Roald Dahl Books

Roald Dahl is easily one of the most popular authors in the world. One Dahl book is sold every 2.6 seconds across the world and that is not all,he has sold over 300 million copies of his novels and short story collections. Due to their sheer popularity, his books have been translated into 63 different languages. If that isn’t enough to convince you that he is the one author your child deserves to read growing up, then here are some of his many masterpieces to change your mind.

Known for his deliciously quirky evil characters; Roald Dahl’s books often have a mischievous edge. Packed to the brim with fantasy creatures and utopian places, Roald Dahl’s books will ensure your child’s imagination runs wild and takes flight with every new Dahl book they pick up. Also popular as major motion pictures; some of Roald Dahl’s most popular books for kids are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The BFG and Matilda. All part of the Books2Door Roald Dahl collection; these books, amongst others, are available as part of the Roald Dahl Collection 16 Books Box Set, perfect for ages 7 to 9.

All of Roald Dahl's Children's Books in Order: 

• The Gremlins (1943)
• James and the Giant Peach (1961)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964)
• The Magic Finger (1966)
• Fantastic Mr Fox (1968)
• Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (1972)
• Danny, the Champion of the World (1975)
• The Enormous Crocodile (1978)
• The Twists (1980) 
• George's Marvellous Medicine (1981)
• Revolting Rhymes (1982)
• The BFG (1982)
• Dirty Beasts (1983)
• The Witches (1983)
• The Giraffe, and the Pelly and Me (1985)
• Matilda (1988)
• Rhyme Stew (1989)
• Esio Trot (1990)
• The Vicar of Nibbleswicke (1991)
• The Minpins (1991)

Born to Norwegian parents in Wales in 1916, Roald first started his career as a spy, then worked as a fighter pilot, and even invented medical equipment. Initially, he was best known for his short stories and then in 1961 he shot to fame with James and the Giant Peach and many more brilliant children’s stories like The Twits and George’s Marvellous Medicine. Roald also wrote screenplays, including for classic movies like You Only Live Twice and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, both adapted from Ian Fleming novels. 

Thirty years after his death in 1990, Roald Dahl’s stories are still popular across generations of readers and are still extremely popular amongst children and adults alike. Some have inherited their love of Dahl’s stories from their parents. Others have come to it through other media - his work has been widely adapted into plays, movies, musicals and animation over the years. They’re so popular that in September 2021, Netflix bought the Roald Dahl Story Company, in order to keep bringing his stories to the latest generation of children. The most recent adaptation of Dahl’s work is Matilda the Musical, an adaptation of the long-running West End show, released on 25th November 2022.

Roald Dahl is also well-regarded as a writer of macabre short stories for adults. Originally published in magazines including The New Yorker and Playboy, they’re best known from collections like Kiss Kiss and Someone Like You. Many were adapted for the classic TV series Tales of the Unexpected. They’re available in eight beautifully designed themed collections.

However, even after all these years, Roald Dahl is still best known as one of the most beloved British children’s authors. His books (The Witches, Fantastic Mr Fox), short books (The Enormous Crocodile) and poetry (Revolting Rhymes) are funny, mischievous, and filled with joyfully inventive language. All of these books have been illustrated by the iconic Quentin Blake, the first Children’s Laureate. His illustrations tend to capture the spiky and subversive side of Roald’s work so well; they have become inseparable from the books. 

One common theme amongst many Roald Dahl’s stories is a young child seeking revenge on evil adults and wrongdoers. Dahl has invented more than 500 memorable words and character names across his work, such as Oompa-Loompa, scrumdiddlyumptious, snozzcumbers and frobscottle. Another interesting (lesser-known) fact about Roald Dahl is that he named his fantasy language Gobblefunk. The Oxford University Press even created a unique Roald Dahl Dictionary, which featured nearly 8000 words he used in his stories.

Many of Roald Dahl’s ideas were inspired by his childhood days and later experience. For example, in his autobiographical book Boy, Dahl says his school used to taste-test Cadbury’s chocolate. This led to the invention of the famous Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory. He also wrote about his experiences in the war, including in the book Going Solo. These years also inspired Dahl’s first book, The Gremlins. Pilots used to describe the malfunctions in their planes as little folkloric creatures causing havoc. These creatures made it into his first two novels, both published in the 40s, and an aborted Disney film.

Need we go on about the works and books of Roald Dahl and why your child stands to benefit from his books at any age? Simply head to our Roald Dahl Collection or browse through our bestsellers category for more of his classics and unique titles. We also stock a 16 book collection of Roald Dahl’s classic children books, a box set of 16 Roald Dahl audiobooks and 7 plays adapted from Roald Dahl stories.

Perfect for little playwrights; Roald Dahl The Plays is a bookset of 7 books for kids aged 7+. A fabulous set of seven plays, adapted from the works of Roald Dahl; this set will introduce the world of theatre to young minds. They will love reading scripts aloud to family and friends; maybe whilst also enacting them as skits and plays.

If you are only just trying to get your kid started on reading and you are having a tough time getting them to read their way into the world of Dahl, then you can get them started on these 16 Roald Dahl audiobooks. The set includes Roald Dahl’s autobiography Boy and shorter stories including Billy and The Minpins and The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me. All of the stories are read by big-name celebrities and actors including Hugh Laurie, Kate Winslet and David Walliams. Please note this collection contains CDs that can only be played on MP3-accessible CD players, computers and laptops. The majority of post-2001 car model stereos are MP3 CD accessible. Please check your CD player is MP3 accessible before placing an order. To listen to the audio, import into iTunes or any other media player, then transfer to your MP3 device or player. Suitable for smartphones, iPads and tablets.