An author presentation by:Jordan SmithKerra Trivieri

LIS 534

1916-1990Born in Llandaff, WalesGraduated from a British public school

in 1932Did not seek further educationEnlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF)

during WWII as a fighter pilotFirst book was The Gremlins, 1932

Written for Walt Disney

Dahl’s first publication was featured in The Saturday Evening PostHe wrote about his adventures during the war

The last novel he wrote before he died was Matilda in 1988

Official website is kid-friendly and funUses music, sound effects, and movement to

capture Roald Dahl’s favorite audience: children!

Also contains resources for education professionals

http://www.roalddahl.com/

Arguably one of Dahl’s most famous and beloved stories

A poor boy named Charlie wins the opportunity of a lifetime when he finds Mr. Wonka’s 5th Golden Ticket

Charlie tours the chocolate factory with other children from around the world

Dahl plays around with words, invents new ones

Entertaining and humorousKeeps the reader engaged with a fast-moving

plotThere is an underlying theme that well-

behaved children are rewardedRepercussions for disobedience are exemplified

via Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, and Mike Teavee

A scene from the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3nV6WqA4Y0&feature=related

Borris, Boggis, and Bunce grow impatient when Mr. Fox continues to steal their food supplies

Mr. Fox and his family are hunted downThey must work together with

other animals to outsmart the 3 farmers

Good use of animation and imaginationHumanizes animals

Underlying lesson of using ones wits to outsmart your enemies, rather than violence

A touching story that is also about family, coming together, and never giving up“‘What fine children I have, he thought. They

are starving to death and they haven’t had a drink for three days, but they are still undefeated. I must not let them down.’” – Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox was made into an animated film and released in the fall of 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2igjYFojUo

Narrated by a young boy who lives with his grandmother

She tells him true stories about witches who live to kill children

The boy encounters the Grand High Witch and many others

The boy and his grandmother plot to destroy all the witches in the world

Dahl portrays the relationship between the boy and his grandmother beautifully

This author once again proves his ability to entertain readers with his humorous and outrageous language

Towards the end of the book, the boys tells his grandmother, “It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like so long as somebody loves you.”Positive message for children

1990Starring Angelica Houston

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k0Li3BPTgQ&feature=related

Dahl’s work has been criticized for being too “sophisticated”Does not teach values

Ex.) witches trying to kill children

His books allow children to view adults as the enemy

Dahl himself has been accused of being anti-Semitic and racist

“When you’re writing it’s rather like going on a very long walk, across valleys and mountains and things, and you get the first view of what you see and you write it down. Then you walk a bit further, maybe up on to the top of a hill, and you look down and you see something else , then you write that. And you go on like that, day after day, getting different views of the same landscape, really. The highest mountain on the walk is obviously the end of the book because it’s got to be the best view of all, when everything comes together . And you can look back and see everything you’ve done and it all ties up.” – Roald Dahl

(1994). A grimm Dahl. Wilson Quarterly, 18(2), 139. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

Dahl, R. (1964). Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Junior Deluxe Edition ed.). Garden City: Junior Deluxe Editions.

Dahl, R. (2007). Fantastic Mr. Fox. New York City: Puffin. (Original work published 1970)

Roald Dahl - The Official Web Site. (n.d.). Roald Dahl - The Official Web Site. Retrieved February 25, 2010, from http://www.roalddahl.com/

Dahl, R. (1983). The Witches. New York: Scholastic.Roald Dahl Biography - Biography.com. (n.d.).

Biography.com. Retrieved February 25, 2010, from http://www.biography.com/articles/Roald-Dahl-9264648 .

The End.