My Favourite Childhood Book

The first novel I read on my own was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl at the age of 5. It took me weeks (I would read 2 or 3 pages a day), but I did it, and I was so proud of myself. I really enjoyed the book, and my Mum went on a mission to buy me more Roald Dahl books. Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, The Twits, Esio Trot, George's Marvellous Medicine - I read them all. The book that made me fall in love with Roald Dahl and books in general, though, was Fantastic Mr. Fox.


I read Fantastic Mr. Fox for the first time when I was about 7. At this point I was starting to branch off into Enid Blyton (The Secret Seven series & Malory Towers in particular, man did I love those books!), and other books for "older" children. However, on one trip to the bookshop with my Mum, she very kindly treated me to Fantastic Mr. Fox (she was more determined for me to finish my Roald Dahl collection than I was!) and I was over the moon.

As soon as we got home, I kicked my little sister out of our room, closed the door, threw myself onto the bed and started reading. I didn't appear again 'til teatime, and I brought with me a whole new perspective on books and writing.

Up until that point I had viewed books as simply entertainment. When I read books I didn't enter worlds, or feel moved by a character, I just read to pass the time. Reading was something I was good at, and I enjoyed, so I carried on doing it. But when I read Fantastic Mr. Fox, it's as if something clicked in my brain, and I was seeing colour for the first time. The characters were alive, and moving on the page. I could see what they were doing, and hear what they said. It was as if I had been given a door to a whole new world, and I'd finally found the key. It was a truly magical experience.

Now, I'm not sure what it was about Fantastic Mr. Fox that unlocked this new world for me. Perhaps it was the colourful characters, the sizzling dialog or the fun story. It might have been that I was finally mature enough to become a true bookworm, or it might have been none of these things. Nevertheless, it happened, and I am so grateful. That one book gave me a whole new world to inhabit and get lost in, when the real world was crashing down around me. Almost 15 years later, I can still open a book and forget about everything that is happening in my life. I can disappear and visit Wonderland, or survive the Hunger Games with Katniss, I can be whatever and whoever I want to be for however long I like.

Not only did Fantastic Mr. Fox help me discover the incredible world of reading, but it also lit a fire under me. A fire to write and share my own stories.

Ever since then it has been my dream to become a writer. At the age of 7 I was writing novellas, and then I moved onto short stories and poetry. Now I am in my twenties, and I am trying to write my first novel. I am no Roald Dahl by any means, but I enjoy it. I love how it feels to create a world out of nothing, to make someone feel strong emotions with just a couple of words. I think writing is one of the most beautiful and wonderful things that a person could do, and it's all thanks to that little book - Fantastic Mr. Fox.

So, I want to say thank you to Roald Dahl for giving me these amazing gifts. I will forever cherish the ability to read and write a story, and though I will never be what some may consider well-read, or a talented writer, I can still improve these gifts and hopefully pass them onto future generations.

What book was your childhood favourite? And which book made you into the bookworm you are today? I would love to hear your stories in the comments below!