Matilda is turning 25 this year! Kind of unbelievable, right? How can it already be 25 years since this wonderfully witty, intelligent five-year-old sprang onto the literary scene, inspiring all of us to read more and fight the man with our powers of telekinesis (Er, or just wish we had powers of telekinesis)? We’re celebrating this milestone with an epic 25-stop blog tour! Follow along to find out how your favorite bloggers feel about Matilda, and for a chance to win a Matilda prize pack at each and every stop!
This quote says it all:
“Matilda said, ‘I would like a really good one that grown-ups read. A famous one. I don’t know any names.’
Mrs. Phelps looked along the shelves, taking her time. She didn’t quite know what to bring out. How, she asked herself, does one choose a famous grown-up book for a four-year-old girl? Her first thought was to pick a young teenager’s romance of the kind that is written for fifteen-year-old schoolgirls, but for some reason she found herself walking past that particular shelf.
‘Try this,’ she said at last, ‘It’s very famous and very good. If it’s too long for you, just let me know and I’ll find something shorter and a bit easier.’
‘Great Expectations,’ Matilda read, ‘by Charles Dickens. I’d love to try it.’
I must be mad, Mrs. Phelps told herself, but to Matilda she said, ‘Of course you may try it.’ –p.15, Matilda
That’s the key, isn’t it? Teachers and librarians foster a love of books in students by introducing them to new books and helping them stretch their limits. Every Wednesday, hear from teachers and librarians on the Matilda 25th Anniversary tour about how they have interacted with kids and books, just like Mrs. Phelps helped Matilda!
When I was in fourth grade, my class read James and the Giant Peach. I loved the book so much, that I wrote a letter to the author, Roald Dahl, not knowing he had passed away. The publisher ended up sending me a box of Roald Dahl goodies-stickers, posters, and a mobile of his characters! It meant so much to me as a reader that they would take time to answer a young girls fan letter.
That's one thing I love about being a librarian. It it my job to help kids find the most perfect book-and often times that includes books by Roald Dahl. His creativity and wit is still as popular as ever. When readers come into the library looking for something funny and smart, I always take them over to the D's and introduce them to this author. It makes my job even better when I get to match readers with books they will love, and I get to do that wit Matilda. Books like Matilda have lasted 25 years because they hold an endless appeal-which makes it easy for me to suggest that book to a reader. I know they're in for a treat when they pick it up and enter Matilda's world! And I love being one of the gatekeepers who have helped them discover what great books are out there. When they come back with a smile on their face and tell me how much they loved a book I've given them, it makes my job all worth it.
I'm so excited to be able to share Matilda with you! Thanks to Penguin books and Matilda the Musical, one lucky winner will win a Matilda prize pack: a paperback copy of Matilda , one copy of the Matilda Broadway soundtrack, and a Matilda the Musical Broadway poster!
To enter, leave a comment below telling me what book a librarian or teacher helped introduce you to as a child. Contest open to US addresses only, ages 13+, ends June 26.
Did you know Matilda is now a Tony Award-nominated Broadway Musical? The show opened in April and has already been nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical! Since not everyone can go to New York City to see the show in person, Penguin Teen is bringing the show to you with a Matilda the Musical prize pack giveaway! Enter to win a copy of the Matilda the Musical soundtrack, a Matilda the Musical poster, and a paperback copy of Matilda by Roald Dahl! You can buy tickets, see pictures, and listen to music from Matilda the Musical on their website: http://us.matildathemusical.
About Roald Dahl:
Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was born in Llandaff, South Wales, and went to Repton School in England. His parents were Norwegian, so holidays were spent in Norway. As he explains in Boy, he turned down the idea of university in favor of a job that would take him to "a wonderful faraway place.” In 1933 he joined the Shell Company, which sent him to Mombasa in East Africa. When World War II began in 1939 he became a fighter pilot and in 1942 was made assistant air attaché in Washington, where he started to write short stories. His first major success as a writer for children was in 1964. Thereafter his children's books brought him increasing popularity, and when he died children mourned the world over. Matilda was published just two years before he died. Quentin Blake, the first Children's Laureate of the United Kingdom, has illustrated most of Roald Dahl's children's books.
About Matilda: Matilda is a genius. Unfortunately, her family treats her like a dolt. Her crooked car-salesman father and loud, bingo-obsessed mother think Matilda's only talent is as a scapegoat for everything that goes wrong in their miserable lives. But it's not long before the sweet and sensitive child decides to fight back. Faced with practical jokes of sheer brilliance, her parents don't stand a chance.
Matilda applies her untapped mental powers to rid the school of the evil, child-hating headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, and restore her nice teacher, Miss Honey, to financial security.
Be sure to visit the Official Matilda Facebook page to keep up with all things Matilda!
To find out more about Matilda the Musical on Broadway, visit their Facebook page!
For the next stop on the Matilda 25th Anniversary blog tour, head to Bookshelf Banter tomorrow!
My 6th grade teacher introduced me to The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, and I got carried away from there!
ReplyDeleteI'll always remember my third grade teacher reading a couple of the Chronicles of Narnia books to my class at storytime. I loved them. And though I didn't read the entire series until I was a teenager, they're now among my favorite books. :)
ReplyDelete~Kristin
Wow! I love Matilda! But I read it when I was an adult. My elementary school librarian recommended A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L'Engle when I was in the third grade. She knew that I loved books and needed a challenge. Because of that book, I knew I wanted to be a writer.
ReplyDeleteA librarian whose advice I always used invested a great deal of time and effort instilling my interest in reading. She recommended the entire Anne of Green Gables series which I read all in hardcover since it was way back in the 1950's and at the public library. She was my mother. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI was always searching for new authors and novels. At our community library I located a librarian whose knowledge and insight into my interests started me on reading Daphne DuMaurier. I read all of her novels and still treasure them. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteOne of my teachers suggested Lilian Jackson Braun to me when I was in 8th grade and thus began my life-long love affair with mysteries.
ReplyDeleteMy librarian introduced me to autobiographies. I read all the ones that she had on the shelf. They amazed me that people could go through such challenges.
ReplyDeleteno need to enter me in the contest as I am in Canada.
Honestly - none. We didn't have a public library, and I don't remember going to the library that much when I was little. My mom tho, she introduced me to a ton but most special was the Little House on the Prairie books.
ReplyDeleteMy elementary school librarian introduced me to Tomie DePaola. I still remember her reading the story of the Blue Bonnet to our class. : )
ReplyDeleteMy librarian introduced me to the Nancy Drew Series in late Elementary school, early Middle school.
ReplyDeleteWhere the red fern grows--one of the saddest but most beautiful books!
ReplyDeleteSomebody must have introduced me to books by Lloyd Alexander and Brian Jacques but I can't remember who.
ReplyDeleteAlice in Wonderland! And I'm so glad she did, it remains one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteheatheranne99 at gmail dot com
the fudge books by judy blume!! :) Thank you!
ReplyDeleteinthehammock blog at gmail dot com
My 8th grade teacher read Where the Red Fern Grows. We all sat and cried when Old Dan and Little Ann died. I'll never forget it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in 4th grade, my teacher read Island of the Blue Dolphins to us, bit by bit each day. I loved it then and I love it now. I still re-read it every once in awhile.
ReplyDeleteMatilda the Musical is a wonderful Broadway show with awesome music and lyrics! My kids are going to love the show so I have booked Matilda the Musical tickets from GoodSeatTickets.com
ReplyDelete