I remember having an audio book on cassette when I was around 7 years old which was read by Roald Dahl himself. It featured 'The Magic Finger' which to this day makes me chuckle when I think of giant ducks wielding shotguns. There is a distinct possibility that Mr. Dahl altered the way I see the world.
By far my favourite ever book is Roald Dahl's 'Dirty Beasts' - available here:
Dirty Beasts on Amazon
I used to read this book to my step son Gareth (now 16) and my first born Edward (now 12). I shall soon get myself another copy (the other is losts in the mists of time and house moving and such) and read this to my second born William (now 4).
There is something truly brilliant about Roald Dahl poems. I love them. I love to read them - and (as with most poems) are best read allowed and in the case of Dirty Beasts - to eager giggling children. Bedtime is the best time - there is nothing too scary in these poems for kids - they are just great fun. William at the moment loves a book that Stephie and I got for him at Christmas - The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas. He loves great fun silly rhymes and this along with Dragon Stew, and of course The Gruffalo (is there a kid in the world that doesn't like this?) has a keen interest in bed time stories. In a world dominated by TV and video games - it is refreshing when William asks what story we are having.
So I shall source another copy of Dirty Beasts on payday. For now I shall leave you with a Roald Dahl poem - note this is not from Dirty Beasts. You should go and buy this immediately!
Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf
As soon as Wolf began to feel
That he would like a decent meal,
He went and knocked on Grandma's door.
When Grandma opened it, she saw
The sharp white teeth, the horrid grin,
And Wolfie said, 'May I come in?'
Poor Grandmamma was terrified,
'He's going to eat me up!' she cried.
And she was absolutely right.
He ate her up in one big bite.
But Grandmamma was small and tough,
And Wolfie wailed, 'That's not enough!
I haven't yet begun to feel
That I have had a decent meal!'
He ran around the kitchen yelping,
'I've got to have a second helping!'
Then added with a frightful leer,
'I'm therefore going to wait right here
Till Little Miss Red Riding Hood
Comes home from walking in the wood.'
He quickly put on Grandma's clothes,
(Of course he hadn't eaten those).
He dressed himself in coat and hat.
He put on shoes, and after that,
He even brushed and curled his hair,
Then sat himself in Grandma's chair.
In came the little girl in red.
She stopped. She stared. And then she said,
'What great big ears you have, Grandma.'
'All the better to hear you with,'
the Wolf replied.
'What great big eyes you have, Grandma.'
said Little Red Riding Hood.
'All the better to see you with,'
the Wolf replied.
He sat there watching her and smiled.
He thought, I'm going to eat this child.
Compared with her old Grandmamma,
She's going to taste like caviar.
Then Little Red Riding Hood said, '
But Grandma, what a lovely great big
furry coat you have on.'
'That's wrong!' cried Wolf.
'Have you forgot
To tell me what BIG TEETH I've got?
Ah well, no matter what you say,
I'm going to eat you anyway.'
The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.
She whips a pistol from her knickers.
She aims it at the creature's head,
And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.
A few weeks later, in the wood,
I came across Miss Riding Hood.
But what a change! No cloak of red,
No silly hood upon her head.
She said, 'Hello, and do please note
My lovely furry wolfskin coat.'
No comments:
Post a Comment