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Behind The Scenes

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Roald Dahl

A Look at The BFG Author’s Life

by Alana Pedalino

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© Tony Evans/Getty Images

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox—these are just a few of the best-loved stories by Roald Dahl, one of the most well-known storytellers of children’s literature. To celebrate his many incredible books—including this week’s Dollar Deal, The BFG—we present seven interesting (maybe even surprising) facts about his life!

W04-04BTS-apr17-image1-830x484 Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, and Steven Spielberg attending an event celebrating the release of the 2016 animated film version of The BFG. © Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

1. He’s No Stranger to the Movies

 

Lots of Roald Dahl’s books have been adapted into movies—including Matilda, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The BFG was adapted twice—first in 1989 and a second time in 2016.

 

The 1989 version featured a Whizzpopper Song.

 

The 2016 version was directed by Steven Spielberg and featured Mark Rylance in the role of the BFG.

 

Roald Dahl also wrote some famous screenplays in his lifetime—two of them were adaptations of the Ian Fleming book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and one was for You Only Live Twice (a James Bond movie). 

W04-04BTS-apr17-image2-830x484 An inside view of Dahl’s writing hut, surrounded by his many idea books! © D. Callcut / Alamy Stock Photo

2. He Kept Idea Books

 

Dahl would jot down story ideas inside these thought journals. He often mined these for ideas and kept track of the ones he had used by putting the name of the story next to the idea. He used some of these ideas for The BFG.

 

The Imaginormous Challenge encourages kids to submit 100-word idea pitches based on Dahl’s lifelong practice of writing his ideas in these books. 

W04-04BTS-apr17-image3-830x484 Three actresses from a production of Matilda stand outside Dahl’s writing hut. © Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

3. He Had a Writing Hut

 

Inspired by the poet Dylan Thomas, who owned a writing shed, Dahl had his own private writing hut constructed in the 1950s. Dahl enlisted his handyman friend, Wally Saunders, to build the hut. Saunders’s big ears and kind ways would eventually inspire the character of the BFG.

W04-04BTS-apr17-image4-830x484 An example of the shoes in question from the pages of The BFG.

4. He Shares the Same Pair of Shoes as the BFG

 

Though not in terms of size! Illustrator Quentin Blake originally drew the BFG’s footwear to correspond with Dahl’s text, which described the BFG as wearing black leather boots. However, this choice in footwear appeared to render the BFG as the Big Unfriendly Giant! Dahl sent Blake his own classic Norwegian leather sandal in the mail, which Blake used as a model for the BFG’s new footwear. Dahl changed the description of the BFG’s outfit to correspond with the revised illustrations. 

W04-04BTS-apr17-image5-830x484 Right: Dahl’s grave, decorated with many pennies and fan gifts; left: the giant footprints of the BFG. © Sarah M'Grady / Alamy Stock Photo and Courtesy Thaya

5. He’s Buried Near the Site of BFG Footprints

 

In the village of Great Missenden, where Dahl called home, BFG footprints lead you to Dahl’s headstone. Dahl passed away in 1990—many who visit him, especially children, shower his tombstone with pennies, pencils, books, toys, and candy.

W04-04BTS-apr17-image6-830x484 “Human bean” is currently listed in the OED! © White Packert/Getty Images

6. He’s a Fan of Wordplay and Malapropisms

 

Mala-what? According to Merriam-Webster, a malapropism is “the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase; especially the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context.” Dahl was a huge fan—he used so many in his writing, you could create a whole dictionary of Dahl-isms!

 

In fact, some of Dahl’s made-up words and phrases were added to the Oxford English Dictionary, including the BFG malapropism “human bean.”

W04-04BTS-apr17-image7-830x484 Looking sharp, Quentin Blake! © Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

7. There Are Often Exhibits Featuring Art from His Books

 

Currently in Canterbury, UK, you can visit the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge to see original BFG art from Quentin Blake! The exhibit runs through May 20.

 

Another exhibit at the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library celebrates a series of portraits Blake created in honor of Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday in 2016. These portraits feature Sophie and the BFG among other characters from Dahl’s books. The exhibit closes June 3.

This Book Is Available from Scholastic Book Clubs

BFG-apr18-170x140

The BFG

by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake

Grades 3–6 | Ages 8–12

SEE DETAILS

Authors,BFG,Novels,Quentin Blake,Roald Dahl
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A Note from Judy

Grab some hot cocoa and a warm blanket and cuddle up with the Caldecott Medal–winning beloved picture book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats!

Play in the snow with the Book Boys; draw connections to real life in a fun illustration activity; discover how The Snowy Day fits into your classroom curriculum; and dive into the legacy of this classic read-aloud.


We hope you and your students enjoy The Snowy Day!

Judy Newman

Reader in Chief
Scholastic Book Clubs

Book of the Week

The Snowy Day

by Ezra Jack Keats

 

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