On this day 100 years ago, in Llandaff (a small district of Cardiff, Wales) a boy was born. Now this boy was not just any ordinary boy, his imagination and creativity would mean this boy would grow up to be extraordinary, he was destined to become Champion of the World (for literature, anyway). So we’re taking the time to celebrate this day by taking a look at some of the ways this timeless and cherished author can be enjoyed using newfangled digital methods, and we certainly hope we won’t “gobblefunk around with words” in the process!
Going Solo Digital:
Play ‘Twit or Miss’
The Twits have been with us now for over 35 years, and last year they were dragged into the 21st Century, beards and little bits of food intact. Penguin Random House Children’s, the Roald Dahl Literary Estate, and Aardman Digital developed an app to encourage 6 to 11 year old children to play the game mimicking the little tricks Mr and Mrs Twit would play on each other. You can immerse yourself in this ‘Twit World’ by downloading the free game through Apple’s AppStore and Google Play.
Audiobooks
If you fancy yourself to be ‘always plugged in’ then audiobooks may be the perfect option for you. As an adult you can be taken back to memories of your childhood as you listen to the outrageously funny and heartwarming stories from the beloved author. Put in your earphones, press play and go to your “little hut, where it’s tight and dark and warm, and within minutes you can go back to being six or seven or eight again“!
eBooks
“Please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place, you can install, a lovely bookcase on the wall.”
Or, if that sounds a little too much like it will create a ruckus, but you still want your children to access the works of one of the greatest authors of all time (well, we think so, anyway!), then you should be able to find all of Roald Dahl’s famous titles on most eBook providers. Don’t struggle with trying to unglue that device from their fingertips!
Discovery Education
Primary school children from all around are being challenged by Discovery Education to design their own ‘frothbuggling’ sweet or chocolate. It fits perfectly in with Topic lessons, and really encourages research of the life and times of Roald Dahl, not to mention his best selling book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
‘What makes this digital?’ I hear you cry. Well, Discovery Education have a wealth of digital resources available for you to use. Visit this link for more information.
Let’s keep the magic of Roald Dahl’s books alive, by continuing to inspire future generations to play around with words, to be outrageous, and most importantly to dream. After all, everything starts as a dream. “Those buildings. These lights. This whole city. Somebody had to dream about it first.” And, if that means bringing his work to a modern platform, then let’s embrace it, celebrate it, and share it.
After all, “a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men“.
For more information on Roald Dahl Day, please visit www.roalddahl.com.
All images have been used, with thanks from www.roalddahl.com/roald-dahl/characters/children where you can find all sorts of fun facts and information about the characters found in his stories.