Top 10 Best Roald Dahl Books Ever

What a random story James and the Giant Peach is. I can’t even remember how he ends up in a giant peach. All I know is he wants to escape his ghastly aunts. This is a charming story about a boy befriending bugs whilst travelling in a huge floating peach. Each bug expresses their usefulness to the ecosystem. This is a great story to introduce children to appreciate insects and their purpose in the world.

Be sure to watch the 1996 Disney film, James and the Giant Peach. It is made up of stock motion animation and live-action film. If you want to see what a giant peach in New York looks like, this is the film to watch.

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (1964)

This is one of Dahl’s most famous books. It’s not quite as random as James and the Giant Peach, but it is still a classic. Who is more eccentric than Willy Wonka? Even his name is eccentric. The children are truly dreadful. I wonder if they inspired David Walliams when he wrote The World’s Worst Children?

Would you want to win an entire chocolate factory and be responsible for the welfare of Umpa Lumpas? What sort of sweets would you invent? Answer in our comments below.

Regarding the films, one was made in 1971 and starred Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. Apparently, Roald Dahl disapproved of this version. I wonder what he would have made of the 2005 Tim Burton version starring Jonny Depp? It certainly had a more gothic feel about it. Which film version do you think is best? Personally, I think the book is better than both the films.

Fantastic Mr Fox (1968)

Foxes are vermin to farmers. They do kill farmers’ livestock and that is problematic. I can’t help feeling sorry for farmers who are just trying to protect their chickens etc.

However, in this book, we are forced to sympathise with Mr Fox. He is after all a husband and a father and needs to provide for his family, and the farmers in this story are really stupid. So we cheer him on when he comes up with one brilliant idea after another to survive and provide for his family and all the other wild animals on the land.

Sops and I love the 2009 stock motion animated film. It’s beautifully bonkers. We laughed so loud our sides hurt. You can access it with Amazon Prime TV.

Danny Champion of the World (1975)

Everyone loves a story about the ‘little guy’ doing well in life. We all empathise with those who are poor and struggling and we hate pompous, snobby boastful idiots like Victor Hazell. And so do Danny and his dad.

So they concoct a plan to get their own back on Mr Hazell and everyone in the village rejoices.

This book is a wonderfully heartwarming story about a boy and his father. It would be a great tale to read with your dad.

The Twits (1980)

Sops and I adore this book. I read it to her when she was six and I could barely read it through as I was laughing so much. No matter how much your parents may argue and disagree with each other at times, be thankful they are not the Twits. What a diabolical couple. They are mean to each other and even meaner to the poor monkey Muggle-Wump and his family. But Fear Not! They will get their comeuppance.

There is not a film about The Twits as far as I am aware, but I think there should be. It’s one of Sops’ and my favourite Roald Dahl books of all time.

George’s Marvellous Medicine (1981)

Do you love your Grandma? Does she give you warm hugs and heaps of sweets? Does she take you out on exciting outings and spoil you rotten at Christmas time? Well, George’s Grandma doesn’t do these things. She is horrible and bossy and nasty to live with.

One day he is left alone to care for his Grandma and he decides to invent a new medicine for her with hilarious results.

Revolting Rhymes (1982)

Poetry is boring, right? It’s full of sickly romantic slushy sentiments, like, “shall I compare thee to a summer’s day. Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” Blah di Blah.

Fairytales aren’t much better these days. They have been watered down to suit a younger audience. All of the characters live happily ever after, ergh!

Well not in Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes. These poems are full of filth. The fairytales don’t always end in a lovely happily ever after, and the heroes are not always very heroic. I mean Prince Charming likes to chop off heads! So if you don’t like gooey love poems, read these ones instead.

The BFG (1982)

This is another well-loved Roald Dahl book. The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), works as a Sandman, that is, he creates and delivers dreams for children. But he is small compared to other giants on the island and they are not friendly at all. When they plot to invade Britain, the BFG and his new friend Sophie, have to work with the Queen of England to save the country.

I remember watching the original 1989 animated version of this film. I think I fell asleep during it. In 2016 I went to the cinema to watch the Steven Speilberg version and I fell asleep during that too. Probably because it is all about sleeping and dreaming. Have you watched the film all the way through? If so what do you think of it? Tell us in the comments below.

The Witches (1983)

Are you scared of witches? No? Well, you should be. Or at least you should be scared of these ones, for they are the vilest creatures who walk the earth, and they hate children. They plot to get rid of all the children in the world and only a young boy and his Norwegian grandmother can save the day.

The grand high witch is the scariest among them all and so hideous to look at. I remember seeing Angelica Houston play her in the 1990 film ‘The Witches’ and she rather freaked me out.

I haven’t seen the latest edition on Prime starring Anne Hathaway yet, so I cannot comment on that version. If you have seen it, let us know what you think of it in the comments below.

Matilda (1988)

Sops and I absolutely love Matilda. It’s one of our favourite Roald Dahl books. Matilda shows a real Growth Mind Set, which I think is super motivating, especially as she is being raised by terrible parents. Miss Honey is an absolute darling, don’t you just wish your teacher was like her?

Or maybe your teacher is like Miss Trunchball? Perhaps she is a bully, who likes terrorising children for her own amusement? I hope that is not true for your sake. This book is well worth reading just for the description of Miss Trunchball alone.

Sops and I love the 1996 American Film starring Mara Wilson and Danny DeVito. It shows that this is a universal story that translates across the pond easily, as all gym teachers are monsters!

The Collection

Perhaps you only want to read one or two of Roald Dahl’s books, which is why there is a link for each book we have recommended. But we can guarantee that once you have read one of Dahl’s books you will be hooked, and will want to read them all.

This collection includes 15 of his children’s books, including 9 of the top 10 Best Roald Dahl books that we recommend. Alas, it doesn’t include Revolting Rhymes, but it does include Going Solo, Esio Trot, Boy, The Magic Finger, and the sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.