Quentin Blake Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 19 September 2016 > Webpicks

Quentin Blake illustrated all of Roald Dahl’s children’s books. And now he has illustrated a long-lost story by Beatrix Potter. Here are a couple of ways to enrich your class with Quentin Blake’s work. This trailer for The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots features Quentin Blake’s illustrations and Dame Helen Mirren reading the opening passage of the … Continue reading “Quentin Blake Webpicks”

Quentin Blake Brings Roald Dahl and Beatrix Potter to Life

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 19 September 2016 > What's On

Quentin Blake’s illustrations are instantly recognisable to anyone who has ever read a Roald Dahl’s children’s book. And now he has illustrated a long-lost story by Beatrix Potter. Blake’s illustrations have helped form generations of readers’ image of Roald Dahl’s characters. When Blake was asked to illustrate Roald Dahl’s first book for younger children, The … Continue reading “Quentin Blake Brings Roald Dahl and Beatrix Potter to Life”

Roald Dahl Day Special

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 30 August 2016 > Celebrate

Roald Dahl was such a popular children’s writer that every year, 13 September (his birthday) is World Roald Dahl Day. This year is the hundredth anniversary of his birth, and there are celebrations galore. Dahl, who died in 1990, is best remembered as the author of irreverent classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, … Continue reading “Roald Dahl Day Special”

The BFG Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 23 August 2016 > Webpicks

As part of the celebrations of the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth, Steven Spielberg has helmed an adaptation of his book The BFG. Pupils generally recognise Dahl’s work from books or films, so it is a rich subject for class work. Don’t miss our articles on the The BFG film and Dream Jar Trail (see … Continue reading “The BFG Webpicks”

A Big Friendly Giant of a Film

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 19 August 2016 > What's On

What more fitting way to celebrate Roald Dahl’s centenary than a film adaptation of his favourite of his children’s stories by Steven Spielberg? The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) was published in 1982, the same year as Spielberg was making a name for himself with E.T. It was Dahl’s favourite of his own books, and contains … Continue reading “A Big Friendly Giant of a Film”

Giant Dreams

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 29 July 2016 > What's On

In honour of the Roald Dahl’s centenary, and Steven Spielberg adaptation of Dahl’s book The BFG, London and other British cities is playing host to fifty “Dream Jars” representing the dreams of well-known personalities. In The BFG, the titular Big Friendly Giant collects and mixes dreams, which he blows into children’s bedrooms. Celebrities from Steven … Continue reading “Giant Dreams”

Roald Dahl Centenary

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 27 July 2016 > Ready to Use

This A1+-level article will introduce your pupils to one of the most famous children’s storytellers. Some of them may already be familiar with his stories, and the recent release of Spielberg’s BFG will have drawn attention to one of his most endearing characters. Vocabulary and structures: Dates Simple present and simple past Building words Going … Continue reading “Roald Dahl Centenary”