Thursday, April 12, 2012

Module 8: "James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl

Book Cover Image:                                       www.amazon.com

 Book Summary:
A young boy named James Henry Trotter is orphaned when his parents are consumed by a rhinoceros.  This is of course very tragic for him, and he is shuttled off to live with his two terrible aunts (Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker).  This makes him become a very sad boy.  James is prone to wandering off to explore, and one day a wizard-type man gives him a magical pouch of crystals that he says will make his life happy again.  James delightedly takes the bag but while running home, he accidently spills the contents on his aunts’ peach tree.  The tree seems to thrive on the crystals and grows a peach so large it overshadows the house.  In order to escape his wicked aunts, James climbs into the giant peach and tumbles down the road to find a new life.  Along the way he meets an assortment of oversized insects who have eaten some of the crystals and they help and befriend him (Centipede, Miss Spider, Grasshopper, etc).


APA Reference:  
Dahl, R. (1996).  James and the giant peach.  New York N.Y.  Puffin.
My Impressions:

This book contains many humorous incidents, and although unbelievable, it makes the reader use his or her imagination.  Children grow to love James and his amusing friends as the story continues.  Roald Dahl's detailed imagery and interesting characters bring an added dimension to the tale, one that children never tire of hearing again and again

Professional Review:

“James Henry Trotter, a poor orphan, is being raised by two horrible aunts. Magic crystals change his humdrum existence, and soon he is off on a great adventure on a giant peach with new friends who are, to say the least, unique. There are sharks, seagulls, and irate cloud people to add interest along the way and, of course, Dahl's irreverent poetry. The story has always been a crowd-pleaser, and Jeremy Irons does more than read the story-he performs it. Each character has a unique voice, aptly suiting each personality, and Irons tells the story with humor and energy. Fans of Dahl will not be disappointed in this briskly paced tale that is a delight from beginning to end.

[Review of the book,  James and the giant peach by R. Dahl].  (2003, November). Horn Book Magazine,  49(11). 72.  Retrieved from http://www.hhornbook.com.

Library Uses:

James and the giant peach would be a good title to begin a study of fantasy books.  Fantasy is a genre that needs to be explored before becoming a true fan.  This is just one example of how using a creative imagination can bring an afternoon of delightful reading.  A companion activity to this book might be for the children to write their own fantasy story and compare them, devise alternate endings.  It would also be fun to construct a giant peach out of styrofoam or by using fabric stretched over a metal frame and use it as a reading cubbie in the library.

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