Feb 2-8 - Children Authors and Illustrators Week- International: Let Us Read Roald Dahl

What better way to kickstart this glorious week than with our very own Roald Dahl? Born on 13th September 1916, he has given us so many stories to live and enjoy, and most importantly, to learn from. Be it Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who taught us to be good and honest at all times, or James from James and the Giant Peach, who taught us that if we do good, nothing can harm us - all of them have given us essential moral lessons.

Dahl’s stories are wonderful to read. They are full of humor and snark at all the right places. Every situation is punctuated with a lesson that will stick to your heart and make you want to be better to everyone around you.

Did you know he also made up his own language, called gobblefunk? It has words like Scrumdiddlyumptious which is used when the food is utterly delicious.

But would his stories be the same without the marvelous additions made by illustrator Sir Quentin Blake? Born on 16th December 1932, he has been drawing since an early age. Known for his caricature style of drawing, he has brought these stories alive. His style of drawing is very easy - back ink with easy watercolor paint. He has taken inspiration from people in real life, around him and used them to master the art of turning beautiful words into even beautiful drawings. Apart from Roald Dahl, he has worked with authors such as Russell Hoban and Joan Aiken. He has also illustrated classics like A Christmas Carol.

It is true that drawings help to foster and encourage the imagination of a child. We recommend that you and your child sit with a book by Roald Dahl, read it page and page and analyze the illustrations. This will help you bond through a story, and make your kid gain interest in art, at a fundamental level.

And if you are looking for a place to start, doesn’t Matilda sound perfect? A book about a little girl who loves to read, but is not allowed to, this is the perfect story of love and magic, something that wil surely ignite the spark in your child which is needed to start reading.