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The Witches
  

The Witches (Library Binding)

by Roald Dahl (Author), Quentin Blake (Illustrator)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Library Binding: 208 pages
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1435255240
  • ISBN-13: 978-1435255241
  • Product Dimensions: 19.3 x 12.4 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

"This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches." So begins one of Roald Dahl's best books ever, and, ironically, it is such a great story because the premise is perfectly plausible from the outset. When the narrator's parents die in a car crash on page two (contrast this terribly real demise with that of James's parents who are devoured by an escaped rhinoceros in James and the Giant Peach), he is taken in by his cigar-smoking Norwegian grandmother, who has learned a storyteller's respect for witches and is wise to their ways.

The bond between the boy and his grandmother becomes the centrepiece of the tale--a partnership of love and understanding that survives even the boy's unfortunate transformation into a mouse. And once the two have teamed up to outwitch the witches, the boy's declaration that he's glad he's a mouse because he will now live only as long as his grandmother is far more poignant than eerie.

Of course, there's adventure here along with Dahl's trademark cleverness and sense of the grotesque. Dahl also communicates some essential truths to children: if they smoke cigars, they'll never catch cold, and, most importantly, they should never bathe, because a clean child is far, far easier for a witch to smell than a dirty one. (Ages 7 to 10, or read aloud to younger children) --Susan Harrison --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Amazon.co.uk Review

"This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches." So begins one of Roald Dahl's best books ever, and, ironically, it is such a great story because the premise is perfectly plausible from the outset. When the narrator's parents die in a car crash on page two (contrast this terribly real demise with that of James's parents who are devoured by an escaped rhinoceros in James and the Giant Peach), he is taken in by his cigar-smoking Norwegian grandmother, who has learned a storyteller's respect for witches and is wise to their ways.

The bond between the boy and his grandmother becomes the centrepiece of the tale--a partnership of love and understanding that survives even the boy's unfortunate transformation into a mouse. And once the two have teamed up to outwitch the witches, the boy's declaration that he's glad he's a mouse because he will now live only as long as his grandmother is far more poignant than eerie.

Of course, there's adventure here along with Dahl's trademark cleverness and sense of the grotesque. Dahl also communicates some essential truths to children: if they smoke cigars, they'll never catch cold, and, most importantly, they should never bathe, because a clean child is far, far easier for a witch to smell than a dirty one. (Ages 7 to 10, or read aloud to younger children) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

27 Reviews
5 star:
 (22)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (27 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Scary!, 12 Feb 2008
By Mehajabeen Farid "mej_farid" (Coventry) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Witches (Paperback)
Plot: To witches children smell like dogs droppings and you never know where one is. On the outside (with a disguise on), a witch can look like any ordinary women. Without the gloves to cover their cat like claws; they wear wigs because they are actually bald; witches are very difficult to tell apart from humans, or are they?

Fact: The boy (who is unnamed) in the story's grandmother is Norwegian and is really based on Roald Dahl's mother who inspired him a lot!

Rating and recommendation: I would rate this brilliant book 7/ 10; I think would recommend this perfect paperback to all Roald Dahl fans, especially 7 - 12 year
olds
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars THE WITCHES, 16 Jun 2005
This review is from: The Witches (Paperback)
Thewitches is dead good book I love it when the witches get
turned in to mice.
The grand high witch is crazy and funny I love Roald Dahls
books.
The witches is the best book in the world I love the book it is
funny ther is a little boy in it with his grandma they went to a
hotel then the boy got trapt.
I recommend this book for age 5 and add
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended, 7 Sep 2006
This review is from: The Witches (Paperback)
I am currently reading this book to my children at bedtime, and it must be the most gripping book they have had so far! Unusually for them, they sit silently, listening and hanging on every word. I read just a few chapters a night and every night so far they have cried, "NOOOO! Not yet!! one more chapter...PLEASE just ONE more chapter!!".

The style in which the book is written is the key to it's success I believe. The book has been written as though it is a true story.

We have previously finished reading James & the giant peach, and although they enjoyed it, The Witches is most definitely more popular.

A truly great read. Well done Mr Dahl!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Witches
A brilliant story filled with mystery excitement and ghastly deeds. My children loved this book.
Published 7 days ago by Big Hippy

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book for bed time reading
This is the book that my daughter and I love me to read, the poems are such fun and so naughty!
Published 24 days ago

5.0 out of 5 stars scary
I read a chapter each night to my grandson and we both love it,roald dahl really know how to ..in my grandsons words 'make you feel you are actually there'
Published 25 days ago by Maggiemcerlain

5.0 out of 5 stars The Witches
Great value - fast dispatch. A good adaptation that was loved by all the children.
Published 4 months ago by M. T. Bennett

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wicked Book
This book is about a boy and his grandma. Unfortunately his parents died
so he went to live with his Nan in England. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mrs. A. T. Whitehead

5.0 out of 5 stars *Aneesa-ahmed*
This Roald Dahl book is absolutely fantastic.It is my all time favourite story by Roald Dahl.I thought it was so interesting I couldn't stop reading it. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2007 by Aneesa-ahmed

3.0 out of 5 stars Is she a witch?
Where are you right now? Who is sitting beside you?
This book will explain how to find out if the woman sitting beside you is a witch, or if she's just a regular woman;... Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2006 by John Steven Rawlins

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious Dahl
Are you at home right now? I hope so. Oh, you're not. You're in one of those internet cafes. Oh dear. Then - and I don't want to scare you - you're not safe. Not at all safe. Read more
Published on 11 July 2006 by sharkspeed007

3.0 out of 5 stars School Review of the Witches
We have just read The Witches in class J1 (year 3) of Gayhurst School in Hackney, London. The class has given this book three stars because some of us really loved the book, but... Read more
Published on 7 July 2006 by Andrew Orphanoudakis

5.0 out of 5 stars Witches - a must for any 8 year old
This is enchanting book, which I read to my 8 year old son at bedtime. A truly gripping story that holds no punches when appealing to a childs intrigue for ghoulish scariness. Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2006 by glennwaterfall

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