Matilda: The Original Story by Roald Dahl
Matilda At 30: Chief Executive of The British Library
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Published by Puffin|Penguin Books
Date: 4 October 2018
R.R.P. $27.99
Dear Friends
When you are gifted something so incredibly wonderful there are hardly words to say thank you. I feel quite privileged to share this book with you all, especially when it is a favourite of many children across the world and has been so for the past 30 years.
Yes, it really has been 30 years since Matilda was first published, and to celebrate this little girl who was whimsical, intelligent, stood up to bullies, and loved books, Quentin Blake has imagined what she would be doing now. In a note from Quentin he explains that it wasn’t difficult to imagine what she may be because she was a gifted little girl, so he chose Chief Executive of the British Library, Astrophysicist, and World Traveller and created three separate covers and jacket illustrations to reflect this. I don’t see why she couldn’t be all three because she really is that smart and creative.
I imagine Matilda could be anything she wants to be at 30. Regardless of what she would have decided I know she would be awakening the whimsy and imagination of children one book at a time.
The book that was sent to me is Chief Executive of the British Library and Quentin Blake has drawn the most endearing picture on the front cover and jacket. If that is indeed what her profession turned out to be, I believe she would be a hands-on executive because she would want to be among the books and spreading her love of these to children.
Not to confuse you all, this is still the original Matilda book that we all know and love – Where Matilda’s family treat her with indifference, her headmistress is the worst bully of all, the sweet and loving Miss Honey, and our endearing, whimsical and smart Matilda who works hard to change her circumstances into a life of happily ever after.
Choose your favourite cover and allow yourself to be immersed in one of Roald Dahl’s best books, where your imagination will be sparked and the whimsy of a small girl will show you that anything can be overcome when goodness and cheeky prank or two is part of life.
From your fellow bibliophile
Allison
Thank you Puffin|Penguin books for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.
Want to know more about this book, head over to Quentin Blakes website and read what Quentin has to say.
Little Big Reads 