James and the Giant Peach

Product Information

Book challenges and banning is proof to the power of good literature, creative language, and original imagery. While some might have issues with certain realities of the world that children are growing up in; and as troubled as it makes adults to be reminded of these facts as they attempt to shield their children from harm, children’s literature is a great way for them to get a glimpse at the issues that they WILL have to deal with some day. So why, you may wonder, are you going on reading this author if you know he is despicable? Two reasons: one, Quentin Blake (the illustrator), and two... I have to admit... deep down... I still love good ol' mean Roal Dahl 😈 In a blog by Madeline Holler, she took issue not with the language or drugs, but jokes about physical characteristics because of the physical description of James’ cruel guardians Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. One is very fat and one is very skinny and their features are laughed at, criticized, and meant to be evoke disgust.

Reading it again as an adult, my strongest impressions are of just how much FUN this whole adventure is. Roald Dahl manages the perfect blend of whimsical, frightful, exciting, and tender elements. I think that's why his books can be every bit as appealing to adults as they are to children. I'd be laughing one minute at Centipede's songs about Aunts Sponge and Spiker, and grossing out a few minutes later when Centipede tells Earthworm that the Cloud-Men will eat him: "They would cut you up like a salami and eat you in thin slices." EP 7: Yo-Yo Ma, Billy Porter, Cynthia Erivo, Jamie Cullum & Utkarsh Ambudkar read w/ Taika! #WithMe Later, James realizes that the group has reached New York City. The wing of a passing plane severs the strings, and the falling peach lands on the spire of the Empire State Building. It is mistaken for a bomb at first, resulting in the arrival of police and firemen. Calming the crowd, James tells his story, and becomes friends with many children in New York; they eat the peach and James and his friends get their own jobs, now residing in Central Park, in the pit of the peach.The only complaint that some may have about this book is that he uses the word "ass" a few times in it, and even though I was told about it, I was still surprised when I stumbled over their use. Because I was reading this to my son, it wasn't a problem, I just substituted a word for it or skipped over it. If a child is reading the book on their own, well, I'm a big believer that if the adult cares so much, they should be reading the books first and then discussing it with their kids. Much of the great literature that's out there has ideas that are taboo in polite circles or are difficult concepts to explain when looking at human history. But that's what makes them great. And it's much better to educate your child, and do it yourself, before they get misconstrued opinions from the world at large or other teachers. I remember many teachers I had that pushed their opinions, good and bad on students when reading literature. That's a parent's responsibility. As for this book, it was excellent. And I highly recommend it for your first chapter books for your child. James soon learns that within that gigantic peach are some extremely large and peculiar new friends. And soon, his drab and dreary world takes on a whole new light. We are now about to visit the most marvelous places and see the most wonderful things! I liked the more macabre elements of the story like the oddly sinister Cloud-Men and the “immense grey batlike creature swooping down towards them out of the dark” - Quentin Blake’s drawing really sells them too. The batlike creature is a really weird inclusion as it has no bearing on the plot and is never mentioned again. But that kind of strange detail is partly why you re-read as you notice stuff you didn’t the first time!

Despite Roald Dahl having enjoined his publishers not to "so much as change a single comma in one of my books", in February 2023 Puffin Books, a division of Penguin Books, announced it would be re-writing portions of many of Dahl's children's novels, changing the language to, in the publisher's words, "ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by all today." [8] The decision was met with sharp criticism from groups and public figures including authors Salman Rushdie [9] [10] and Christopher Paolini, [11] British prime minister Rishi Sunak, [9] [10] Queen Camilla, [9] [12] Kemi Badenoch, [13] PEN America, [9] [10] and Brian Cox. [13] Dahl's publishers in the United States, France, and the Netherlands announced they had declined to incorporate the changes. [9] American novelist Bret Easton Ellis has cited James and the Giant Peach as his favourite children's book: Cummins, Anthony (15 January 2023). "Bret Easton Ellis: 'James and the Giant Peach changed my life' ". The Guardian. Continua il viaggio familiare mio e di mia figlia nel mondo di Roald Dahl. Con lui si va sul sicuro.But the peach…ah, yes…the peach was a soft, stealthy traveler, making no noise as it floated along. And several times during that long silent night ride high up over the middle of the ocean in the moonlight, James and his friends saw things that no one had ever seen before.” So, a couple of month ago I got gifted a whole box of Roal Dahl's books by somebody who knew very well he was my favourite author when I was a child. So, obviously, I decided to re-read all his books. And the more I read them, the more I become convinced that I don't really like Roald Dahl. I mean, his ideas are bizarre and funny but after a while they just become repetitive. Also, he's mean!! I would sincerely think twice before giving his books to a kid...

Sam Mendes in Talks to Direct Disney's Live-Action 'James and the Giant Peach' ". Variety. 25 August 2016 . Retrieved 31 August 2016. It was banned as being too scary for the targeted age group, mysticism, sexual inferences, profanity, racism, references to tobacco and alcohol, and claims that it promotes disobedience, drugs, and communism. I absolutely love all of the Dahl audiobooks. So much fun, excitement and sound effects. Every detail comes so alive! Read by Julian Rhind-Tutt and lasting only 3.5 hours, this one is certainly a great listen. It's a great children's story / younger young adult story to help show the different types of family, love and support one can get. So many fun things come from here, it's a must read for all kids. My favorite character would probably be the ladybug... such a treasure in words and pictures. From what I remember from the movie I saw during rainy-day recess in first grade, there's giant fruit, several oversized scary bugs and green glowy wormy things.EP4: Cara Delevingne, Olivia Wilde & more join Taika Waititi to read James & the Giant Peach #WithMe The Silkworm – A female silkworm, who assists Miss Spider in the production of thread, both before and after the adventure. As I (finally) read the book, my scattered childhood memories fell into place. And my initial impression remains essentially the same: A really bad trip on the fun dip. “I'd rather be fried alive and eaten by Mexicans.” Honestly, what was Dahl on when he wrote this?