Gorgeous collection of Roald Dahl shorts, including an intro by his daughter Ophelia, perfect for bedtime. These stories don't patronize, I think that's what's so genius about them. Quentin Blake's color illustrations are practically as entertaining as Dahl's stories. I like how they're divided into 4 sections: Animals; Magic; Family, Friends and Foes, and Matters of Importance.

This tome of an homage dedicated to the great Roald Dahl contains excerpts from Dahl's best-loved fiction for children and his autobiographical material. There are stories, rhymes, and memoirs as well as unpublished poetry and letters. Although they may be a bit shortened, it will give you a good idea of which book of his to buy if you want to finish a given story.

Lavishly produced and illustrated in full-color, it features artwork by such prominent illustrators as Quentin Blake, Lane Smith, and Raymond Briggs.

While it's not a replacement for reading the complete works of Roald Dahl, this book is a lovely tribute to him and a good selection of his works. Personal tributes from some people who knew him well combine with excerpts from his longer books and full-text of some of his shorter works, including some items previously unpublished.

If you decide to read this treasury, you will find yourself transported to a world of unknown witches, greedy foxes, giants houses, peaches, and more amazing places that you would never think up. I respect Dahl for his wonderful imagination and terrific writing abilities.

"My candle burns at both ends. It will not last the night. But, oh my foes and oh my friends it gives a lovely light."


Book Details:

Title Roald Dahl Treasury
Author Roald Dahl
Reviewed By Purplycookie

What a lovely collection of samples and snippets and sometimes full poems/short stories by Roald Dahl. It is nicely divided into four themes: Animals; Magic; Family, Friends and Foes; and Matters of Importance. Through these areas, we get a good glimpse at the diversity of Dahl’s writings, all of which are accompanied by lovely illustrations by Quentin Blake for the most part, but also by Raymond Briggs, Babette Cole, Posy Simmonds and Ralph Steadman.

   Having previously read The BFG and maybe a couple other of Dahl’s works (it has been a long time, okay?), I felt myself thrown right into the whirlpool of craziness that is Dahl’s written universe, and with the illustrations that to me at least were so emblematic and in line with his writing. Normally I don’t pay as much heed to illustrations as I should, but there is really an atmosphere with the illustrations of Dahl’s work, and it is simply fabulous.

   To go back to Dahl’s writings in general, I found myself continually impressed by his creativity – with words, with language, with style, with tone. Just the names of different candies and bizarre beasts and creatures alone was entertaining! There is nothing quite like the names he has come up with, even if we don’t know what something looks like or how something tastes, the word(s) itself (themselves) portray the feel of the appearance, the flavor, the essence of it.

   Reading this gave me the desire to go back and read more of his children’s work, but even more than that, his more auto-biographical works such as Boy and especially My Year. His life seems absolutely fascinating, and the excerpts we have in this Treasury are just teasers of the breadth of his skill at his craft.

   I only wish there had been a little more editorial narration/inserts, like the first couple of pieces by his editor and daughter, to better frame the sections of the book – like mini-introductions to each section. Seeing Dahl through is work is marvelous, but there is also something very precious in seeing him through the eyes of those who worked and lived closest to him for very long periods of time.


Favorite quotes:
No book ever ends
When it’s full of your friends
-- page 91, from “The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me”

But sometimes mysteries are more intriguing than explanations[.] – page 196, from “The Minpins”

And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it. – page 197, from “The Minpins”

“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like so long as somebody loves you.” – page 238, from The Witches, “The Heart of a Mouse”

[Referring to how he’s made the original Grimm version of Hansel and Gretel less gorey:]
It might have been okay, who knows,
If there’d been humour in the prose.
Did I say humour? Wilhelm Grimm?
There’s not a scrap of it in him.) – page 359, from Rhyme Stew, “Hansel and Gretel”

When you grow up
and have children of your own
do please remember something important

a stodgy parent is no fun at all

What a child wants
and deserves
is a parent who is

SPARKY

-- page 375, from Boy

I had learnt even at that tender age that there are no secrets unless you keep them to yourself, and this was the greatest secret I had ever had to keep in my life so far. – page 388, from My Year


Typo:
“ The point is this. – page 221 – remove extra space after quote/before start of sentence.
“Well thrown,sir!” – page 318 – missing spaces around the comma

Who doesn't enjoy reading Roald Dahl?

This review seems completely pointless because even if I did have anything bad to say about anything that Dahl has ever written (which I certainly do not), his legions of fans from young to old will simply ignore. And rightly so.

Roald Dahl novels, short stories, poems, rhymes and songs can be enjoyed as a class reading, individual reading, guided reading and will certainly help to inspire young peoples creative writing skills.

The Roald Dahl Treasury in particular is great for readers of all levels, including non-readers, as it is full of short stories and extracts from all of Roald Dahl's most famous works it means you can choose to only read for a few minutes, or can enjoy several of the stories in one sitting.

The reading age for this book, as with all Roald Dahl literature ranges all the way through the school years, from key stage 1 or even earlier with Quentin Blakes fantastic illustrations, and far beyond into adolescence and adulthood. The stories can also be enjoyed by both boys and girls as the plots and themes are wide ranging and diverse.

This book is fantaatic. All the roald dahl stories are amazing and entertaining especially the revolting rhymes. I can read them over and iver. I had this book as a kid and bought it again recently for my children who love it as much as me. I'd recommend this to any little roald dahl fan or family.

The first and only Roald Dahl book that I had ever read before this was Matilda which was recommended to me by a friend when I was 10. I loved it and I recently felt like reading more Dahl books. The beautiful blue cover captivated me and even though it was expensive I bought it. And I enjoyed it a lot. I liked the colourful illustrations. There were lovely retellings of fairy tales with twists and personal life stories from Dahl and short stories and poems from his other books. For some stories, it felt as if Dahl was there telling you the stories himself which I enjoyed immensely. I wish that his novels( such as Matilda, Charlie and the chocolate factory,...) were full and not in excerpts even though I know that would have made this already huge book, even bigger.

Overall, it was very enjoyable, it managed to make me laugh and feel surprised, along side being a quick read( it only took me 5 days to finish).

"As I grew Old

As I grew old and just a trifle frayed
It's nice to know that sometimes I have made
You children and occasionally the staff
Stop work and have instead a little laugh. " (444)

It is quite a long book but an excellent book about fantasy, there is only only one problem in this it is really an addiction you may finish this book in 2 days as I did! It is not that humorous but it is nice to read by getting involved in the story.

This is a book which every person who likes fiction as a genre should read it.

Fantastic stories.

One of my all-time favorite writers. His books still hold the whimsy and charm that I found in them as a boy. His older, more mature writing is excellent as well, but his writing for children is his best.

This is a great collection because it contains new Quentin Blake illustrations and contains stories like "The Minpins" that are harder to find.

My husband reads to our unborn baby every night from this book (and others), which is absolutely adorable.
Baby seems to respond to the rythm and rhyme and daddy's voice.

The stories are lovely for both adults and children, the drawings are beautiful as always with Roald Dahl.
Absolutely recommend this if you like Roald Dahl!!

A must read for Roald Dahl lovers! I have a fond memories of devouring Roald Dahl books as a child and this book introduced me to snippets from his two autobiographies, Boy and Going Solo. I did not know he fought in WWII and look forward to reading more about this creative writer, fighter pilot and inventor.

I think I'd like to be Roald Dahl when I grow up.