Roald Dahl’s stories lodge themselves in our imaginations because of their incredible hooks; unique inventions like golden tickets, the giant peach and that marvellous medicine. But the reason they’ve stayed, living rent free in our heads for so many years is Dahl’s ability to create an array of endlessly fascinating characters. From sadistic teachers to … Continue reading
‘Fictional food’s not reliable,’ says Alexei, a character from Katherine Rundell’s third children’s novel The Wolf Wilder. This incorrect assertion is something Rundell disproves again and again in her delicious books. ‘I think food grounds a story: gives realism to the maddest plot, gives breathing space to the wildest action, brings comfort and humanity to … Continue reading
Some of the great characters from children’s literature take the Hare PCL-R test for psychopathy. Think of villains like Lord Voldemort, Miss Slighcarp, the Twits – extreme psychopaths. But what of the heroes? Psychopaths aren’t necessarily sadistic murderers, they can be people in positions of power: surgeons, politicians, CEOs of chocolate factories… Continue reading
I’m a big fan of the new Penguin Classics cover for the 50th anniversary adult edition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But judging by the reaction on twitter and the media at large, I may well be in a minority of one here. The illustrator Sarah McIntyre has already put up a good defence … Continue reading
Voici Charlie. Bonjour, Charlie! Bonjour, bonjour et re-bonjour. In 1967 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was published in France for the first time. As I mentioned in my previous article this was nearly a full year before any British publisher thought it worthy of publication. It came with brand new illustrations by Michel Siméon the … Continue reading
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the most important children's book of all time. Not his best, and not my favourite but definitely the most important. It's the book's fiftieth anniversary this year so I thought I'd take the opportunity to explain why it's so damn IMPORTANT, and while I’m at it showcase some of … Continue reading
I won't write too much about this startling picture book, after all its author Marcus Sedgwick doesn't. This is a brief, simple poem about a boy wishing for a cold winter like we used to have (this was published in 2003 when snow was a thing of the past). When winter does arrive, it does … Continue reading
