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James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 150,514 ratings · 2,777 reviews

Roald Dahl's children's classic will be rediscovered with wonder and delight in this handsome gift edition with all-new black-and-white illustrations by Caldecott Honor Book artist Lane Smith (who also designed the characters for the Disney animated film).How James escapes from his miserable life with two nasty aunts and becomes a hero to his new insect family, including M...more

Hardcover, 160 pages

Published September 10th 2002 by Knopf Books for Young Readers (first published 1961)

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Jun 18, 2010 Chandra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kids-young-adult, chapters-with-or-for-izzy, 2010_reads

James Henry Trotter is an orphan and lives a very Harry Potteresque existence with his two fantastically horrible aunts –Sponge and Spiker. They neglect and abuse him, but (much like Harry) James is eventually delivered from his fate through magical intervention - of the oddest and most unimaginable variety. James finds himself whisked away on an epic journey across the Atlantic Ocean aboard an enchanted peach with giant insects as companions. Is it super deep or meaningful on the level of, say,...more

38 likes · like · see review

Aug 04, 2008 Muna rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I was in third grade, the first great crush of my life, Scott Murphy, stood up on the picnic table outside of the trailer that housed my third grade class and instead of reading his lines -- James' words -- from his paperback copy while we were all trying to rehearse the chapter we were supposed to present to the entire class the next day, he performed the most passionate version of "Paradise City" by Guns N Roses that I have ever seen.

To this day, I love Gun N Roses, I love Scott Murphy, a...more

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May 22, 2012 Lou rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens, read-to-my-son-8-2012-challenge, january-2012-reading-list, classics, fantasy, ya

Dahl's imagination and writing skill is masterful. He transports many of us to wonderful fun worlds of adventure and peculiarity with characters that every child would love to meet. A conjurer of great bedtime stories and memories of being young and learning to read those first books.
He must be thee most famous writer. This tale of a boy escaping two bad ladies into a world of make believe via a giant peach is full of fun and thrilling moments. His writing so well done, the vocabulary at times i...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: will-reread-forever

Oh, childhood, Roald Dahl takes me right back. I will always love Roald Dahl's work, because of how much these books meant to me as a kid, not that they're not fun now, of course, but the experience really is not quite the same. Unlike with a lot of my childhood reads, dimmed to hazy memories, I have a strong recollection of my first time reading James and the Giant Peach. Much as I loved Roald Dahl (personal favorites being the BFG, The Witches, Boy, and Matilda), I dreaded reading this book, p...more Oh, childhood, Roald Dahl takes me right back. I will always love Roald Dahl's work, because of how much these books meant to me as a kid, not that they're not fun now, of course, but the experience really is not quite the same. Unlike with a lot of my childhood reads, dimmed to hazy memories, I have a strong recollection of my first time reading James and the Giant Peach. Much as I loved Roald Dahl (personal favorites being the BFG, The Witches, Boy, and Matilda), I dreaded reading this book, popular as it was. In my younger years, completely different from now, I was a picky reader, wandering shelves, unsure what to read. Thus when an author tickled my fancy, I embarked on all of their books that I could get my hands on. As such, eventually the time came when I had to cave and read James and the Giant Peach.

"But Christina," you might ask, "why did you not want to read this children's classic, much beloved by many you knew and by one of your favorite authors?" Well, my dear friends, the answer is simple. All my life, I have had a phobia of just about every kind of bug. My childhood self read that synopsis and looked at that cover and thought whatever the childhood equivalent of OH HELL TO THE NO was, which, I suppose, would be something in the vein of YOU CAN'T MAKE ME. Though precisely who would be trying to force me I have no idea, as my parents let me choose my own reading material.

To try to keep what has already morphed into a rather long story from becoming a tome of giant peach proportions, I caved and read it, and, as ever, Roald Dahl charmed me utterly, perhaps more than usual because he won me over in spite of my stubborn, childish desire NOT to like the book. Ever since then, I've remembered James and the Giant Peach as a favorite. Rereading a book that meant so much to you as a tiny tot is always a treacherous prospect, because, sometimes, you discover that the book that so impacted you has all of the wit and charm of Mr. Collins.

Of course, with Roald Dahl, you're pretty safe. In my case, I found that I could not enjoy this one nearly so much as an adult, but that I could still bask in the glow of Roald Dahl's boundless imagination. Seriously, that man was a freaking international treasure. How in the world did he come up with that? How did that brainstorming session go? "Mmm, this peach is delicious. Rather large. I wish I could live in a peach with my insect and arachnid friends..." The whole story runs with the absurd, making an art of it. This book would be a perfect transition to chapter books for kids who best love Dr. Seuss' wordplay and silliness.

As an adult, I just found myself unable to lose myself in the magic of the tale the way I did as a child. I kept trying to impose logic where there was never meant to be any. Admittedly, some of the absurdities, like James' parents having been eaten by an escaped rhinoceros from the zoo, are quite humorous. Others, such as how the giant peach came into existence or the fact that sea gulls carried that peach across the Atlantic Ocean without stopping, my grown up brain could not just accept.

The fact that Dahl wrote in an earlier time is very apparent in the peach's origin. James is just sitting around outside moping, when this weird man approaches him and offers him a bunch of squirmy little bright green things. He tells James to eat them so that something magical can happen to him. In the modern world, if a stranger gives you something weird like that, you better get to running and hollering your fool head off. Thankfully, James is a klutz and drops all of the green things, thus saving us from finding out what would have happened to him.

Making the main characters James and a bunch of bugs now capable of rational thought was a clever way of allowing the child to shine. James, while exceedingly young, gets to be the problem solver, because, little life experience as he possesses, he knows more about the world than the insects do, aside from some biology lessons.

Something that I entirely did not recall about this book was how much poetry Dahl wove into the story. Every few chapters, someone sings a song or uses a poem to express themselves. The songs made sense to me, but exposition as poetry did not, though I'm sure as a kid it's the best. At the end, James addresses all of the mucky mucks in America, all freaking out because the peach just landed King Kong style on the top of the Empire State Building, and calms them by introducing his friends in a poem. Sadly, this may be more efficient and logical than how governments actually function. Children will delight in these, I have no doubt, but I'm very picky about poetry.

In all, James and the Giant Peach certainly did not impress me as much now, and I suspect that, for me at least, it's not his best. Still, he has imagination and humor like no other, and I imagine I will revisit this one again someday.(less)

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Dec 28, 2008 Justine rated it 3 of 5 stars

In the Pantheon that is Roald Dahl, I find that James and the Giant Peach gets the shaft. I don't think I've ever heard anyone mention it as their favorite, but after this most recent read, I've decided that Dahl's Odyssey includes some of the best parts of his writing. It is eerily bizarre, wonderfully imaginative, and filled with imagery that I still remember from the first time I read it.

Tips Of My Hat:
~James is a cool-ass kid. The poverty/orphan combo that Dahl uses to play up how much we l...more In the Pantheon that is Roald Dahl, I find that James and the Giant Peach gets the shaft. I don't think I've ever heard anyone mention it as their favorite, but after this most recent read, I've decided that Dahl's Odyssey includes some of the best parts of his writing. It is eerily bizarre, wonderfully imaginative, and filled with imagery that I still remember from the first time I read it.

Tips Of My Hat:
~James is a cool-ass kid. The poverty/orphan combo that Dahl uses to play up how much we love the protagonist works like a charm here. Poor James...
~Excellent villains. Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker are a nastier equivalent of the evil stepmother and stepsisters. Yikes.
~Comeuppance. Yes.
~A giant freaking peach. Dude, the peach gets infected by little crawly green goo and becomes a house.. and a cruise ship... and a plane. If I were stuck on that peach I'd probably be covered in hives, but damn it, I want one.
~Showing kids that bugs can be cool. The cast of giant, animated garden bugs is fascinating and shows not only Dahl's capability of turning the everyday into something magical, but also teaches children to consider others' points of view. Bravo Dahl, you sneaky bastard you.
~Some awesomely ribald poetry. "Once upon a time/When pigs were swine/And monkeys chewed tobacco/And hens took snuff/To make themselves tough..."
~The neat little after stories of what happens to all of the bugs.
~Some of the most beautiful imagery I can remember in Dahl-- the cloud men painting a rainbow and making hailstorms, the peach floating behind hundreds of seagulls, the ticker tape parade down Manhattan, the peach-pit house in central park. Yay!

Wags of my finger:
~The centipede is annoying as hell. They should have let him drown.
~500 seagulls are not poetic, they're gross.
~Once he's on the peach, James kind of becomes a little know it all. Sure, sure, he saves them all from the sharks and whatever, but honestly? At some point he just makes shit up and the others take him for his word. He's like.. 7 years old...

James and the Giant Peach is light on the imperialism and heavy on the wonder. You go boy.(less)

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Aug 24, 2007 Amy Talluto rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone

A funny, dark and poetic book. I read this after seeing a documentary about Roald Dahls' life and hearing some of the book's passages narrated within the perspective of his time cramped up in a WWII bomber plane as a bombardier (he was very tall). The peach represents the polar opposite of being in a noisy and clattering war plane, manning a gun and always under the threat of death. The peach is a peaceful, sweet and quiet flying machine.

10 likes · like · see review

Dec 24, 2010 Jeanette rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-little-me-loved, all-fiction, five-star-fiction, for-the-munchkins

I've never visited Central Park, but if I ever do, I'll be watching for the giant peach pit where James Henry Trotter settled happily after his wild excursion.

I knew I liked this book as a kid but I couldn't remember the details of the story. The thing that stayed in my mind all these years was the feeling of claustrophobia when James makes his way inside the peach and finds all the giant, friendly creepy-crawlies inside the peach pit. As a kid you always place yourself within the story, and I...more I've never visited Central Park, but if I ever do, I'll be watching for the giant peach pit where James Henry Trotter settled happily after his wild excursion.

I knew I liked this book as a kid but I couldn't remember the details of the story. The thing that stayed in my mind all these years was the feeling of claustrophobia when James makes his way inside the peach and finds all the giant, friendly creepy-crawlies inside the peach pit. As a kid you always place yourself within the story, and I remember thinking how I'd hate to be in that enclosed space with all those critters and no windows. There was no fear of Old-Green-Grasshopper or Centipede or Earthworm or any of the others, just the feeling that if I were James I'd want OUT of that peach pit and into the fresh air.

Reading it again as an adult, my strongest impressions are of just how much FUN this whole adventure is. Roald Dahl manages the perfect blend of whimsical, frightful, exciting, and tender elements. I think that's why his books can be every bit as appealing to adults as they are to children. I'd be laughing one minute at Centipede's songs about Aunts Sponge and Spiker, and grossing out a few minutes later when Centipede tells Earthworm that the Cloud-Men will eat him: "They would cut you up like a salami and eat you in thin slices."

There's just so much to delight the reader in this first of Roald Dahl's books for children. There are the Cloud-Men who make the weather, the quirky and fractious creatures who share James's journey, the rainbow paint (LOVE the purple rainbow paint on the Centipede!), and of course the strange little man with the bristly black whiskers who gets the whole thing rolling with the "little green things."
"Where do they come from?" James wants to know.

"Crocodile tongues! One thousand long slimy crocodile tongues boiled up in the skull of a dead witch for twenty days and nights with the eyeballs of a lizard! Add the fingers of a young monkey, the gizzard of a pig, the beak of a green parrot, the juice of a porcupine, and three spoonfuls of sugar. Stew for another week, and then let the moon do the rest!"

Ah, Roald Dahl....You can still make my heart go pitter-pat with passages like that.

(less)

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Dec 04, 2012 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-books

This book always scared me when I was younger. I also remember being terrified by the stop-motion movie (which in retrospect seems ridiculous, but what can you do).

James' aunts are horribly frightening, as are most of Dahl's adult villains. I was also not into insects as a child. The idea of James in a peach with enormous bugs was not very palatable, and the ending - the peach house, right? - seems grotesque.

I do enjoy these aspects of Dahl (the adult villains, the surreal plots), but I've nev...more

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 13, 2007 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: those that refuse to grow up

I grew up with a swelling admiration for Roald Dahl. I read everything and anything he would write until I was quoting text word for word. James and the Giant Peach was the one I treasured the most. I lived through the so lovely and ever innocent James as I did with almost every other adorable character Dahl went on to create.

6 likes · like · see review

Nov 03, 2008 David rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Any child or anyone young at heart

Recommended to David by: My 4th grade teacher

This book was a highlight of my childhood, I remember it fondly and I look forward to reading it to my kids. Great imagery, great rhythm, great story for anyone who has ever felt lonely and wanted to escape to somewhere magical and wonderful. A giant peach is as good as any place. Highly recommended.

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Aug 03, 2012 stumbelina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

Peachy keen.

Spiders should marry humans in real life.

I want to work at a cloud factory.

I am going to buy peaches the next time I go grocery shopping.

Maybe I will make peach cookies, too.

Vermicious Knoodles.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 19, 2008 Lucy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I shouldn't be allowed to read classic children's literature. My brain simply doesn't appreciate its intended purpose - creativity, imagination, fantasy. Instead, I wonder, "What's the point here?" Sometimes, there is a point, but I think with Ronald Dahl, the focus is placed on the magic and if there happens to be a story in there somewhere in it..so be it.

I borrowed it from the library because it was on the most-commonly-banned-books-in-America shelf and I wondered how the author of Charlie an...more I shouldn't be allowed to read classic children's literature. My brain simply doesn't appreciate its intended purpose - creativity, imagination, fantasy. Instead, I wonder, "What's the point here?" Sometimes, there is a point, but I think with Ronald Dahl, the focus is placed on the magic and if there happens to be a story in there somewhere in it..so be it.

I borrowed it from the library because it was on the most-commonly-banned-books-in-America shelf and I wondered how the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory could upset so many modest American readers?

I still don't know. Unless there is some upsetting symbolism that went way over my head and would be sure to go over the head of its intended audience, I don't understand how this book could offend anyone but mean, crusty old aunts who don't love and take care of their orphaned nephews.

That being said, I wish I loved this non-controversial story, but I didn't. I thought it was overly strange. Strange in a did-you-write-this-while-tripped-out-on-LCD? kind of way. Giant talking bugs. Living in a peach. Flying over the Atlantic Ocean with the help of string tied onto 501 seagulls via the giant silkworm and spider. Landing on the needle of the Empire State Building in New York. A ladybug marrying a police man (What the?). O.K then.

James was surrounded by mean, nasty aunts and now he's happy and living in a giant peach in New York City's Central Park. Wildly imaginative but famous through the ages?

To make sure it deserved its fame, I had my eight year old son read it (even though the word a** is in it twice. Why did Dahl do that?) and he liked it. He didn't love it. Not because it was strange but because like most things he reads, the characters are magical and the plot bizarre. For him, it seemed almost standard fare. When he finished, he handed it back to me and I asked, "Did you like it?" "Yeah." That's it. No buzz. No acting out parts of the story and certainly no regurgitating details from it like he does with some of his other books.

I guess we're just a bunch of fuddy-duddies around here because I found nothing extraordinary about James and the Giant Peach except it's eccentricity.(less)

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Nov 10, 2008 Mohammad rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is yet another one of Roald Dahl's books. In this book James lives with his cruel aunts after his parents were killed and eaten up by a rhinoceros which escaped from the London Zoo. I don;t find this true since rhinoceros are herbivores and are not known to eat any humans at all. But with that aside, after James had lived with his aunts a mysterious man confronts him and offers him magic seed for a potion that would bring James happiness.
After rushing to his aunt's kitchen he trips and dr...more

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Feb 14, 2010 Katsumi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kids-and-teens-fantasy

I love the characters in the story; there are James's aunties, Aunt Sponge who is very fat and Aunt Spiker who is as thin as a rake. They are both horrible to James, but it is time for James's revenge...

James finds a man at the bottom of his garden and he gives James magic beans. Later on in the story James accidentally drops the beans in the bottom of the garden and in a few days' time he finds a very big peach down there.

Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker make lots of money from people all over the...more

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Jan 05, 2008 Debbie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-lit, fantasy

James Henry Trotter, whose parents were killed by a stampeding rhino, is stuck with his wicked aunts. His life changes forever when he meets an old man who gives him some magic crystals, which he is supposed to drink. Before he can follow the old man's instructions, he trips and spills the crystals under a withered peach tree.

Soon, the tree grows the most enormous peach ever and the aunts make a bunch of money selling tickets to see it. James finds a hidden tunnel that leads to the center of th...more

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Jan 26, 2009 Maryellen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I listen to this on cd with Waverly (and Henry a bit). Jermey Irons's reading is great - he does all these crazy voices.

Peter got it for the kids for Christmas, and I was nervous because I remembered this as being really scary and strange. Its a little harsh (the mean Aunts get squished and centipede at one point recites a poem revelling in this fact), but it is such a great story and so well read and the harshness doesn't seem to bother the kids (I'm not sure that's a good thing, but there it...more

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Dec 29, 2009 Harun Harahap rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: punya, terjemahan, fiksi, anak-hingga-remaja

Seperti biasa, Roald Dahl selalu punya cerita aneh.

Di awal ceritapun sudah terasa aneh, seekor BADAK memakan orangtua James. hehehe, baru tau gw badak makan orang. Lalu ada buah persik raksasa yang berhasil terbang karena bantuan ratusan burung camar.

Ditengah ceritanya aneh tapi ga gitu menggelitik. Seperti pelangi yang dibuat dengan cara dicat oleh manusia awan. Hingga tiba pada beberapa bagian sebelum akhir cerita, terjadi lagi keanehan yang bikin gw terbahak-bahak. Awalnya sih tegang gitu ba...more

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Mar 09, 2009 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was a really exciting and suspenseful book.My favorite part about it was when James and all of the bugs were in the peach and the birds were carrying the peach over the ocean.

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Dec 17, 2008 83zulu rated it 4 of 5 stars

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl is a great book to read if you dont know what's the right book for you to read. It is about thisboy named James Henry Trotter. He is very miserable after his parents died in a bad, strange rhinoceros accident. He had no choice to move in with his mean aunts named Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. Aunt Sponge was very big and round. Aunt Spiker was very tal and skinny. James was very miserable for three years living with them. One day James came across this old...more

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May 10, 2013 Rosemary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-books, favorites

This was my all-time favorite book when I was young. I read it in third grade and I thought it was hands-down the best book ever written. I carried a copy of it around with me, even placing it under my pillow while I slept. I wanted the story to always be close to me.

So, I think the younger version of me would be thrilled that I found my way back to this story as an adult, even if it probably would have been hard to imagine myself as a grown up. (Yikes!) I don't have that original copy. It must...more This was my all-time favorite book when I was young. I read it in third grade and I thought it was hands-down the best book ever written. I carried a copy of it around with me, even placing it under my pillow while I slept. I wanted the story to always be close to me.

So, I think the younger version of me would be thrilled that I found my way back to this story as an adult, even if it probably would have been hard to imagine myself as a grown up. (Yikes!) I don't have that original copy. It must have been spirited away in my sleep by some eager reader on the other side of dreamland. But what I enthusiastically embraced - the rollicking adventure and clever wordplay - is still there. Oh, the magic of traveling in a Giant Peach and making friends with an out-sized Earthworm, Grasshopper and other creatures of the garden. The fun of the lively verbal jousting between the Centipede and the Earthworm! The world is ripe for the picking!

Not all of it is quite as I remember, though. There are some descriptions where the old grown-up fussy me says, "Oooh, this is a bit dark for a child, isn't it?" I noticed that the book has been challenged many times because some brief parts are rather gloomy, for instance the travails of poor Miss Spider and her unfortunate family. Still, I think that bit of dark humor makes it an honest read for children, who often feel that they are not in control of their fate. The protagonist, James Henry Trotter, a sweet and loving boy, faces many of the fears children have including "What if I lose my parents?,"What if the adults in charge are less than kind and honorable?" and "What if I am lonely?" Henry learns that not only can he conquer his fears, but he can create a place for himself in the world. He is a leader and source of comfort to his friends.

The version of the book that I have now features illustrations by Lane Smith. They are whimsical and spirited, with fun details that include the Centipede dancing a jig on the peach's stem and several renderings of the peach as it travels across land and sea. My imagination is still carried along with it. Still, I envy the grade-schoolers who are discovering it for the first time. It's such a grand adventure to embark upon. Bon voyage!

(less)

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Apr 14, 2013 Kimberly Tardy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile

the story of a child whose life is so miserable that it begs for a magical rescue and an exciting, dangerous and hair raising adventure. In James and the Giant Peach we meet one James Henry Trotter, one of these very same children who like his predecessors and successors (Harry Potter, Cinderella, Those Lemony Snickett Children, Hansel & Gretel, ect...) is leading a desperate and miserable life with is two wicked aunts...his parents were eaten by a wild, rampaging rhinoceros (naturally). On...more

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Mar 30, 2013 Deborah Takahashi rated it 4 of 5 stars

James Henry Trotter is an unfortunate boy. One day, he had a family and a lovely home until a Rhinoceros ate his parents. What's even worse is that he is now living with his Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker who are two of the most hideous, cruel, and funny looking women in all of England. Constantly beaten, and broken, James endures his aunts malicious behavior until an old man appears out of nowhere with a bag of tiny magical crocodile tongues. According to the gentlemen, if he boils and drinks thes...more James Henry Trotter is an unfortunate boy. One day, he had a family and a lovely home until a Rhinoceros ate his parents. What's even worse is that he is now living with his Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker who are two of the most hideous, cruel, and funny looking women in all of England. Constantly beaten, and broken, James endures his aunts malicious behavior until an old man appears out of nowhere with a bag of tiny magical crocodile tongues. According to the gentlemen, if he boils and drinks these tongues with ten hairs plucked from his own head, he will be the happiest person alive. Overcome with excitement, James searches for a hiding a place until he trips on the roots of the old, lifeless peach tree and loses the tiny tongues. Saddened by these turn of events, the tree does something miraculous: it sprouts a peach that won't stop growing. Amazed, and bewildered, James' terrible aunts decide to make money off of this unfortunate incident, separating James from the magic peach. However, later that night, instead of picking up the trash left by visitors, James jumps the fence that guards the peach to find a hidden doorway. Not knowing what to do, James climbs inside the peach to find a group of giant insects having tea and sitting by the fire. Overcome with shock, James finally realizes that the crocodile tongues not only changed to the tree, but the insects that lived in the soil. Rather than than enduring his aunts' deplorable behavior, James and his new friends go on an adventure that will take them to place they never imagined.

In this short, yet imaginative, is a story about a little boy's bad luck. Not only were his parents taken from him, he was put in the care of two despicable adults. Like most of Dahl's stories, we have another tragic tale of innocent children growing up in the hands, and homes, of irresponsible adults. I think what cracks me up the most is the candidness in Dahl's writing that conveys to young readers just how bad James' life is with his aunts without traumatizing them. As much as we want to deny it, there are children who are just like James who live in dysfunctional homes where they know what its like to suffer. However, Dahl's characters, despite their treatment, never lose hope that things will be all right in the end, which, in turn, gives those readers hope as well. One prevalent theme that this story focuses on is taking pride in who we are. For example, when Grasshopper, Centipede, Spider, and Earthworm start talking about their role in nature, it lets readers know that they also have specific traits that contribute to our world. For James, who has always been seen as worthless, starts gaining confidence in himself as he becomes captain of this crew of oddballs. Without James, there would be no one to think of brilliant ideas as to how to escape a pod of man-eating sharks or turning a giant peach into a flying machine. In fact, with the help of his new friends, James has done many thing he never would have imagined doing! With every challenge, James and company are able to survive with trust, teamwork, and a little creativity. The ending is absolutely awesome because it not an every day sight to see a giant peach shish kabob-ed on the Empire State Building. Not to mention, New York City devouring the peach, leaving the pit for James' new home is just as brilliant. This book is just plain fun and I can't wait to talk to tweens about this story. (less)

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Mar 04, 2013 Chelsea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: classic

“James and the Giant Peach” by Ronald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake is a classic children’s novel that tells the fantasy tale of James Henry Trotter whose miserable life becomes transformed when he receives a magical bag full of crocodile tongues. Before receiving the magical bag, James was wretched as both of his parents died in a tragic accident at the London Zoo when a rhinoceros escaped and ate them both. Consequently, James was sent to live with his Aunt Spiker and Aunt Spum who mad...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Cleo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-books, classics

James and the Giant Peach is one of Roald Dahl's most famous books, probably second after Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It is the story of a little boy named James and also a giant peach. You'd never have guessed, right? Anyway, James lives with his two horrible aunts, Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge (one thin, one fat) after his parents are killed by a rhinoceros escaped from the zoo. One day a strange man gives James a bag of something magical, but he drops it, and the magic goes into the old...more James and the Giant Peach is one of Roald Dahl's most famous books, probably second after Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It is the story of a little boy named James and also a giant peach. You'd never have guessed, right? Anyway, James lives with his two horrible aunts, Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge (one thin, one fat) after his parents are killed by a rhinoceros escaped from the zoo. One day a strange man gives James a bag of something magical, but he drops it, and the magic goes into the old peach tree and into various insects in the ground! Crafty Spiker realizes that they can make money out of the peach. Eventually, James gets into the center through a tunnel, and meets a whole host of giant, talking insects! There's musical Old Grasshopper, the kindly Ladybug, Spider, the rascally Centipede, the pessimistic Earthworm, a glow worm, and a silk worm. They snap the peach from its stem and end up in the sea, eventually arriving in New York after many adventures.

My favorite character was definitely the Centipede; he can be really reckless at times, and do some stupid things, but he's so roguish and so hilarious! He loves to sing strange songs about various things, and I loved reading the songs, which showcase Dahl's amazing imagination. James is a great character too; he's small, but he's smart, and probably the most important part of the crew. I love the scene when they're all panicking about what to eat, but then James reminds them that their boat is a giant peach! The part with the seagulls is ingenious too. I also loved that there was a possible reference to Wonka's chocolate factory at the beginning.

The one thing that bothers me a little bit about Roald Dahl is that there are practically no kind adults. No, I shouldn't say that. In Matilda, there's Miss Honey, and in The Witches, there's the grandmother. In James and the Giant Peach, however, there aren't any who actually play a part in the book. Usually, there aren't many at all. That's part of what adds to the entertainment, but still, there's something not quite right there. I still love Roald Dahl though.

I'm almost done rereading Dahl for a while. Have you been getting bored? I hope not. I'm going to reread Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and then I'm done for the moment. I skipped rereading Danny, Champion of the World, and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. There are also some Roald Dahl books that (gasp!) I don't own.

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Feb 17, 2013 Cruth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-read-aloud-personal-challenge, childrens-chapter-book, read-aloud

Author: Roald Dahl
Illustrator: Quentin Blake
First Published: 1961 with illustrations by Nancy Ekholm Burkert

A typically Dahl story of nonsense, unusual creatures, bizarre situations and tragicomedy, "James and the Giant Peach" takes us on a journey of self-discovery and imagination.

It does have rather distressing content in places (death, abuse, terror) and has a place on the 100 most frequently challenged books. (A discussion.)

What I found particularly interesting was the similarity in this to...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Somerandom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Okay, this might not be much of a review as much as it is fangirl gushing. But here goes. (There may be spoilers.)
James and the Giant Peach was my very first taste of Roald Dahl, way back in year 3 (8 years old, for you Americans.) We were studying it for English class. And despite my utter hatred of class reading, I was immediately hooked. It helped cement Roald Dahl as my very first favorite author. With his twisted vivid visuals, whimsical mischief and a macabre sense of humor, I felt he took...more Okay, this might not be much of a review as much as it is fangirl gushing. But here goes. (There may be spoilers.)
James and the Giant Peach was my very first taste of Roald Dahl, way back in year 3 (8 years old, for you Americans.) We were studying it for English class. And despite my utter hatred of class reading, I was immediately hooked. It helped cement Roald Dahl as my very first favorite author. With his twisted vivid visuals, whimsical mischief and a macabre sense of humor, I felt he took me seriously and his books are alot of fun.
Admittedly, I haven't read this one recently, but I still have very fond memories of it.

The tale centers around a boy named James, who loses his parents to a very hungry Rhinoceros, ignoring his normal diet and ends up under the care of two abusive Aunts. Sponge and Spiker. And with names like that, you know they are destined to be evil!

James' life is, of course, miserable until he meets a strange man, who knows all about his plight (er, it's not creepy, I assure you!)and gives him a sack of tiny glowing-green crocodile tongues.
The man then tells James that if he mixes the contents of the sack with a jug of water and ten hairs from his own head, it will become a magical potion, which, when drunk, will give him amazing adventures.

The excited James accidentally spills his croc tongues on a very unhealthy tree, unable to give fruit and ends up giving the poor infertile tree it's very own peach. Which grows up very quickly. After the peach helps James er "get away" from his Aunts, he goes on a series of adventures with a cast of some strange and quirky characters.
Including a spider, who is polite and friendly, despite having "a large, black and murderous-looking head, which to a stranger was probably the most terrifying of all".
A very motherly and intelligent Ladybug, who is terrified her house is on fire, thanks to all the people constantly telling her about it.
A snooty, but fatherly Grasshopper.
A paranoid Earthworm, terrified of birds and a kind hearted but boisterous Centipede.

This captivating tale is full of mischief and wonder, common in Roald Dahl's novels as well as his signature dark undertones. A tale about a child's triumph with a warm heart Dahl shows off his penchant for engaging young minds with his endless but often strange imagination.
In short a fun, family (sort of) friendly tale.(less)

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Jan 07, 2013 Shaun rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

UEL Primary PGCE 2012/13 – Book Review

Book – James and the Giant Peach
Author – Roald Dahl
Publication date – 1998
Publisher – Puffin
Place of publication – London
Price – N/A
ISBN – N/A

James and the Giant Peach is a timeless classic by the legendary children's author Roald Dahl.

Not read since my primary school days of 14 years ago, I picked up James and the Giant Peach with childlike excitement, anticipating identical feelings of idolisation towards James and his journey throughout the book. As a...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Andrew Shute rated it 5 of 5 stars

I arrived into SBT1 as the class were half way through this book but I have read this book before, in my youth.

What I like about most about this book was the companionship amongst the menagerie of characters, I tried to get this message of companionship no matter what across when reading this to the class.
Again Roald Dahl excels himself at delivering a book that just captivates the imagination of the children. Even before I showed the pictures of the book to the class you could see the eyes of...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Uttam Singh rated it 3 of 5 stars

A world-renowned classis by Roald Dahl, James and the giant peach tells the story of a poor orphaned boy, neglected and abused by his aunts whose life his transformed by a magical gift from a mysterious stranger.
Four year old James loses his parents in a savage incident involving escaped rhinoceroses, he is then sent to live with his Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. Sadly, they show him no love and abuse him both physically and verbally.
Luckily for James a mysterious stranger gifts him with magical...more

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Dec 13, 2012 David Babakhanian rated it 4 of 5 stars

I chose this book because I enjoy reading books from the author Roald Dahl and on I found out about this book on this website so I went to the library and got it. This book is about an orphan boy that lost his parents when a rhinoceros ate them at a zoo and his unkind aunts have to take care of him. One day he spills some magic crystals on a tree that creates a giant peach and when he gets inside he meets new friends, the branch breaks off of the tree, and he is off on his journey. My favorite q...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 "A Piece of...more

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket, #1)

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“I'd rather be fried alive and eaten by Mexicans.” — 110 people liked it

“My dear young fellow,' the Old-Green-Grasshopper said gently, 'there are a whole lot of things in this world of ours you haven't started wondering about yet.” — 48 people liked it

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