chapters.indigo.ca: JAMES & THE GIANT PEACH: Roald Dahl: Books

About this Book

Format:Trade Paperback

Dimensions:126 Pages, 5.02 x 7.94 x 0.39 IN

Published:April 1, 1996

Publisher:Puffin Books

The following ISBNs are associated with this title:
ISBN - 10:0140374248
ISBN - 13:9780140374247

From Our Editors

Poor James. He has to live with his two evil aunts because his parents died in a freak rhinoceros accident. It's a sad and lonely time for the little boy and he often dreams of escape. His release finally comes when a strange old man gives him a bag of crystals that promise to turn his life around. Excited, James accidentally dumps the entire bag on the withered peach tree and everything begins to change. Suddenly, James finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime in an oversized peach with Grasshopper, Centipede, Earthworm and many others. James and the Giant Peach is one of those classic children's books by Roald Dahl that kids and adults both enjoy.

From the Publisher

For young James Henry Trotter, life with the exceedingly nasty Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker is pure misery. Jame dreams of a better life, but he''s totally unprepared for the wild adventures ahead of him when he drops the magic crystals he receives from a strange old man. Before long James is off on a weird, wonderful journey inside a giant peach with a bizarre group of companions - including a human-sized Earthworm, Ladybug, and Centipede!

About the Author

Roald (pronounced "Roo-aal") was born in Llandaff, South Wales. He had a relatively uneventful childhood and was educated at Repton School. During World War II he served as a fighter pilot and for a time was stationed in Washington, D.C.. Prompted by an interviewer, he turned an account of one of his war experiences into a short story that was accepted by the Saturday Evening Post, which were eventually collected in Over to You (1946). Dahl's stories are often described as horror tales or fantasies, but neither description does them justice. He has the ability to treat the horrible and ghastly with a light touch, sometimes even with a humorous one. His tales never become merely shocking or gruesome. His purpose is not to shock but to entertain, and much of the entertainment comes from the unusual twists in his plots, rather than from grizzly details. Dahl has also become famous as a writer of children's stories. In some circles, these works have cased great controversy. Critics have charged that Dahl's work is anti-Semitic and degrades women. Nevertheless, his work continues to be read: Charlie and Chocolate Factory (1964) was made into a successful movie, and his books of rhymes for children continue to be very popular.

Other Editions

Format	List Price	Online Price
Hardcover	$23.95	$19.16
Hardcover	$21.00	$16.80
Audio Book (CD)	$18.95	$15.16
Trade Paperback	$8.99	$8.99

From The Community

Who's Listing it as a Top Ten

This title has appeared in 12 Top Ten lists. See the most recent lists below:

That's Some Damn Fine Reading

JD Garfunkel , 2 years ago
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This list contains: James And The Giant Peach (Trade Paperback)
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This list contains: James And The Giant Peach (Trade Paperback)
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This list contains: James And The Giant Peach (Trade Paperback)
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This list contains: James And The Giant Peach (Hardcover)
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Who's Blogging

This title has been mentioned in 1 blog. See the most recent post below:

30 to go - James & the Giant Peach (4/5) Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (4/5) - R. Dahl

Booktasia , 18 months ago
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Average Customer Rating:
Reviews from the Community6 Reviews

Write a Review

Nicola Manning
- Top Book Reviewer
- 3 people found this helpful
Lots of Fun but Get the One with Original Illustrations

2 years ago

James is an orphan and is sent to live with his two awful aunts. James is terribly lonely. One day a strange man gives him some magic elements in a little sack but as James goes to mix his magical concoction he trips and spills it all under the dead peach tree. The tree grows a giant peach and James climbs inside. There he and the insectoid residents set off in the peach for a wonderful journey. This is your typical Dahl with the most hilariously mean and nasty adults and exaggerated humour… + read more
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Angie Knight
- 1 person found this helpful
Great!

This review is from: James And The Giant Peach (Trade Paperback)

10 months ago

A very interesting book which makes you want to read more this author writes many other books such as charlie and the chocolate factory. Great book over all.
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Debbie Snow
- 4 people found this helpful
James and the Giant Peach

This review is from: James And The Giant Peach (Hardcover)

9 years ago

James takes young readers on a fantastical journey through water, air, and land. James' miserable, overworked life is suddenly changed by the magic of a mysterious man with a sack of strange critters. When James drops his bag of magic, weird and wonderful things begin to happen in his own backyard. A giant peach grows enormously right before everyone's very eyes! It isn't long before a shrunken James finds himself traveling with insects that teach him more about friendship than James had ever… + read more
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Brenda Weiman
- 2 people found this helpful
Childhood favorite

This review is from: James And The Giant Peach (Hardcover)

9 years ago

Many years back, Mississauga had a train delrailment and we were all evacuated. We went to stay with my aunt in Hamilton. This is where I discovered James and the Giant Peach. It is captivating and a wonderful fantasy escape for children. I am now 31 years old and still hold James and the Giant Peach as one of my all-time childhood favorites. I am thrilled that it is still in print for many more children to fall in love with.
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Anonymous
- 3 people found this helpful
Best children book

3 years ago

this is my favourite children book in my childhood. but is a well written book and clasic that will last the ages for many others and hopefully for my children too.
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A.L
- 3 people found this helpful
Wow!

10 years ago

This is my favorite book...after I read this wonderful book, I was thinking about how fun would that be if it was true! I finished this book in a day.
Its humorious and also part of fantasy.
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