1. An author presentation by: Jordan Smith Kerra Trivieri LIS 534
Roald Dahl
An author presentation by:
Jordan Smith
Kerra Trivieri
LIS 534

4. Biography 1916-1990 Born in Llandaff, Wales
Graduated from a British public school in 1932
Did not seek further education
Enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during WWII as a fighter pilot
First book was The Gremlins, 1932
Written for Walt Disney
Roald Dahl is a popular British author of children’s literature. He is most known for his book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which has been made into a movie twice. Other novels by Roald Dahl that have been turned into movies include The Gremlins (his first novel, written in 1934), James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The Witches, and Fantastic Mr. Fox. He was also a script writer for several movies including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Roald Dahl was born 1916 in Llandaff, Wales where he graduated from a private school called Repton. Following his graduation, Dahl avoided further education and joined an expedition in Newfoundland. Soon after, he became a fighter pilot during WWII, but was injured in a crash.
His first book was The Gremlins, which became a popular movie in the 1980’s.

5. Biography, continued
Dahl’s first publication was featured in The Saturday Evening Post
He wrote about his adventures during the war
The last novel he wrote before he died was Matilda in 1988
Matilda was made into a movie in 1996.

6. “Welcome to the World of Roald Dahl”
Official website is kid-friendly and fun
Uses music, sound effects, and movement to capture Roald Dahl’s favorite audience: children!
Also contains resources for education professionals

7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
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
Inventor and lover of sweets, Mr. Willy Wonka, allows 5 lucky Golden Ticket winners to visit his famous factory. However, this is no ordinary factory. Everything is edible and Oompa Loompas roam the halls.

8. Why children should read it
Dahl plays around with words, invents new ones
Entertaining and humorous
Keeps the reader engaged with a fast-moving plot
There is an underlying theme that well-behaved children are rewarded
Repercussions for disobedience are exemplified via Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, and Mike Teavee

9. Movie adaptation
A scene from the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Here is a clip from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which came out in 1971 – seven years after Dahl’s book was published.

10. Fantastic Mr. Fox
Borris, Boggis, and Bunce grow impatient when Mr. Fox continues to steal their food supplies
Mr. Fox and his family are hunted down
They must work together with other animals to outsmart the 3 farmers
Three mean farmers – Boggis, Bunce, and Bean – grow impatient when Mr. Fox keeps stealing food supplies from their farms. Though Mr. Fox has quickly learned how to outsmart the farmers, he is outsmarted himself when they discover where he lives and shoot his tail off. Mr. Fox and his family are then hunted down and must outrun their enemies by digging through their home. As the story continues, the farmers’ persistence grows and the fox family begins to starve. However, the fantastic Mr. Fox comes up with a plan for his family and friends to dig their way to the farms and steal the supplies once again.

11. Why children should read it
Good use of animation and imagination
Humanizes 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

12. Movie adaptation
Fantastic Mr. Fox was made into an animated film and released in the fall of 2009
Many famous actors played the main characters in this film version. Some of which include: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, and Bill Murray.

13. The Witches 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
The Witches is narrated by a young boy who lives with his grandmother, the only relative he has left in his family. They get along well and she tells him real-life stories of witches and their constant desire to destroy young children. The grandmother then becomes ill and is informed by the doctor that she must not travel far. The boy and his grandmother soon find themselves at a nearby English hotel in Bournemouth. The boy soon discovers that this hotel is where the annual witches meeting – held in every country by The Grand High Witch Of All The World – is taking place and finds himself in a bind that he cannot escape. After he is turned into a mouse, the boy and his grandmother plot to destroy all the witches in the world by giving them a taste of their own medicine.

14. Why children should read it
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

15. Movie adaptation 1990 Starring Angelica Houston
The film is portrayed very accurately when compared to the book. The YouTube clip we wanted to share with you is the trailer of the movie that was released in 1990.

16. Roald Dahl under critical review
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
The literary criticism we found on Roald Dahl had much to do with the themes and characters found in books like Big Friendly Giant (BFG) and The Witches.

17. “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

18. Works Cited
(1994). A grimm Dahl. Wilson Quarterly, 18(2), 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
Dahl, R. (1983). The Witches. New York: Scholastic.
Roald Dahl Biography - Biography.com. (n.d.). Biography.com. Retrieved February 25, 2010, from .

19. The End.