AD/Gifted. One of the things we enjoy most during our quiet times at home is sharing our love of Roald Dahl books. I grew up reading The BFG, Matilda and The Twits and it’s been nothing short of lovely to read them with my son. To add an extra layer of interest, this month we have been dipping in and out of a new book Roald Dahl’s Beastly Brutes & Heroic Human Beans.
Roald Dahl’s Beastly Brutes & Heroic Human Beans was published in August 2019 and is illustrated by Quentin Blake. Written by Roald Dahl and Stella Caldwell, it is a really beautifully presented book, with die-cut pages which mean you can press out around the images and create a parade of heroes and villains. You can press out some of the characters entirely and keep them safe in the envelope which is tucked away on the last page.
The book features both heroes and villains from The Twits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and The BFG. The pages are bursting with detail about the characters and their dastardly deeds, or brave heroics. Each section allows you to get closer to the characters; learning more about their lives and giving them the chance to dive into their fantastical worlds and meet new people along the way.
We especially loved the die-cut pages, which mean you can keep your pages intact, or carefully pop out portions of the pages if you prefer. It’s a really tactile and interesting way to enjoy a book.
Roald Dahl’s Beastly Brutes & Heroic Human Beans is a beautiful companion piece for any Roald Dahl fan. We’ve loved pouring over the pages and soaking up all the delicious detail. It’s as beautiful as you would imagine a book illustrated by Quentin Blake would be, but lush with words from Roald Dahl and author Stella Caldwell. It’s suitable for ages 6+ and would make a really lovely gift for fans of any age.
Roald Dahl’s Beastly Brutes & Heroic Human Beans costs £14.99 (hardback) and is available from a wide range of book shops and online (affiliate link).
If you enjoyed this, you might also like to read our review of The Gloriumptious Worlds of Roald Dahl.