“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".
