Monday 23 July 2012

Celebrate ROALD DAHL DAY this September ...


“DREAM BIG” WITH THE BFG!

September 2012 marks the seventh annual celebration of Roald Dahl’s work, life and diverse legacy. This year’s celebrations promise to be the BIGGEST to date. It’s a chance to salute the World’s No. 1 Storyteller, Roald Dahl, who is read and loved by millions of children - and adults - all over the world. The festivities last throughout the whole of Roald’s birthday month of September.

 
This year, it’s a double celebration - indeed you might even say a GIANT celebration - because it's not only marking Roald Dahl’s birthday but also wishing a splendiferously “Happy 30th Birthday” to The BFG, one of Roald’s most popular books and characters.

Here are NINEwhizzpopping ways in which everyone can get involved:

1. DREAM BIG – WITH TOP COMPETITIONS AND UNIQUE PRIZES:

The BFG collects dreams – good and bad – and shares the good ones with children on his nightly travels. So the theme of Roald Dahl Day 2012 is “DREAM BIG”. This year the foundation will be making young people’s dreams come true in a number of ways, with some truly amazing competitions and unique prizes, working with phizzwhizzing partners including Waterstone’s and British Airways. To keep track of the latest competitions and promotions, visit
www.roalddahl.com.

2. READ BIG – WITH AN AMAZING LINE-UP OF NEW PUBLISHING:


"THE FANTASTIC MR DAHL" by Michael Rosen – a biography of Roald Dahl specially written for young readers by poet and former Children’s Laureate Rosen. (Puffin, £6.99, September.)

"
THE BFG" - Jubilee paperback edition – saluting 30 years of the BFG plus the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and highlighting the moment in the tale when the BFG and Sophie breakfast with HRH the Queen at Buckingham Palace. (Puffin, £6.99, OUT NOW.)

"The BFG" – Limited edition boxed hardback. A stunning collector’s edition of the classic tale, illustrated of course by Quentin Blake. (Puffin, £25, September.)


"ROALD DAHL’S MARVELLOUS JOKE BOOK" – The Marvellous Crocodile is sure to get your tonsils tickling in this new joke book which will help raise funds for Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity. (Puffin, £4.99, September.)

3. SEE BIG STARS – WITH QUENTIN BLAKE & MICHAEL ROSEN:


Don’t miss the chance to see two superstars, both former Children’s Laureates – Quentin Blake and Michael Rosen – talking, drawing and answering YOUR questions online on September 24th at 2pm via PUFFIN VIRTUALLY LIVE. Quentin and Michael will be coming to you live from the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, where they will take you behind the scenes AND read out a selection of YOUR wildest dreams. Last year’s PUFFIN VIRTUALLY LIVE reached hundreds of thousands of people all over the globe – let’s make the 2012 event bigger still! Register now at
www.puffinvirtuallylive.co.uk

There are two more great chances to see Michael Rosen talking live about his new book "THE FANTASTIC MR DAHL": at London’s National Theatre on Saturday September 8th (book your tickets at
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) and at the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature on Sunday September 29th (book tickets at www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk ).  

 4. VISIT BIG – AT THE ROALD DAHL MUSEUM AND STORY CENTRE:

What better place to celebrate Roald Dahl than at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, the award-winning venue, in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire? There are two fun and fact-packed biographical galleries – one now housing the interior of Roald Dahl’s writing hut – plus the interactive story centre. Look out for the museum’s Roald Dahl Day celebrations on Sunday September 9th, in conjunction with a special opening of Roald Dahl’s nearby garden. Find out more at www.roalddahlmuseum.org or call 01494 892192.

5. DRESS UP BIG – FOR THE SECOND DAHLICIOUS DRESS UP DAY:


Get set for the second annual Dahlicious Dress Up Day on Friday September 28th. Schoolkids all over the UK will be dressing up as their favourite Roald Dahl characters to raise funds for Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, which helps seriously ill and disabled children. Claudia Winkleman, ambassador of the charity, says, “The Dahlicious Dress Up Day offers a fantastic opportunity for schools to work together for a common goal and stimulate children’s imaginations whilst inspiring compassion for other children living with a serious illness.” There’s still time to register for your fundraising pack at
www.roalddahlcharity.org or email schools@roalddahlcharity.org. Registered charity number: 1137409.

6. SING BIG – WITH THE AWARD-WINNING MATILDA STAGE SHOW:


Go see the award-winning Royal Shakespeare Company's musical version of Roald Dahl’s "MATILDA", playing to sell-out audiences at London’s Cambridge Theatre. With book by Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, it’s a complete delight!


7. LAUGH BIG – WITH 5 YEARS' OF THE ROALD DAHL FUNNY PRIZE:


2012 marks year 5 of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize – dedicated to finding the best new comic writing for young people in the UK. The shortlist will be announced in September and the two category winners in November.


8. PARTY BIG – WITH OUR WHIZZPOPPING PARTY PACK:

Why not organise your own BFG birthday party? For everything you need to make it go with a bang. Download the WHIZZPOPPING PARTY PACK now from
www.roalddahlday.info.

9. LISTEN BIG – WITH BRAND NEW CELEBRITY READ AUDIOBOOKS FOR ADULT FANS OF ROALD DAHL:


Roald Dahl's collections of short stories sees him at his macabre best. And in 2012, for the first time, 43 of Roald Dahl's most celebrated short stories will be available as both CD and Digital Audiobook compendiums and as digital audiobook singles, read by a celebrity cast including:

"Someone Like You" - the first collection of Dahl's classic, famous, dark and sinister short stories, read by Juliet Stevenson, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Richard Griffiths, Adrian Scarborough, Gillian Andersen, Will Self, Richard E Grant and others.


"Switch Bitch" - four tales of seduction and suspense, read by Richard E Grant, Derek Jacobi, Gillian Andersen and others.

"Over To You" - ten tales of war and flying, read by Julian Rhind-Tutt, Cillian Murphy, Juliet Stevenson and Sophie Okonedo.

"Kiss Kiss" - eleven devious and shocking stories, read by Juliet Stevenson, Adrian Scarborough, Derek Jacobi and others.

All of the above are also available in eBook as well as the rest of the Dahl short story collections: "My Uncle Oswald", "The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar", "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life", "Boy, Going Solo" and "Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories".

For further information please visit www.roalddahlday.info.

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