Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl is one of the most popular children's book authors in the world. He was born in Wales in 1916 to Norwegian parents. His books are funny, wild, and full of imagination. He wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, and many more. Dahl's stories have been turned into movies, plays, and musicals that kids and families enjoy everywhere.

Magical Stories

Dahl's books are full of wonderful surprises. In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a poor boy wins a golden ticket to visit a magical candy factory run by Willy Wonka. In Matilda, a super-smart girl discovers she has special powers. In James and the Giant Peach, a boy travels inside a giant fruit with friendly insects. Dahl loved to mix the silly with the scary and always let kids be the heroes.

An Adventurous Life

Before he became a writer, Dahl had an amazing life. He worked in Africa, flew fighter planes in World War II, and was even a spy. He started writing stories about his adventures. Then he began writing for children. Dahl wrote in a little hut in his garden, sitting in an old armchair with a board across his lap. He used pencils and yellow paper. His own children were often the first to hear his new stories.

Fun Facts

• Dahl wrote all his stories in a tiny shed in his backyard garden using pencils and yellow paper.
• Before becoming a writer, he was a World War II fighter pilot and a spy.
• Dahl invented many funny words in his books, like scrumdiddlyumptious and whizzpopping.

Did You Know?

Roald Dahl kept a ball made of the shiny wrappers from all the chocolate bars he ate. It grew to be enormous over the years!