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The BFG

by Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake

4.14 · rating details · 55,888 ratings · 2,321 reviews

Luckily for Sophie, the BFG is nothing like his neighbors, whose favorite pastime is guzzling little children.

Paperback, 198 pages

Published December 1st 2008 by Puffin Bks (first published January 1st 1982)

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Dec 03, 2011

Jennifer rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: children-young-adult

Like many others, I remember the Roald Dahl books that I read, or had read to me, during my childhood fondly, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and especially, Matilda. Perhaps because I expected to have the same childhood reading adventure as I had with those books, I liked, but did not love, The BFG. I think that Dahl's idea for the story is a creative one, but little things, such as the puns on the names of countries when the BFG describes the tastes "...moreLike many others, I remember the Roald Dahl books that I read, or had read to me, during my childhood fondly, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and especially, Matilda. Perhaps because I expected to have the same childhood reading adventure as I had with those books, I liked, but did not love, The BFG. I think that Dahl's idea for the story is a creative one, but little things, such as the puns on the names of countries when the BFG describes the tastes "human beans" in those countries, or what I think were stereotypical remarks at the end of the novel. For instance, when Dahl describes thankful world leaders bestowing gifts upon Sophie and the BFG for saving their people from man-eating giants, he writes that "The Rule of India sent the BFG a magnificent elephant...The King of Arabia sent them a camel each. The Lama of Tibet sent them a llama each" (pp. 204-5). However, to me, the worst line was when the Queen of England called the Sultan, "next best thing" to a Lord Mayor to ask him whether any of his subjects had mysteriously disappeared recently, and he responds, "Every night unpleasant things are happening in Baghdad...We are chopping off people's heads like you are chopping parsley" (p. 174).

To be fair, the novel was copyrighted in 1982, and probably written before such things were widely considered inappropriate, and the book is widely engaging and creative. Some would also say that these things are "just jokes," that they were silliness written for the amusement of children. In spite of the fact that the novel was written over two decades ago, I do no think that children should just absorb these lines, because they are most likely reading this book at the suggestion of an adult who is, in their mind, only supposed to give them "good" books. The children would most likely read these lines and the stereotypes exoticizing non-Western countries would persist.

Another niggling doubt about the book was the resolution with the giants being imprisoned in a giant pit, doomed to eat disgusting snozzcumbers for the rest of their lives. I think that Dahl was well-intentioned in including the conversation between the BFG and Sophie about how humans make their own rules, and giants make their own rules and that the rules don't coincide. When I got to this conversation, which included the the BFG basically telling Sophie that it was somewhat judgmental or short-sighted to her to immediately think of the other giants as bad because humans, unlike giants, kill their own kind all the time, I thought that the story was incredibly promising. However, the story ended as they typically do, especially in "children's" literature, with the "bad" guys getting captured and the "good" guys living happily ever after without the moral ambiguity that Dahl touched upon in that one particular conversation between Sophie and the BFG. I think that it might have been more interesting if it was ever brought up that perhaps giants just eat humans just as humans eat bacon, sausage, and eggs, just as Sophie, the BFG, and the Queen did at the end of the story, and that perhaps the solution would be to respect all life, just as the BFG always had (before uncharacteristically eating all that bacon and sausage at the end of the novel) because he could hear the world's suffering. Instead, as I mentioned, the story has a more typical ending, and it is emotionally acceptable that the human-eating giants are imprisoned with disgusting food for the rest of their lives (and the Queen is humane for imprisoning them rather than killing them, to boot) only because Dahl portrays the giants as disgusting throughout the entire novel. Although the giants are portrayed as mean in the scene where they toss around the BFG, emphasis is continuously on how the giants are "half-naked and disgusting" in their appearance and smell. Thus, emphasis is placed on their physical, rather than moral disgustingness, and to me, this is too reminiscent of the way that we vilify those who are different than us to justify our inhuman treatment of them.

In closing, although I enjoyed this book because of Dahl's creativity in coming up with a BFG and a dreamblower, etc, I don't think that it should hold such a coveted place in children's literature because it is somewhat outdated in its attitude, and there are many, many wonderful children's adventure novel out there with which to replace it. I think that it would be a good novel to discuss critically with kids who are ready for it, but that it could do more harm that good to read it to, or give it to, a child without discussing the things that I have above. (less)

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Gabriel Yee So Dahl was a man of his time. So were many other writers—Twain thought American Indians were lazy, Dostoevsky made nasty remarks about Jews. They wer...more
Feb 03, 2012 07:56pm

Jennifer I agree with you that there are many great writers who have imperfections, especially those that reflect the biases of their time. I also agree that ...more
Feb 03, 2012 08:13pm

Gabriel Yee You're welcome. And thank you too for reading and commenting. This issue of "politically correct" children's books has been in the back of ...more
updated Feb 05, 2012 12:20pm

Feb 15, 2008

Alex rated it

· review of another edition

Hahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

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Feb 01, 2012

Kate Weber rated it

· review of another edition

Check out my full review of this novel and others by Roald Dahl here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHR6-UPZh...

So cute! It has never been my favorite of Roald Dahl's books, but it is still very enjoyable. It was adorable to listen to on audiobook!

I've been having myself a Roald Dahl marathon! I've read The BFG, The Witches, and the Twits. And I will be reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda soon!

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Aug 17, 2008

Elizabeth McDonald rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: those in touch with their inner child

Recommended to Elizabeth by: Mrs. Hirschberg, ca. 1991

Shelves: childrens, reread, british

I loved this book when I re-read it about a month ago just as much as I loved it when my third-grade teacher read it aloud to my class seventeen years ago. The Big Friendly Giant himself is charming, and I have always loved the cameo appearance of a certain very famous Brit. (I would love to know this person's opinion of the story, too - I personally would be delighted in their shoes.)

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Sep 07, 2011

Jennifer rated it

· review of another edition

The BGF
Roald Dahl
Jennifer Pierpoint

The BFG, famously written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake is a fictional fantasy story about a young girl who finds friendship in an unexpected place. It is a prime example of the way in which a simple story can engage the imagination of the younger reader. Visual and linguistic stimuli can be used to great effect, in this case to give the characters personalitie...moreThe BGF
Roald Dahl
Jennifer Pierpoint

The BFG, famously written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake is a fictional fantasy story about a young girl who finds friendship in an unexpected place. It is a prime example of the way in which a simple story can engage the imagination of the younger reader. Visual and linguistic stimuli can be used to great effect, in this case to give the characters personalities that children can easily relate to. The use of language also effectively and inventively describes the setting or the story in a fast-moving and fantastical landscape. The feeling of isolation and loneliness experienced by both Sophie and the BFG and this draws them both together. The idea of innocence and compassion portrayed by Sophie and the BFG wining out against ignorance and cruelty (portrayed by the other giants and on occasion some of the human adults) is an important part of the development of a child’s understanding of morality.
The BFG’s character develops throughout the story with a different characteristic evinced each time we encounter him. For example, compassion and sympathy on the BFG’s part are shown when Sophie tells him about the orphanage she lives in. Humility is shown when Sophie keeps correcting his grammar. Humour is also provided to give the giant a sense of warmth. All these characteristics have the effect of making the character of the BFG as likeable as possible so that children also befriend him. Roald Dahl effectively turns the idea of a traditional monster on its head. The rest of the giant race reflects the base and animalistic side of human nature. They are presented as antagonistic and totally opposed to the BFG’s altruistic nature. The names of the large giants in the book are aptronym’s. For example names such as ‘Bonecruncher’ and ‘Blood bottler’ allow the child to easily imagine and understand their role within the story and to provide a stark contrast to the character of the BFG. These names add an element of fear and excitement to the child’s experience. The two extremes allow for the idea of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, ‘right’ and wrong’ to become polarised. These themes are often explored in day-to-day lesson planning and behavioural management in a current multi-cultural curriculum.
The description of the giants’ appearance deepens the dichotomy between themselves and the BFG. There is powerful use of exaggeration throughout the story. For example when describing the ‘Bloodbottler’, his finger is described as large as a ‘tree trunk’. The use of similes, alliteration and onomatopoeia throughout the novel gives the child a way of understanding the text so they can really immerse themselves in the book. Adults are depicted in the book as typical for their social status. The military general for example is portrayed as a stereotypical, overbearing and a ruthless military commander. The language that the commander uses such as ‘shoot ‘em on the spot, that’s what I say” is an example of this stereotypical portrayal found in the book.
The first sentences in each chapter are often simple statements which provide immediate access into the scene/story. For example the first sentence ‘Sophie couldn’t sleep’ not only introduces the character but also provokes a series of questions about the scene presented. This plays to the inquisitive nature of children. Chapters are short which allows the book to be read in manageable portions and the illustrations break up the text on alternate pages. These structures accommodate a child’s attention span.
Throughout the book there is continual use of descriptive and original language. ‘Giant land’ is described as a desolate wasteland with large blue rocks and dead trees. The description gives the child a real sense of ‘Giant world’ being a true fantasy world and promotes and encourages the child to use their own imagination. The description and portrayal of a fantasy world is intensified by the presence of characters such as the Queen that create a sense of surrealism and wonder in the human world. She also provides the maternal comfort that Sophie has not fully experienced. Adjectives and adverbs also help the action within the scenes to develop in an exciting and energetic way. When the BFG goes from the human world to the ‘giant world’ attention is paid to the speed in which he runs. His speed is emphasised by the repeated image created of the ground becoming blurred and Sophie’s reaction to it. (Sophie is our eyes and ears-what we expect to experience is shown by her response).
A young reader would enjoy this novel as it engages with and stimulates all the senses in an exciting way and endures in a child’s memory as an eccentric, fun and yet morally instructive journey. On my part, it was a delight to return to this well-loved story.
.

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Sep 02, 2011

Eloise baker rated it

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This is the story of an orphaned girl called Sophie, who when hearing a noise outside her window creeps to have a peek out and is surprised to see a giant across the street. Realising that sophie has seen him, the giant plucks sophie from her room and takes her to giant country. Sophie fears the giant will eat her but...she is not a snozzcumber so she is quite safe, this giant is strictly a vegetarian!!

The big friendly giant is a dream-blower and travels the night blowing dreams thro...more

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Apr 25, 2008

Lisa added it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: anyone

Shelves: fantasy

in a sentence: sophie, a little girl on the top floor of an icky orphanage, is awake during the witching hour and knows something is up...and then she meets a big, friendly, giant! let the adventure begin!

oh man, i absolutely love this book. it just makes me feel like snuggling up under a blanket and cozying with a teddy bear. sophie is scooped up by the BFG (big friendly giant) while he is doing some very suspicious things - blowing some liquid into people ears? after being gently c...more

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Aug 16, 2011

Michele rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: books-of-2010, books-read-with-the-ten-year-old

This is a near perfect book. My fourth grader and I are reading it together. He has resisted chapter books big time....until now.
The reason I love this one is because it has all the elements that get boys to read. Super short, easy to read chapters. Great pictures and art work that keep readers reading. Funny, charming, dialogue that kids can understand. I've read it many times, but find myself enjoying it more each time. Another thing I like, is that there are some tricky words in t...more

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Jun 19, 2007

Joy rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: the child at heart

I first found this book in about 2nd grade at my school Library. I borrowed it since I'd read most of Roald Dahl's other children's books and had my dad read it to me. Let me point out that my father is the best story-teller/reader. He does voices for everyone and he has this great English accent that is perfect for Roald Dahl books. I fell in love with the simple giant who has deep insights, the wonderful adventures, the dream collecting, the possibility of little girls doing great things, and...more

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May 31, 2011

Jennifer rated it

· review of another edition

Scarier than I remembered (damn those monsters really ate little kids!)

But of course this is another Dahl classic. I guess I was charmed the most by The Queen's appearance in the story (Does The Queen know about this? Has she read "The BFG", did Wills and Harry read it as kids- like we all did- and think, "Hey, that's Gran!"? -All good questions.)

I also liked the part at the Castle when they had to make a really big table, chair, plate, ect... so the ...more

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Dec 17, 2008

83zulu rated it

· review of another edition

Roald Dahl is a wonderful arthur and writes great stories. The BFG is one of his stories he wrote. This story is very funny and you will not want to put it down. It is about a Big Friendly Giant(BFG) that goes to Earth at night to capture children's dream. That might not sound friendly but it isn't bad. One night he was peeping through one girl's window and she happened to see him. Her name was Sophie, The BFG snatched Sophie and took her back to Giant Land to his hideout. He isnt as giant ...more

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Dec 06, 2008

Justine rated it

· review of another edition

I'm not going to lie, I'm rather disappointed with BFG (which I've never read before)-- but is the favorite Dahl book of many of my friends. I found it to be pretty grating and not that pleasant a read for the following reasons:

1) Jar Jar Binks factor. The BFG speaks in his weird, uneducated pigdin that I frankly find kind of insulting. I'm sure children around the English speaking world are all thrilled by what Dahl has created-- but honestly, even for a word-monger like me, this is...moreI'm not going to lie, I'm rather disappointed with BFG (which I've never read before)-- but is the favorite Dahl book of many of my friends. I found it to be pretty grating and not that pleasant a read for the following reasons:

1) Jar Jar Binks factor. The BFG speaks in his weird, uneducated pigdin that I frankly find kind of insulting. I'm sure children around the English speaking world are all thrilled by what Dahl has created-- but honestly, even for a word-monger like me, this is pretty ridiculous. Also, the fact that he is uneducated and constantly judged for his speech pathology by everyone else is just douchey.

2) Sophie is the most annoying Dahl protagonist ever. She's a snotty, bratty, and imperious little brat who exemplifies the worst of stereotypical English children-- lacking imagination and bossy. Compared to wonderful Matilda, Charlie, James, or even the kid in the witches, Sophie is a jerk.

3) Racial insensitivity (though this is also kind of a redeeming factor). Dahl's bit about human beans and how they taste is hilarious, but also kind of meh. Also, the annoying treatment of the entire Middle East by the Queen of England? She should know better.

Redeeming factors:
1) Farting. I'm glad that Dahl supports farting as music. Take that mother England.

2) Hidden Humanitarian Message: BFG is quick to explain that humans are the only species that kill each other. While this is not factually true (watch the Planet Earth chimp wars), Dahl makes a nifty point. Hey kids-- even if the giants are horrible, at least they have the decency not to kill each other. Take that mankind! World Peace!

3) Anti-establishment tinge. Dahl doesn't like army or air force generals, and it shows.

4) Obvious admiration for butlers. "A man does not rise to become the Queen's butler unless he is gifted with extraordinary ingenuity, adaptability, versatility, dexterity, cunning, sophistication, sagacity, discretion and a host of other talents that neither you nor I possess." Dahl definitely has a weird butler fetish.

5) Charles Dickens = Dahl's Chickens. Freaking genius. (less)

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Feb 07, 2012

Anushka rated it

· review of another edition

The BFG
Roald Dahl
Fantasy Fiction

The BFG, otherwise known as The Big Friendly Giant isn't to Sophie at all what she thinks he is. He doesn't seem friendly when he reaches into her room and snatches her away taking her to the land of Giants. Sophie is terrified at first, seeing as she'd never seen a giant before, but as she gets to know more about him, she finds herself going on a brilliant adventure in which she makes it her quest to stop the other giants, who are Bigger (...more

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Dec 29, 2011

Visakan rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

"The Head of the Army took several paces to the rear. So did the Head of the Air Force. They climbed rather quickly back into their jeep, ready to make a fast getaway if necessary. "Go forward, men!" the Head of the Army said. "Go forward and do your duty bravely!"

---

“Giants isn't eating each other either, the BFG said. Nor is giants killing each other. Giants is not very lovely, but they is not killing each other. Nor is crockadowndillies killing...more

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Dec 23, 2011

Shaun rated it

· review of another edition

I just finished BFG, a classic children’s story. It’s well loved and well written, question is, why and what’s the moral? What message does this story tell? Every story is a plot, sure, and that’s the surface, but tucked below is the real story, the real meaning. The one that touches the eternal questions. What is interesting about children’s literature is doing this in a way that kids can read and laugh to while they read. I admire Hesse for his ability to speak of the eternal questions ...more I just finished BFG, a classic children’s story. It’s well loved and well written, question is, why and what’s the moral? What message does this story tell? Every story is a plot, sure, and that’s the surface, but tucked below is the real story, the real meaning. The one that touches the eternal questions. What is interesting about children’s literature is doing this in a way that kids can read and laugh to while they read. I admire Hesse for his ability to speak of the eternal questions with profound elegance, but he’s explaining to adults. How do you explore the eternal questions with 10 year olds?

By telling a story such as this. I think there are two main moral pillars that this story rests upon – empathy and courage. The first message is to emphasize with those who have an idea but have trouble articulating it, or those who look different, talk different, come from other circumstances. The second message is courage – courage to take on a challenge that is (literally) larger than life, courage to defend others, courage to risk your own neck in the pursuit of what you feel is right, courage to sacrifice your own desires to the good of the group. There are countless other questions explored (the legitimacy of laws, empathy beyond humans, the importance of not jumping to conclusions about a person’s character based on their appearance, rich people possibly using poor people, the wonder of imagination and believing in what you cannot see) but those are the two main messages.

What I love about children’s literature is that it addresses the eternal questions at a time where pretty much every little human being is receptive to thinking about it. By the time you decide to major in finance and head to Wall St. it’s too late, we lost you, but when you’re at about age 10 and your cerebral cortex is firing and you’re starting to wonder why certain people get bullied and why that guy talks funny, please read this. It’s a great book.

I wonder what kind of audience this is best for. I think probably 3-4th grade both genders. You’ve got a female protagonist hero which is a plus, but you’ve got giants who fart which hooks the boys too. Now, what kinds of kids? Just as an example, My Side of the Mountain is perfect for boys who love exploring outside. The BFG is perfect for kids who are picked on for being “different,” specifically special education or “English language learners” who in Arizona are instructed in segregated classrooms…and my my my look who just got qualified to be their teacher. Muhahaha! The BFG also struggles with language, but he’s got a big heart, big ideas and in the end, he is able to articulate them. It gives hope and it stirs the mind. And for that, my hat is off to you Mr. Dahl. Just don’t tell Sheriff Joe on me.

Quotes
“I is a very mixed up Giant,” the Giant said. “But I does do my best.” 29
[If people find him] People would be coming rushing and bushing after me with goodness knows what and they would be catching me and locking me into a cage to be stared at. 31
“I’m not quite sure I quite know what that mean,” Sophie said.
“Meanings is not important,” said the BFG. “I cannot be right all the time. Quite often I is left instead of right.” 34
“Yesterday,” he said, “we was not believing in giants, was we? Today we is not believing in snozzcumbers. Just because we happen to have actually seen something with our own two little winkles, we think it is not existing. 48
“Words,” he said, “is oh such a twitch-tickling problem to me all my life. So you must simply try to be patient and stop squibbling. As I am telling you before, I know exactly what words I am wanting to say, but somehow or other they is always getting squiff-squiddled around.”
“That happens to everyone,” Sophie said.
“Not like it happens to me,” the BFG said. “I is speaking the most terrible wigglish.”
“I think you speak beautifully,” Sophie said suddenly.
“Well, that is the nicest present anybody is every giving me in my whole life!” cried the BFG. “Are ou sure you is not twiddling my leg.” 53
“Human beans is the only animals that is killing their own kind.” 78
“And sometimes human beans is very overcome when they is hearing wondrous music. They is getting shivers down their spindels. Right or left?”
“Right,” Sophie said.
“So the music is saying something to them. It is sending a message. I do not think the human beans is knowing what the message is, but they is loving it just the same.” 98
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Dec 22, 2011

Peni Astiti rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: buku-anak, buku-keren, buku-terjemahan, favorit

Pastinya, seorang Sophie kecil yang adalah anak yatim piatu dan tinggal di asrama, merasa sangat ketakutan ketika seorang raksasa setinggi tujuh meter (yang ternyata tergolong raksasa kerdil) menculiknya dan membawanya ke Negeri Raksasa.

Apalagi, ketika Sophie tahu bahwa makanan raksasa adalah manusia. Hiyyy...

Meski berkisah tentang raksasa, buku ini cukup menggemaskan. Sebab, BFG si raksasa yang mencurik Sophie, tutur katanya sungguh banyak yang ngaco. Maklum, BFG nggak perna...more

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Dec 07, 2011

Lindsey rated it

· review of another edition

This book that was enough to keep you reading but was a slow pace, and I caught myself laughing at the way the BFG speaks. I found myself getting tried of the book itself, but the way the BFG talks is what kept me intersected. The BFG lives in giant country and he is the only giant who doesn't eat human beans, instead he goes around into different cities and blows dreams into the kids' ears while their asleep. While the BFG is out, Sophie sees him and she is taken back to giant country. Sophie...more

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Nov 27, 2011

Kathy added it · review of another edition

Shelves: king-s-korner

The BFG

Book written by: Roald Dahl
Reviewed by: Margot Buckey

The BFG is about a girl named Sophie and her friendship with a giant. In the beginning Sophie wakes up and finds a twenty four foot giant walking down her street. The giant picks her up, put her in his pocket and brings her to his cave. She is petrified at first but then she gets to know him and realizes that he is very friendly. They are having fun until the BFG tells Sophie there are nine giants eating childr...more

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Sep 12, 2011

Samuel Minns rated it

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This book is infact a book i would listen to on tape nearly every night as a six-seven year old.
In my mind, Roald Dahl is one of the best children’s writers. His books proved a great favourite with me as a young child but I believe my absolute favourite was The BFG. Dahl was not patronise children and recognises that they can handle anxiety and tension (as well as a bit of toilet humour) yet his stories generally end happily.
This is a story about The Big Friendly Giant who, unli...more

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Sep 08, 2011

Barry Mchugh rated it

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The BFG by Roald Dahl

This story is about a little girl named Sophie and the world’s only benevolent giant ‘BFG’. One night when Sophie can’t sleep during the ‘witching hour’ she sees a giant blowing something into the windows down the street. The giant notices her and kidnaps her to his home in Giant Country. While here he tells Sophie about how he is not like the other giants who enter the human world to eat ‘human beans’ especially children. Dahl provides humour and vivid description...more

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Sep 07, 2011

Lucy Townsend rated it

· review of another edition

'The BFG' follows the story of an orphan named Sophie who, during the witching hour catches the BFG catching nice dreams, which he can hear from a disance because of his gigantic ears, through the window of other childrens bedrooms to give to other children. The BFG spots Sophie and takes her back with him where he tells her of and shows her the human eating giants, the BFG who is a 'vegetarian' himself shows Sophie where he keeps and stores all the dreams that he gives to children. Sophie persu...more

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Aug 22, 2011

Lisa Bland rated it

· review of another edition

Written by Roald Dahl this book cant really go wrong. I read this book to a year 3 class when doing my work experience recently and the book got a great response. The way in which the BFG speaks is funny and different to what we know.... it brings his character to life and allows the reader to connect with him as it portrays him as a kind and gentle giant looking for peace ('big friendly giant' also allows us to know this about him). The fact that he takes care of a human 'bean' called Sophie sh...more

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Jul 17, 2011

Book Concierge rated it

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Sophie lies awake in her orphanage dormitory one moon-lit night, when she realizes it is the witching hour. She can’t resist taking a peek to see if what people say about the witching hour is true. But she isn’t really expecting to see the giant, and she runs back to bed and hides under the covers. Too late! The giant knew he’d been spotted and can’t leave any witnesses, so he takes Sophie, bed clothes and all, and flees with her back to Giant Country. She fully expects to be eaten, but this is ...more

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May 22, 2011

Isaac Blevins rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: ya-literature, modern-classics

I don't know how I missed reading The BFG when I was growing up. I always heard the title being passed back and forth as a suggestion for a great read...but somehow I got it mixed up with the Oscar Wilde fairytale The Selfish Giant. Other than the fact that both stories center around a giant, there is no similarity at all. I read The BFG aloud to a class of second graders (which may be the perfect way to enjoy a Roald Dahl novel!). I must say, that I fell in love with the characters in the n...more

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May 12, 2011

Melissa rated it

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Shelves: young-adult

I remember liking this book when I was little. So I decided to reread it, but somehow its lost its charm for me since my childhood. It is still an interesting read, but I think its one of those books where kids just have more appreciation for it.

Sophie sees a dark shadow and the next thing she knows she's being scooped up out of her bed at the orphanage and whisked away. It's only later that she discovers that she has been "kidnapped" by the BFG, possibly the only giant ou...more

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Mar 13, 2011

Efi rated it

· review of another edition

The one before last skiing Saturday and we listened to 2 CDs (as papa was traveling to Greece).
Sunday morning, first things, the kids couldnt stop listening to the 2 remaining CDs (me too).

At the same time, I've been reading "The Legacy" of David Suzuki and I cant help thinking that we HUMAN BEANS are on the top of the hierarchy (no predators to gobble us up except natural disasters and human induced disasters). That had me thinking that we should not have gotten rid ...more

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Mar 01, 2011

Maria rated it

· review of another edition

The BFG 2001 publisher:The Penguin 208 pages $6.99 US
Roald Dahl ISBN- 9780141311371

How would you feel if you were asleep in your bed, and then taken by a giant hand out of your window in the middle of the night This is what happens to a young girl named Sophie who finds herself kidnapped by the BFG (big...moreThe BFG 2001 publisher:The Penguin 208 pages $6.99 US
Roald Dahl ISBN- 9780141311371

How would you feel if you were asleep in your bed, and then taken by a giant hand out of your window in the middle of the night This is what happens to a young girl named Sophie who finds herself kidnapped by the BFG (big friendly giant). The BFG thinks that by taking her she can save other smaller giants from the mean giants who are eating them and who are also planning to eat the entire population in England . So, with Sophie's help, the BFG sets off to save his people and England.

The book The BFG, by Roald Dahl is a big bowl of creativeness and hilariousness jumbled together. The BFG has good character development. Also he explains it in a way were you can follow along and understand the book instead of getting lost . The BFG is an old giant most of his people know him as a animal lover. He has the best hearing he can even hear an ant on a leaf walking. His main diet is smackadoodels witch are magical cucumbers that make you thin he also has a container that is called a dream catcher. With that at 12 o’clock in the morn he goes off to the neighborhood were Sophie is and catches all there dreams its harmless. Roald Dahl's use of language is amazing that's one of the reasons he was so popular. He makes it so when you read you don't get confused with all the names and characters.

I recommend this book to anyone from 6 to 100. These are good books for reading aloud or single reading. It is a very short read perfect for being bored then being excited quickly. The book is funny, also no curses or violence just awesome stupid stuff. Also Good for girls and boys to mothers and fathers and grandmothers and grandfathers. The BFG makes you want to read all of Roald Dahl's books. All of his books make you want to be in a world of the the BFG or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But don't blame the book if the BFG comes and takes you away.

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Feb 17, 2011

Allison Parker rated it

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Shelves: bluestem2011, juvenile

Little Sophie wakes up late at night. Peering out her bedroom window, she sees a frightening sight: an enormous man with ears as tall as her, creeping from window to window with a huge horn. When he catches her spying on her, he grabs her from the window and she’s sure she’s finished. But the giant takes her to his cave home and reveals that he won’t hurt her; he’s the BFG, the Big Friendly Giant! The BFG collects good dreams in jars and blows them gently into children’s heads as they sleep. But...more

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Jan 24, 2011

Nikki rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-and-ya, favourites, fantasy

This was one of my absolute favourite books when I was little. It's my second favourite Roald Dahl book, too -- you can probably guess the absolute favourite, if you know me just a little and Roald Dahl's more famous works... Anyway, I'll be reading that soon enough: for now, I'm talking about the BFG. Roald Dahl managed to make things very scary at the same time as everything was really going to be alright: it's alright to be turned into a mouse, and all the witches will be caught in the end; t...more

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Jan 10, 2011

David rated it

· review of another edition

Roald Dahl published several books after I was in the age group to read them--the last I read as a child was "Danny, Champion of the World," which remains one of my favorite books. I believe the BFG had his genesis in "Danny"--he (the BFG) is the subject of a bedtime story Danny's father tells him.

And so the BFG was a story I read to my little girl. This book, like some of the other latter-day Dahl books, has real menace and violence in it, and it even caused my dau...more

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About Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short story writer and screenwriter of Norwegian descent, who rose to prominence in the 1940s with works for both children and adults, and became one of the world's bestselling authors.

Dahl's first published work, inspired by a meeting with C. S. Forester, was Shot Down Over Libya. Today the story is published as...more

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“Two rights don't equal a left.” — 250 people liked it

“The witching hour, somebody had once whispered to her, was a special moment in the middle of the night when every child and every grown-up was in a deep deep sleep, and all the dark things came out from hiding and had the world all to themselves.” — 184 people liked it

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