Roald Dahl Books for Kids (By Age and Reading Level)

Roald Dahl books were some of the first longer stories my son genuinely wanted to keep reading without being prompted. We didn’t read them all at once, we worked through them over several years as his confidence grew.

This guide pulls together the titles that worked well for us at different ages, along with a few notes on which ones are better as read-alouds and which suit independent readers.

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Our Favorite Roald Dahl Books for Kids

Each of these stories landed differently for us depending on age. Some worked best as read-alouds, others were the first chapter books my son happily read on his own.

If you’re not sure where to start, this should give you a clearer sense of which titles tend to suit different stages.

Matilda

Matilda is still one of my all-time favorite children’s books, and it was one of the first longer stories my son stuck with from beginning to end. It tends to work well around ages 6–8 as a read-aloud, or slightly later for confident independent readers.

The humor is sharp, the characters are memorable (Miss Trunchbull especially), and the story has just enough mischief to keep kids hooked. It’s also one we’ve revisited more than once because different parts land differently as kids get older.

Related: There’s also a Matilda coloring page that works well as a quiet follow-up activity after reading.

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The BFG

We read The BFG together when my son was about seven, and it was much less intimidating in book form than the older movie version. The language is playful and a bit quirky, which makes it a great shared read even if your child isn’t fully confident with chapter books yet.

It tends to suit ages 6–9 as a read-aloud, or slightly older independent readers who enjoy imaginative stories. The relationship between Sophie and the giant is what really carries it, and it’s one of those books that invites lots of “what would you do?” conversations.

Our Roald Dahl coloring bookmarks pair nicely with any of these books if your child likes a quiet activity while you read together.

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

This is usually the one most kids recognize first, and it’s an easy entry point into Roald Dahl’s longer stories. We read it together before my son tackled it independently, and the pacing kept him interested the whole way through.

It works well around ages 6–8 as a read-aloud, or 7–9 for independent reading depending on confidence. The factory scenes are still some of the most memorable in children’s fiction, and the mix of humor and consequences makes it one kids tend to talk about long after finishing.

Related: A Charlie and the Chocolate Factory coloring page makes a nice quiet activity after finishing a chapter.

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Fantastic Mr. Fox

This is noticeably shorter, which makes it a great starting point for younger readers who want a “real” chapter book without a big time commitment. This one is usually a good fit around ages 5–7.

The story moves quickly, the characters are easy to follow, and the clever problem-solving keeps kids engaged. It’s also one that works equally well read aloud in a single sitting or left for a confident early reader to handle independently.

Related: A Roald Dahl matching game works well after reading Fantastic Mr. Fox, especially for younger kids.

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The Witches

When we first read this one, I quickly realized timing mattered. It’s funny in places, but the creepiness is real, so we kept it firmly as a daytime read rather than a bedtime story.

It worked best once my son was a confident reader, around the upper-elementary years, though it also made a great shared read-aloud a little earlier. The darker moments are balanced with enough humor to keep it from feeling heavy, and the plot is engaging enough that he wanted “just one more chapter” most nights. For kids who enjoy a slightly spooky story without tipping into nightmares, it tends to land well.

Related: These Roald Dahl graphing worksheets are an easy way to add a light math tie-in without breaking the reading flow.

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James and the Giant Peach

This was one we ended up reading together rather than handing off for independent reading at first. Parts of the story are surprisingly dark at the beginning, but once the adventure really starts, the tone shifts and becomes much more imaginative and fun.

My son loved the strange collection of characters inside the peach, and it sparked a lot of questions and discussion as we went. It’s a good choice for kids who enjoy unusual stories and don’t mind something a little odd or slightly creepy at times.

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The Twits

This one got the biggest laughs in our house, even though I can completely understand why some parents hesitate. The humor is deliberately gross and exaggerated, which is exactly why many kids find it hilarious.

We treated it as a quick, light read between longer books. The short chapters and ridiculous pranks make it very easy to pick up, and it worked especially well once my son was confident enough to read independently but still wanted something entertaining rather than challenging.

Related: A Roald Dahl word search is an easy follow-up if your child wants to stay in the theme a bit longer.

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George’s Marvelous Medicine

This one always made us laugh, but it’s also a book I kept a bit of an eye on while we read it together. The chaos of mixing up a “medicine” is exactly the kind of thing that appeals to curious kids, and it sparked a lot of “what do you think would happen if…” conversations in our house.

It worked well once my son was old enough to understand that the humor is exaggerated and not something to copy in real life. Short, fast-paced chapters make it an easy read for kids who like silly stories that move quickly.

Related: These Roald Dahl coloring pages are an easy follow-up if your child wants to stay in the story a little longer.

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Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories

We saved this one for the later tween years, and even then it wasn’t a bedtime choice. Some of the stories are genuinely unsettling, but that was part of the appeal once my son was old enough to enjoy being a little scared in a controlled way.

Because it’s a collection, it’s easy to read one story at a time rather than committing to a full novel. It ended up being something we dipped into occasionally, especially around Halloween or during sleepovers.

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Roald Dahl Complete Collection

If your child ends up loving this author as much as mine did, having the full set just makes life easier. We gradually built up our own collection over time, but having everything in one place would have saved a lot of searching for the next book in the stack.

It’s also useful once kids start jumping between favorites or rereading older titles. Some stories get revisited again and again, especially when confidence grows and they realize how much easier the reading feels the second time through.

Learn all about our favorite author with the Roald Dahl unit study.

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Last Updated on 9 February 2026 by Clare Brown