The Enormous Crocodile And The Magic Finger

by Roald Dahl

Beware of the enormous crocodile and his clever tricks, and of the little girl with the magic finger and the short temper. Children receive a double dose of Dahl with these two delightfully wicked tales where things are not always as they seem, delivered by the master storyteller himself.

Author Biography: Roald Dahl's wonderful and outrageous tales continue to delight children the world over. Some of his most beloved stories include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and The Witches.

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Roald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.

Reviews

[Amanda]

Silly, fun, entertaining for young readers!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl tells the story of a very naughty crocodile. The crocodile decides that he would like to eat some children and he devises some tricky methods to accomplish this mission. The story has been illustrated with delightful color pictures which make the book even more entertaining for young readers.

I bought this book along with a big pile of Dahl's books at a clearance sale. I showed it to my daughter and then put it on the shelf and told her she could read it when she was finished with the book she is currently reading and warned her that it would be difficult but it was short so I thought she'd be able to handle it. Unknown by me she decided to read this book on her own time and loved it. She thought the story was very funny and finished it easily in an evening.

Appropriateness: This is Roald Dahl so parents need to understand that the book is going to be a little scary and does not have a happy ending. This book is very difficult (but short!) and has some big vocabulary words, making it most appropriate as either a read aloud or for advanced readers. Scholastic lists the lexile at 410 (third grade) but puts the grade level equivalent as 5.6 which I'm assuming is related to the difficult vocabulary level.

[Garrett]

Ronald Dahl is an amazing author the story The Enormous Crocodile. This story tells the story about about a very hungry and enormous crocodile, that travels through the jungle looking for food, but not just any food little kids. when he travels through the jungle he finds a little croc, hipo, elephant, monkey, and a roly-poly bird. When he gets to the town he tries to act like a tree then and gets knocked down by a hupo. Next he tries to act like a seesaw. Next he tries to act like an animal on a merry go round and then a bench at a picnic and then a elephant swings him around and around and around and pretty soon he is going so fast that when the elephant lets go he goes flying of into space and hits the sun.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Enormous Crocodile was a grate book because it should you a grate lesson on you shouldn't eat little kids just because you are bigger than them because thing will happen to you when you need there help. The book is grate for little kids because the pictures are cool and the animals are pictured cool and because they can tack and that it was funny. I all so like when all the other animals come and tell the kids to go and run before they get ate by the crocodile.I like it when he trys to look like a tree and a seesaw,wooden crocodile and a chair. But then all the animals come and tell everyone that it is a crocodile all the time.

[Sebastián Arriagada · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Enourmous Crocodile is another story from the brilliant Dahl. Once again, we find animals protraying different human traits such as greed and empathy. I believe this is a very entertaining book for young schoolchildren (1st / 2nd graders!).

[Jessica kliaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's funny and you can read it a million times

[Sammi · Rating 3 out of 5]

it is a great book. you should read it.

[Kevin Purcell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was funny because the crocodile acted weird (Kevin, age 6)

[Jenny Burridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Katie Broderick]

I cant seen to raed this book or any other

[Shannon ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little blast from the past

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serves the pig right.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't find these as good as the usual. The Magic Finger is definitely anti hunting, which I find interesting.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent tales by the fantastic Roald Dahl

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Enormous crocodile was a bit STUPID!

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic story for 7-8 year olds.