Eleanor’s pick: ‘The BFG’ by Roald Dahl, published by Puffin
Sophie is a young orphan who is taken from her bedroom window after dark by an unknown stranger – the BFG, or Big Friendly Giant, who, happily for Sophie, is the loveliest, gentlest giant around. However, other “human beans” aren’t so lucky, with other far less benevolent giants, like the Bloodbottler and Fleshlumpeater, on the loose and out to eat them. Sophie and the BFG team up to take on the baddies, and even end up meeting royalty along the way.
Eleanor says: “I had a big hardback Roald Dahl anthology as a kid, and The BFG was the story on the cover. Unsurprisingly, that was the one I read the most! It has its dark moments, like all Roald Dahl books, but at its heart, it’s such a fun, silly, fantastical tale. Where else could you learn the words ‘snozzcumber’, ‘hopscotchy’ and ‘frobscottle’?”