James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl

Dahl, Roald. James and the Giant Peach. New York: Knopf, 1961.

Additional Information:

• Illustrated by Quentin Blake
• 146 pages
• Awards: Massachusetts Children's Award (USA 1982) 

Synopsis: After the tragic death of his parents, James Trotter must live with his two evil aunts and finds himself unloved and alone in the wretched house.  He is not allowed to see other children or go to school, so James is forced to stay inside and tend to his aunts’ chores.  One day, James meets a wizard who presents him with a handful of magic beans.  James accidentally drops them onto the roots of a dormant peach tree and is quickly told to get back to work in the house.  Soon, a peach begins to grow on the tree, and it grows larger than any other peach James has ever seen.  A mixture of insects, spiders, and worms who were affected by the magic beans invite James inside the peach, and they all make a grand escape from James’ aunts.  James travels in the peach on a journey filled with adventure, excitement, and friendship. 

Book Notes: James and the Giant Peach is a wonderful choice to read aloud in the classroom.  I recommend reading it to older children at or above the fifth grade level because the book frequently uses the term "ass" as well as other interesting phrases that may require teacher explanation.  Whoever is reading the book aloud may need to explain that Dahl is from North Wales, so his writer's language may differ from those who we are used to reading.  The book was also written in the 1960s, which may also explain odd or confusing language throughout the book.  However, the story reads smoothly and contains various illustrations making it an enjoyable book to read aloud to students.  There is also an interview with Roald Dahl at the end of the book which may be useful if students are studying him as a writer during an author study.    

Critique: Dahl employs a whimsical tone throughout James and the Giant Peach that keeps readers turning page after page.  Even though there are somewhat gruesome events, like when James' Aunts are killed, Dahl keeps a lighthearted voice that is appropriate for a children's book.  James and the Giant Peach is a quick read that embarks on a story of loss, friendship, adventure, and acceptance.  These main ideas are useful when reading to children and can teach a number of themes.

Classroom Activities: James and the Giant Peach is a great read aloud choice when studying the author Roald Dahl because it was his first children's book, and it demonstrates Dahl's typical writing style.  This book offers an opportunity for student writing prompts and discussion questions.  It can also be tied to other subject areas, such as science should students be required to study insects.  The following links provide several ideas for classroom connections.

http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1687.html
http://coeweb.gsu.edu/gatod/FeatureTeacher/FeatureLessonPlan.htm
http://www.roalddahlfans.com/teachers.php#14
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/jamesandthegiantpeach.htm

Helpful Links:
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgCJQdz6l_U
Movie trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73ax6ZrcUx4
Classroom crafts: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/giant-peach-craft
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/jamesandthegiantpeach.htm
Illustrator website: http://www.quentinblake.com/
Author website: https://www.roalddahl.com/
Interview with Dahl: https://www.roalddahl.com/create-and-learn/write/roald-dahl-on-writing