The BFG, Roald Dahl

Age 9-12

Boys/Girls

The Big Friendly Giant! Who can resist a story about a giant that creeps around London, snatches little Sophie out of her bed, and bounds away with her to giant land. This story, typical to Roald Rahl is all about imagination. After all, who else could conceive of a giant galloping off, with Sophie nestled into his ear, to capture dreams as though they were exotic butterflies; speaking his jumbled, squib-fangled patois; or whizzpopping for the Queen?

I must have read this book a million times. What I remember after all these years are the strong visuals- the dreams floating around in mason jars, Sophie sitting on the Queens windowsill, the strange language and the paradox of expectations (a kind giant??). On a pedagogical note I guess this book truly promotes imagination, proactive-ness (you want something done, do it!) and of course, there is a message about friendship that can't go unmentioned.

movie: yes (animated)

Beat the Turtle Drum, Constance C. Greene

Age 9-12

Main interest groups: girls

Kate plans to be a writer and tells this story in the first person. Joss, her 10 year old horse crazy sister, has been saving her money to rent a horse for a week. The girls build a stable in the garage. Finally, Prince is delivered and for one week, Joss has her own horse. Kate and Joss climb a tree in the yard to picnic in the branches as they had when they were younger. Obsessed about keeping an eye on Prince, Joss climbs too far out on a branch and falls to her death. Kate, her family and their friends must cope with the sudden loss of Joss.

I remember this story because I myself was horse crazy and secretly hoped I could stable a horse in MY garage. But it was a sad book and it was really the first book I had ever read that dealt with death. Looking back I think of The Horse Whisperer, which deals with similar grief, and the necessity of coping with loss.

Movie: yes

Similar stories:

Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Boyne

A Summer to Die, Lowry

Charlottes Web, White