Today (13 September) sees the return of the annual Roald Dahl Day, bringing celebrations and events across the globe to mark the popular author’s birthday.

With 2016 expected to be the biggest yet as it celebrates 100 years since the birth of the writer, literary organisations around Liverpool have been telling Your Move about their favourite Dahl books.

The writer is famous for a long list of much-loved stories, from ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and ‘The BFG’ to ‘George’s Marvellous Medicine’, ‘The Twits’ and ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’to name a few

There’s just one Dahl book in particular though which seems to have inspired and had a lasting effect on some of Liverpool’s most prominent reading organisations, bookstores and libraries, and that’s ‘Matilda’.

Find out why…

“Roald Dahl’s story of one little girl’s battle to be understood and loved has recently been voted The Nation’s Favourite Roald Dahl Story, and here at the Storybarn we’re in complete agreement.

“Hundreds of trips to the library fill Matilda’s mind with worlds to explore, characters to love, and the strength to break free from the world at home in which she’s trapped.

“Devouring all sorts of different stories, we love Matilda’s tenacity, determination and enthusiasm, and she inspires us to push our limits and try all sorts of stories.

Here at the Storybarn we’re firm believers in the idea that ‘we read to know that we are not alone’ (C.S. Lewis).

“It seems great minds think alike, as Roald Dahl tells us that ‘Matilda’s strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone’.”

Storybarn team at The Reader Organisation

Matilda by Roald Dahl

“I fell in love with this book as a 12-year-old child, and it’s always remained a special title for me.

“I adore its unconventional heroine – a quiet, solemn, thoughtful girl, who finds great joy in the pages of her beloved books.

“Matilda is smarter and braver than most of the adults she knows and, as it turns out, she has some very special secret powers too.

“A funny, exiting, and magical read, ‘Matilda’ is a joyous celebration of the power of reading – and the sense of wonder and possibility that books can bring.”

Cate, News From Nowhere bookshop

“Dahl is a true genius, a wonderful story teller and my favourite title of his has got to be Matilda.  “She is a feisty, extraordinary character with magical powers who teaches the rotten grown-ups in her life a lesson they will never forget.

“Best part of the story for me apart from Matilda’s character, and the part where she uses superglue to stick her Father’s hat to his head is the fact that Matilda loves books, loves reading and visits the library!”

Irene Mandekow, West Derby Library

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