The Magic Finger

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These whole class reading sessions aim to develop children’s comprehension of several extracts from Roald Dahl texts. Listen to THE MAGIC FINGER and other Roald Dahl audiobooks read by some very famous voices, including Kate Winslet, David Walliams and Steven Fry - plus there are added squelchy sound-effects from Pinewood Studios! The Magic Finger is a children's story published by Roald Dahl in 1966. Different editions were illustrated by William Pene du Bois, Tony Ross, and Quentin Blake.

The 8-year-old girl comes by the Greggs' farm to see that the Gregg family (now changing their surname to Egg) have fully changed their ways and are now feeding and caring for the birds. As Philip and William tell the girl their entire story, the sound of gunfire in the distance attracts the girl's attention, and she feels the Magic Finger charging up again. Philippa goes to visit the Greggs and discovers that they've changed significantly. They no longer hunt or own guns. They feed and care for the birds on their land. The two young boys, Philip and William, retell the entire story to the girl. She is pleased to see this development. The young eight year old narrator is so enraged with her neighbour's hunting habits, that she turns the whole of the Gregg family into birds by the use of her magic finger. I remember not liking The Magic Finger as a kid despite being a huge Roald Dahl fan but I couldn’t quite put my finger (ahhh!) on why, so I thought I’d re-read it to see if maybe my view on it has changed - and it hasn’t!The story teaches a huge lesson to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I read this with two of my younger children and we all enjoyed it. It’s certainly thought-provoking and inspired an entire conversation with my family about eating meat and how we should be responsible and care for the animals we have. It will also get you thinking about why it’s important to control your disposition because actions always have consequences. The titular "Magic Finger" is an ability she has that activates inadvertently whenever she gets intensely angry: the finger, shoots out a beam of energy, that apparently seeks out whoever has angered the girl, with unpredictable consequences. Kudos, Mr. Dahl for all your delightful work. Children of many generations can surely rely on being entertained and educated with these wonderful pieces. Quentin Blake has been drawing ever since he can remember. He taught illustration for over twenty years at the Royal College of Art, of which he is an honorary professor. He has won many prizes, including the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration, the Eleanor Farjeon Award and the Kate Greenaway Medal, and in 1999 he was appointed the first Children’s Laureate. In the 2013 New Year’s Honours List he was knighted for services to illustration. It's almost tradition that the first book of the year is one by Roald Dahl. This year, I've chosen a book about an 8-year-old girl that remains unnamed (first-person narrator), who lives next door to a family with two boys. Both boys go hunting with their dad every day, which doesn't sit right with the girl since killing animals just for fun is wrong (I completely agree).

Written in 1964 Roald Dahl's 'The Magic Finger' is a lesson well taught through a little girls magical finger. This lovely children's book is illustrated throughout by Quentin Blake. This is a children book. I read it for my younger cousin for his school's work. I liked it. But there were very obvious plot holes. Of course it's a children book. So it doesn't feel that bad. This edition also features substance after the story that I really liked. There are quotes from Dahl, a picture of things he kept on his desk, facts, trivia, & a lot of other neat stuff that made it really interesting. I really loved the quirky things he kept on his desk ! Look out for new Roald Dahl apps in the App store and Google Play- including the disgusting TWIT OR MISS! and HOUSE OF TWITS inspired by the revolting Twits. Read more Details I could go on but I’ll just leave it at this: hunting is vastly more complex than simply seeing it as a sadistic activity for psychos.This very short story makes for a perfect bedtime story, the same level of surrealism and a strong anti hunting message to boot. Hmm. Ok. This is just an aside but I feel like it’s worth mentioning. Hunters have been given a really bad rap this past hundred years or so in the West and that really needs to stop. I think a large part of that is down to Disney, not just for that notorious scene from Bambi but for their many lovable talking animal characters. And that’s what turns some people to vegetarianism or veganism. i also think, like the protagonist, that hunting for fun is bad, but so does Fantastic Mr. Fox, and that book is whimsical enough to warrant a Wes Anderson adaptation. His first children's book was The Gremlins, about mischievous little creatures that were part of RAF folklore. The book was commissioned by Walt Disney for a film that was never made, and published in 1943. Dahl went on to create some of the best-loved children's stories of the 20th century, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and James and the Giant Peach. Not Roald Dahl at his finest - nevertheless a good short entertaining book with the usual great illustrations by Quentin Blake.