James and the Giant Peach

Title: James and the Giant Peach 

Author: Roald Dahl
# of Pages: 160 pages 

Published by: Puffin Books
Age Range: 8-12 yrs.
Grade Level: 3-7

In this book, with a little magic and use of the imagination the story comes to life. The main character James Henry Trotter goes to live with his two aunts, who he does not like, after his parents are killed. His parents were eaten by a rhinoceros. His aunt's names are Spiker and Sponge. While James is at his Aunt's house, there is nothing fun to do until James finds magic crystals and accidentally drops them by the peach tree. After this, throughout the story, weird things begin to happen. At the top of the tree there is one peach and it starts to grow, and grow, and grow and it does not stop! Eventually the peach is the size of a house.  James then decides to go in the peach and he meet a bunch of new friends. There is a grasshopper, a centipede, a ladybug, and others. These come to life and are able to communicate with James and they become his best friends. When the stem is broken and the beach starts to roll away, James' adventures begin. The peach rolls all the way to New York city where they are welcomed with a parade. In New York City each of James' friends live a life of wealth and success. enticed becomes the Vice-president of a boot and shoe company, silkworm and spider start a weaving company, grasshopper becomes a member of the symphony, glow work becomes a light inside the statue of liberty and ladybug marries the head of the fire department. James who once had no friends, now has friends all over the world from misadventure. 

The theme remains insistent throughout the story  and the setting is believable. It takes place in real cities with real people, however the peach grows and bugs come to life. James is the main character who is relatable to students. He has few friends and lives with family members who he doesn't really like. Also this book could be relatable to students who get bored at home and want to take a fun adventure. The fantasy elements are consistent throughout the story. This book uses animal fantasy because the bugs come to life. This is a classic novel that will be on my classroom's bookshelf someday. 

Classroom activities and lesson plans include: 

• Lessons on parts of plants
• Lessons on different types of insects
• Lessons on various cities that the peach travels to
• A unit on this book
• Many creative ideas on Pinterest

Here is the movie trailer: 

o look at the book trailer: 

Als