The Magic Finger

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What happens when the hunter becomes the hunted?

To the Gregg family, hunting is just plain fun. To the girl who lives next door, it's just plain horrible. She tries to be polite. She tries to talk them out of it, but the Greggs only laugh at her. Then one day the Greggs go too far, and the little girl turns her Magic Finger on them. When she's very, very angry, the little girl's Magic Finger takes over. She really can’t control it, and now it's turned the Greggs into birds! Before they know it, the Greggs are living in a nest, and that's just the beginning of their problems…

Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 98 votes)
5 stars
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98 reviews All reviews
April 17,2025
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This funny short novel was about animal rights.
April 17,2025
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Written in 1964 Roald Dahl's 'The Magic Finger' is a lesson well taught through a little girls magical finger. This lovely children's book is illustrated throughout by Quentin Blake.
This was my second Roald Dahl book and I am looking forward to reading many more. Highly recommended!
April 17,2025
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More bedtime reading fun to my little ones. This one a short read with an anti-gun and hunting message
April 17,2025
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Review by Jonah (age 4 years and five months)
Good.
I’ve read it with my mum. I think the book is about ducks. Book’s about ducks. Book’s about ducks.

Review by Jonah’s mum
Imaginative story which emphasises treating others as we ourselves would like to be treated. A quick read over two bedtime story sessions. Captivating illustrations by Quentin Blake as always.
April 17,2025
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Un libro piccino piccino che insegna il valore della vita e quanto essa sia preziosa, che appartenga a un essere umano o a un animale, non importa
April 17,2025
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همه‌ی بچه ها یه قدرت جادویی دارن.
اگر بچه ای رو میبینی که از قدرتش استفاده نمیکنه، به این خاطره که هنوز کشفش نکرده
April 17,2025
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There is a girl who has a magical finger. We don't know her name. Anyway, it doesn't matter because she is just a narrator of the book.
This book is about Mr. Gregg and his family. They hunt for pleasure. The Girl, our narrator, forbids them but they don't listen. And by accident, her finger magically turns them into the bird.
After that they face hardships of bird's life and get to know that how it feels to face a gun.

This is a children book. I read it for my younger cousin for his school's work. I liked it. But there were very obvious plot holes. Of course it's a children book. So it doesn't feel that bad.

August 4, 2017
April 17,2025
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On this mini-binge of Dahl writing, I came across this short story that speaks volumes to the younger generation. Our young narrator speaks about the Gregg family, known for their hunting trips that scare much of the wildlife in the area. The reader learns of a secret power possessed by the narrator, whereby an itching feeling from the tip of the finger leads to a small white flash and then all is changed for the better. During one of their hunts, the Greggs are unknowingly zapped by this 'magic' finger while the narrator watches, which turn the hunted ducks into a small flock of pests that chase the Gregg family back to their cottage. After a night of fitful rest, all four members of the family arise to find that their hands have been replaced with wings and they are banished outside, forced to fend for themselves. For the following day, the Greggs must fly around and try to find food, while a family of four human-sized ducks inhabit their home. Having learned their lesson, the Greggs try to regain some sense of normalcy in their lives, while also seeking to make a change for the better. Dahl impresses with this story that teeters on the edge of silliness, while also instilling some valuable lessons for the reader. Perfect for a coffee break or a snuggle up with some younger ones before bed.

Dahl knows how to pull on all aspects of story writing to keep children interested while also bringing forth important lessons. The reader will see some of the humour and silliness within this story, but also sense a serious side that Dahl wants to express, in this case the importance of respecting all that lives in the community, be it other humans, flora, or even fauna. If memory serves, this was one story that earned Dahl a significant amount of money when he was still getting into the children's genre (before Charlie Bucket and The BFG). It shows in the writing, as he was still more serious in his delivery. Life lessons abound in this story and the reader is left to hope for more pieces with powerful moral undertones. An entertaining piece that should not be missed by readers young and old.
Kudos, Mr. Dahl for all your delightful work. Children of many generations can surely rely on being entertained and educated with these wonderful pieces.

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