An Excellent Read-Aloud:: Matilda

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I still remember reading Matilda by Roald Dahl when I was in elementary school, and as I put it back on the shelf, I sighed and stared at the spine lovingly.  I loved the character Matilda most of all,  It was surely one of my favorite books when I was about my daughter Madeleine's age.

So it has not been easier to pick something at the library to read out loud with her than when I spotted Matilda.  I am going to make an argument that it is -seriously- his best book.  I love some of his others, notably Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but James and the Giant Peach let me down, and I have only seen the movie The BFG, but I'm hoping to read this book out loud soon (I seriously can't wait.)

But Matilda is downright stellar. Let me tell you why. I realize it might sound antiquated to praise a book I read as a child. It was published in 1988.  Imagine if your parents read a book (to you) from their childhood, when Harry Potter had first come out... anti-climactic, to say the least. And yet it must be done.

First, I love Matilda. She is a child prodigy, she has the odds stacked against her, because of her abusive parents, and she is incredibly inspiring to young children for her thirst for knowledge.

Second, this book has real heroes, and real and deeply evil (not just flawed) villains.  The children at Matilda's school display feat after feat of courage, while Miss Trunchbull portrays the depths of evil: cruelty, malevolence, and sick, twisted approach to power.  She displays characteristics of a misanthrope, with a strong leaning toward misopedia, related to misogyny but in specific referring to hatred of children.

Third, this book is an incredible and exquisite read-aloud, because it is fast paced and amusing. It is Roald Dahl even has a quote about how C.S. Lewis didn't have a sense of humor in this book Matilda.  I have to admit I love him for it!! There are several laugh-out-loud lines, tons, of humorous and absurd situations, and magic which takes it over the top -- especially for children. As my kids have listened, they are falling in love and I'm falling in love with the book through their eyes.

One of my favorite quotes:

“I'm wondering what to read next." Matilda said. "I've finished all the children's books.” 
― Roald Dahl, Matilda

If I had to sing the praises of one children's book in an attempt that all writers seek out a nourishing, good, solid recommendation as influence for their own writing, I will sing at the top of my lungs this book.

To contrast this with several books I have read aloud, Magic Treehouse books are boring and tired.  Little House on the Prairie is great, but also lacking in sense of humor. Finally, we read Kate Dicamillo and while good, it just..... isn't Roald Dahl! (That is not to say I will not return to her books, because I definitely will).  Classics and funny, tried and true are so few and far between, and so that's why I recommend this book.


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