters and I finished it that night. Woops. And The Eye of the World. I started reading that fantasy series back in HS. A boy I liked had a bunch in his locker and he lent them to me. I read up to number 10. I'd love to get back to them, but it's been so long, I'll have to re read them all, and those books are huge!
Jen's Picks:
I remember checking out and re-checking out Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak for weeks on end from the library until my mom forced me to pick something new. And so then I read Bunnicula and Snot Stew a few times each. As my love of reading progressed, I added all of the Little House, Anne of Green Gables and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books to my reading list. I was such a reader, even at an early age, that it was hard to narrow my list of favorites from that era down to just ten. I mean, I didn't even have room for The Babysitters Club or the Sweet Valley High books! :P
Which beloved favorites from childhood would you love to re-read? Be sure to share a link to your TTT post so we can visit!
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Top Ten Tuesday: The Impossible All-time Favorites
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the awesome ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. Apparently, they are overly fond of list-making and love to share their bookish lists with the rest of us book nerds. =) We're game.
It's so very hard to narrow down a top ten. In just one year, let alone 3. But here are ten titles that still stick with me where ever I go.
Jen's Picks:
Okay, I have to split mine up a bit because it is next-to-impossible to only choose ten favorites from the last three years. So, here are my top ten favorites from the fantasy/paranormal genres:
And then here are my five favorite contemporaries from the last few years:
I probably could have picked a few more contemporaries, but since I've only just started loving them in the last few years, I decided to stick to five. And all of them focus on some kind of issue. I like my happy-go-lucky contemporary reads as much as the next girl, but the ones that really impress me are the ones that can tackle a subject -- without making me cry -- and still make me feel like I've gone on a journey, much like those my favorite fantasy stories involve.
What are some of your all-time favorite books? Be sure to share a link to your TTT post so we can visit!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Top Ten Tuesday: Books We're Hoping Our Daughters Love as Much as We Do
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the awesome ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. Apparently, they are overly fond of list-making and love to share their bookish lists with the rest of us book nerds. =) We're game.
April's Picks:
There are so many books I want Aubrey to read and love. Most of all the series books in the top row. I decided to also share a few others... Before I Fall for instance, I feel like it has a good message. At least I thought it did back when I read it. Also, Just Listen, tough subject but so well put into words a teenager can relate too. The Host, just because it's one of my favorite books of all time. The Summer Series, because... well is just oozes summer. <3 And Forbidden may seem like an odd choice beings it deals in incest. But there are certain books in life that just change you. They change your whole perspective on things. I feel like that book did that for me. Incest is "YUCK", however I can see why it happened in Forbidden.
What almost made the list was the Sweet Valley Twin books. I read them when I was young, and they are probably outdated these days, but they were still a staple to my childhood. I mostly read adult books when I was very young, but the SVT books made their way into my life. I remember begging my gram to take me to the library every weekend so I could get a new one. :)
Jen's Picks:
My daughter is already a big reader at almost 7 years old. And I couldn't be prouder. She has quite the library herself, but it's my fervent hope that she'll also one day acquire my own library and be ecstatic about that fact. She's already watched a few -- okay, more than a few, if you count Harry Potter -- of the movie adaptations for these books, and she enjoyed them as much as I did. But I'm hoping that she'll enjoy reading these books even more and that they'll become favorites of hers just as they are mine.
There are fewer than ten series on this list but also more than ten books, but these are the novels and series that I absolutely hope Katie will love as much as I do: Harry Potter, Tuck Everlasting, Little Women, His Dark Materials, Pride and Prejudice, The Hunger Games, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, and Tuck Everlasting were all books I enjoyed when I was younger, a girl trying to find herself in an ever-changing world, and I hope they shape the woman Katie will be one day as they did me. I actually read the His Dark Materials series while I was pregnant with Katie, so it'll always hold a special place in my heart. The Harry Potter series and The Hunger Games trilogy were both series that came after Katie was born, after I'd regained my passion for reading, and I read each series in one go before moving on to the next. I don't regret a minute of it. The Series of Unfortunate Events is a newer favorite, but I just love those Baudelaire siblings, and I just know Katie and I will have a great time reading that series together.
Which books do you hope to (one day) share with your kiddos? Be sure to share a link to your TTT post so we can visit!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
SYNC Summer 2013: Week 11 #syncya
SYNC recently announced the list of audiobook pairings up for grabs this summer, and the program has officially kicked off. Last week's offerings were Death Cloud and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. And here's what you can grab through Wednesday of next week...for free!
This week's YA title is Enchanted by Alethea Kontis, performed by Katherine Kellgren for Brilliance Audio.
When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.
The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers?
I've read Enchanted, and I thought it was really cute. But Katherine Kellgren is one of my favorite audiobook narrators EVAR, so I'll definitely be listening to that one. I'm ashamed to admit that I've never read Through the Looking Glass, though I know the story of Alice well. My older sister is the biggest Alice fan you'll ever meet, and I've seen nearly every possible adaptation. I've also supported her obsession with many Alice-themed gifts over the years. Guess it's high time I actually read, ehrm, listen, to the story for myself. :D
Will you be checking out either of these titles? Remember, they're only available through Wednesday, and new titles will be put up on Thursday for download. Other things to note:
To download this week's titles, just click on the image below to be taken directly to the SYNC download page:
I hope you take advantage of this program. I've been doing it for the last couple of years, and I've had the chance to listen to a ton of great audio for free. If you've never tried audiobooks before, it's a great opportunity to do so without the obligation of buying one that you might not enjoy. And if you love audiobooks, well, it's a great time to stock up on some titles you may have missed. Win/win. =)
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starryeyedjen
- I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
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