September 13th is Roald Dahl Day, a day dedicated to celebrating one of the world’s best loved children’s storytellers.
Roald Dahl wrote amazing books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Twits, The Witches, Esio Trot, The BFG, and many more, writing always in his garden shed in an old wingbacked armchair, with six yellow pencils and a box of chocolates close to hand.
This year, Roald Dahl Day is inspired by one of his most special and beloved characters: Matilda Wormwood!
Matilda has to be my absolute favourite book by Roald Dahl. I just adore this story about a bookish little girl with a big mind who’s hungry for life, learning and a little bit more love, and it’s one that I can’t wait to read with my own kids one day. She’s clever, resourceful and mischievous, with some awesome telekinetic powers to boot (anyone who says they didn’t try to move something with their mind after reading Matilda is definitely lying).
But most of all, Matilda is brave. Brave enough to stand up to the bullies and the silly grown-ups and suffer the consequences (even when those bullies are the members of her own family). In a year where amazing young girls like Greta Thunberg are making waves for change across the world, Matilda is the perfect character for Roald Dahl Day 2019.
So, if you want to celebrate in style, I suggest you check out the official Roald Dahl website – it has a whole bunch of suggested activities! You can make your very own paper newt (guaranteed to terrify The Trunchbull!), throw a party with lots of Matilda themed games, dress up as Matilda, or simply read the book.
Happy Roald Dahl Day!
Visit Roald Dahl’s Author Page!
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Matilda
Matilda Wormwood's father thinks she's a little scab. Matilda's mother spends all afternoon playing bingo. And Matilda's headmistress Miss Trunchbull? Well, she's the worst of all. She is a big bully, who thinks all her pupils are rotten and locks them in the dreaded Chokey.
As for Matilda, she's an extraordinary little girl with a magical mind - and now she's had enough. So all these grown-ups had better watch out, because Matilda is going to teach them a lesson they'll never forget...
About the Contributor
Olivia Fricot
Olivia Fricot (she/her) is Booktopia's Senior Content Producer and editor of the Booktopian blog. She has too many plants and not enough bookshelves, and you can usually find her reading, baking, or talking to said plants. She is pro-Oxford comma.
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