James and the Giant Peach
You can use these activities to accompany the book James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. While originally published in 1961, this book has seen a revival in popularity in more recent years.
Book Summary:
A young orphan named James has to live with his cruel aunts. One day, James is given a bag of magic that is supposed to make his life marvelous. But by accident, James drops his bag under a peach tree, which creates a giant peach. James enters the peach and begins a series of unusual and exciting adventures.
About the Author:
Roald Dahl was born in 1916. He has written many books both for children and for adults. He originally starting writing children’s books because he could find none that excited his own children.
1. Share peach recipes and foods OR you could make a recipe in a group setting and share it all around.
2. A collateral activity would be to study bugs and spiders.
3. The aunts are very mean to James. What would happen to James if his aunts were nice to him instead? Would the story be the same?
4. James was supposed to drink the magic, not spill it. What would have happened if James had drunk the magic instead?
5. Draw a picture of each of the characters in the book, using the descriptive sentences and adjectives that are used as guides.
6. Compare James’ past life with his parents to his present life with his aunts.
7. Describe the friends James meets in the giant peach.
8. Describe all the nice things that happen to James and his friends once they land in New York City.
Suggested Spelling/Vocabulary Words:
ancient
enthralled
famished
gape
hideous
insidiously
loathsome
luminous
lurch
malevolently
mammoth
nuisance
pandemonium
Other books by Roald Dahl:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Matilda
Going Solo
Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes
The BFG
Boy : Tales of Childhood
The Mildenhall Treasure
The Minpins (Picture Puffins)
The Vicar of Nibbleswicke
and many more!
