D Is for Dahl - Hardcover

Roald Dahl

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0670914169 ISBN 13: 9780670914166

Publisher: Penguin Childrens Hardbacks, 2004

Synopsis

From Aardvark to Zipfizzing, this is THE alphabetical guide to everything you ever needed to know - and a lot that you didn't - about Britain's best-loved, bestselling children's writer, packed with fascinating and completely unnecessary facts about Dahl's life, books and family. With snippets from his school reports, secrets that he shared with his best friends and the truth about where he got the inspiration for his most famous creations - once you dip in to D is for Dahl you'll be sucked into an irresistible vortex and come out a complete Dahlmaniac!

About this title

About the Author

Roald Dahl was born in Wales in 1916. He was educated in England before going to work for the Shell Oil Company in Africa. With the outbreak of World War II, he became an RAF fighter pilot. He began writing for adults at the close of the war, with the encouragement of C. S. Forester. His first children's book, James and the Giant Peach, was published in 1961 and each of his subsequent books became bestsellers. He is still the best selling children's writer of all time.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4 Up–This dictionary-of-sorts is entertaining, insightful, and of particular interest to Dahl's fans. Front endpapers include a family tree, which is referred to numerous times in the text. While the information is alphabetically arranged, it's necessary to read the entire book to get the full story on the writer. For example, the entry Smile, please! reveals that photography was one of Dahl's hobbies. Recipes are interspersed, including those for creamy Kit Kat pudding and hot-house eggs. Q is represented by 26 questions with answers in alphabetical order. There's a section on Quentin Blake, and one about the Roald Dahl Foundation and Museum. The writing is clear, wicked, and fun. An occasional black-and-white photograph complements Blake's illustrations. Also included are Random Roald Fact boxes (he adored spiders) and Did You Know? frames (the longest ear hair recorded measures four inches). Swirly bordered warnings can also be helpful. Most discourage readers from attempting something Dahl did, like setting off a bag of fireworks or writing in the lawn with grass killer. There's much, much more. This is a standout tribute to a beloved children's author.–Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI
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Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin Childrens Hardbacks
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0670914169
• ISBN 13: 9780670914166
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160