 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The BFG
- By Roald Dahl
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
Silly classic is great read-aloud.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there's no more to be concerned about here than in your average fairy tale. Giants eat kids offstage and talk about how tasty they are, which might bother very sensitive kids. The made-up language, though, will be difficult for the lower end of the target age group to read themselves, so it works best as a read-aloud.
What's the story?
One night when Sophie can't sleep, she goes to the window of her orphanage and sees a giant walking down the street, blowing something into the windows. When the giant sees her, he grabs her and takes her back to his desert cave home.
There he explains, in his strange and garbled English, that he was blowing dreams into the minds of children, and that the other giants who live in the desert -- and are twice his size -- eat children all over the world. He, though, is the Big Friendly Giant (BFG), and eats nothing but disgusting snozzcumbers. But when the other giants head to England to eat children, Sophie hatches a plan, involving dreams, the Queen of England, and the BFG, to stop them once and for all.
Is it any good?
Each of the late Roald Dahl's whoppsy-whiffling stories has some unique element that sets it apart, both from his other works and from those of anyone else. Here it's language -- sheer, unadulterated, silly playing with language. The BFG speaks most terrible wigglish -- after all, he has never been to school, and "sometimes is saying things a little squiggly." Everything he wants to say "is always getting squiff-squiddled around."
All of this babblement makes this a delightful read-aloud, both for the listener, and for the adult reader who can let go of inhibitions and have fun with the twitch-tickling wordplay. And, while your child is rolling on the floor, if you're not as quacky as a duckhound, if your head isn't full of frogsquinkers, buzzwangles, and bugwhiffles, then you'll soon understand why "upgoing bubbles is a catasterous disastrophe."
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the made-up words the author uses.
Can you tell how he put them together? Parents may want to encourage kids to make up words of their own.
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AGE
One of Our Roald Dahl Favorites!
This is a delightful story of a little girl who befriends a gentle giant. We listened to the audio book during a recent road trip. We were all entertained, and charmed by that BFG who struggles finding the right words ("See Sofie, was I right, or was I left?)., but manages to learn the right things to do.
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AGE
Great book!
This is an awsome book and everyone should read it!
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Kid, 11 years old
May 4, 2011
AGE
This Story Rocks
I think that this story is soo awsome i read it to my lil sister and she said to me THANK SOOO MUCH
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AGE
I loved this book!
This is a fabulous book! Ronald Dahl has such a creative imagination. Its a great book for all ages and it will leave you happy and laughing till your sides hurt!
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Kid, 11 years old
June 12, 2011
AGE
THE BEST BOOK ON THE PLANET
The Best Book Ever. By far the best book on the planet. If you want to read this book make sure you will be able to understand it. The plans they make up are so cool!!!!!
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AGE
I LOVE THIS BOOK
I Love this book! I enjoy it, My favorite item in the book is "Snozzcumbers" which is a icky poo veggie that the bfg eats, Funny plot, Funny names, The story is about a little orphan girl named "Sophie" where she gets taken by a giant and she thinks the giant is going to eat her but she had noticed that this giant does not eat humans, so The BFG helps her put a end to the man eating giants. I recommend it for all ages!
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AGE
It is good for kids aged 9 and above but might not for under 9 or at least 8
Good but need improving on summery
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Kid, 12 years old
January 3, 2011
AGE
Verry good and rocks I love the way its funny and its good for kids ages 6+!!!! They would LOVE it just how i did!
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| Author: | Roald Dahl |
| Illustrator: | Quentin Blake |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | Farrar, Straus and Giroux |
| Publication date: | May 21, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 208 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.00 |
| Paperback price: | $6.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 7 - 11 |
| Read aloud: | 6 |
| Read alone: | 8 |
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