Comments on: Top 100 Children’s Novels (#18)

By: Top 100: 2010 Picks for Best Children’s Novels (grades 3-8) : PragmaticMom

Top 100: 2010 Picks for Best Children’s Novels (grades 3-8) : PragmaticMom — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:26:03 +0000

[...] by Kate DiCamillo#16 Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh#17 Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli#18 Matilda by Roald Dahl#19 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl#20 Tuck Everlasting by Natalie [...]

By: Maggi

Maggi — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:31:11 +0000

I totally did not see this one coming in higher than Charlie, but I enjoyed both the book and the movie. Danny Devito has great commentary on the DVD.

By: Aaron Mead

Aaron Mead — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:10:05 +0000

My daughter (8 years old) is one of those kids that loves her some Matilda. The Twits–which I haven’t seen mentioned here–is another of her Dahl favorites, along with the usual suspects (James, Charlie, etc.).

I don’t appreciate the comment about Lewis and Tolkien though. Seems to evince a fairly narrow view of what makes books appealing to kids: must all good kids’ books be funny? My kids are currently eating up the Narnia series with no complaints about the books being “too serious.” I mean, humor is great; don’t get me wrong. And by all means, keep kids away from BORING serious books. But, it seems to me that being gripped by a good (and perhaps serious) story is pretty great for many (most?) kids too. Does Dahl–as communicated through Matilda’s dialogue–just think everyone should write like him?

By: lisainberlin

lisainberlin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:52:26 +0000

My daughter and I loved the movie and watched it many times. We also LISTENED to the fabulous Mariam Margoyles’ audio version countless times. Highly recommended!

By: Christi

Christi — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:09:29 +0000

I fully expected Charlie place higher than Matilda…sometimes it’s good to be proven wrong.

Count me as another vote for the film. Apart from the Americanization, it remains true to the spirit of the book and the casting is indeed inspired.

By: T.S.

T.S. — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:04:23 +0000

LOVE Matilda! Book and film. I actually own the movie on DVD and would be happy to set up a screening or let you borrow it (though with threat of bodily harm if you lose it, scratch it or never return it of course ).

By: Briar

Briar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:57:46 +0000

So thrilled by Matilda. Love the movie. I consider it to be one of the best book-movie adaptations and show it to my third graders when we discuss and study them. I read the first chapter and then immediately show them the beginning, where actual phrases and dialogue are exactly the same. It doesn’t do that for the whole book, but the spirit is SO there. And the music is great. Love it.

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:03:43 +0000

She’s here, she’s HERE! I can’t believe it. Fabulous!

By: Fuse #8

Fuse #8 — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:50:01 +0000

Six Boxes of Books was kind enough (and clever enough) to collect the winners thus far. You can see ‘em at: sixboxesofbooks.blogspot.com/2010/03/top-100-childrens-novels-from-fuse-8.html

By: Colleen

Colleen — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:27:55 +0000

Has any kind person been typing up the title list in order, so I don’t have to keep scrolling back through the posts to remember where my picks ended up?! If so, is it accessible anywhere online?