As an adult I see this as a book about gross neglect and a commentary on absentee parenting and its role in our children's education. For individual reading exercises, look at studying Matilda in middle to upper primary school, when children are looking for more advanced stories that speak to them at their level. All of these characters are punished for no good reason, and rather than accepting the punishment, they find ways to get back at the adults in a way that will delight young readers.

Matilda by Roald Dahl - Goodreads Editions of Matilda by Roald Dahl - Goodreads

Her father cheats people out of their money, her mother is downright nasty and her older brother complaisantly watches as she's harassed. She spends her afternoons at the library where a friendly librarian helps Matilda choose classic novels. You've probably read all these books several times already, but you can never get tired of these individual pieces of magic.I realize that a lot of the situations in this book are hyperbolized, but literally throwing kids around with no penalties even though another adult was present felt very abusive and although Matilda and Lavender worked to play pranks on her to get her back, it read as really severe and actually made me uncomfortable and pitiful for the children at certain points. However, Crunchem Hall is run by an evil woman named Miss Trunchbull, a bitter and cruel headmistress who uses her large size and athletic ability to torment kids who get on the wrong side of her.

Matilda by Roald Dahl - Penguin Books UK Extract | Matilda by Roald Dahl - Penguin Books UK

But for a kid’s book i’ll take it with a grain of salt and just say that I really really wish I would have read this as a kid and it’s making me want to read all the classic children’s literature. Matilda has a number of excellent schemes in her head to teach her nasty parents and headmistress a lesson.That also appealed to me greatly as a kid, 'cause we were not allowed to have anything that might tempt my mother away from her diets (she broke them in secret and hid the evidence.

Matilda Book Cover - Etsy Matilda Book Cover - Etsy

His first children's book was The Gremlins, about mischievous little creatures that were part of RAF folklore.

Colouring helps to improve focus, concentration and fine motor skills and is a great classroom activity. The library in Great Missenden was the inspiration for Mrs Phelps's library, where Matilda devours classic literature by the age of four and three months. I can learn that must have strength,courage and cool intelligence against her nasty and spiteful adults in my life and ultimately coming out from top.