5 Roald Dahl Books Every Kid Should Read — And 4 They Definitely Shouldn’t

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is genius for taking childhood fantasies– to be singled out and special, and to be surrounded by sweets– and making them real. What kid didn't dream of finding their very own golden ticket? As long as you don't google Dahl's early draft versions of the Oompa Loompas (hint: they were super racist), this is a pretty safe and magical read for you and your kid. Sure, as with any Dahl book there are some scary parts (maybe read a little quicker at the part where a kid drowns in the chocolate river), but the magic of all that Wonka has to offer is worth it. This is a must-read.

This collection of six poems reinterprets classic fairy tales, twisting them back to their Grimms-brother roots. Happily Ever Afters quickly become Horribly Ever Afters in each of the six poems. The graphic details alone make them a hard pass for young children, Jack in the Beanstock's mother physically beats him for half an hour, Snow White's stepmother hopes to skin her and slit her ribs apart, and Little Red Riding Hood goes on a shooting spree. Need another reason to avoid this book? The prince in Cinderella calls Cindy a dirty slut when he sees her in rags. C’mon, Dahl.

The Minpins live in trees, which is cool, but they also live in a place called The Forst of Sin that is not. The main character, Billy, is warned to never ever go into the Forest of Sin but is eventually tempted to enter by the devil. Like, the actual devil, not a metaphor for the devil. This was Dahl’s last children’s book, published shortly after his death, and it kind of feels like his imagination well ran dry and he just reached for the Old Testament to dole out punishments. Definitely, one you’ll want to skip unless fire and brimstones is your thing.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is Dahl at his best (and an excellent chapter book for early readers). There’s an adventure (Boggis, Bunce, and digging deeper and deeper into Mr. Fox’s home), classic Dahl food-porn (a tremendous feast with all of Mr. Fox's animal friends), plenty of gross-factor that kids love (Bunce eats six donuts filled with goose-liver paste daily). Sure, Mr. Fox’s family structure is a little behind the times (Mr. Fox is the bread-winner, Mrs. Fox stays home with the cubs), but let’s just tell our kids that was her choice, 'k?

I’m going to assume that based on the title alone you’d never read this to your kid. But I wouldn’t recommend picking it up for yourself, either. Switch Bitch is a collection of four adult short stories about “seduction and suspense,” which, if that’s your jam, no judgment here. But parts of these stories have been criticized as “almost unbearable to read.” Dahl’s wit seems to have given way to crudity, shock for shock's sake. Bottom line? Switch Bitch is pretty offensive and just not very good writing.

There are so many heart-bursting moments of the BFG, like how the Big Friendly Giant uses his trumpet to blow good dreams into the windows of children, and the ending when Sophie and the BFG head to England together to give the Queen her dream. But I think this stays on the best-of childrens’ lists for another reason; Dahl speaks to something that’s often overlooked, which is the utter loneliness of childhood. Dahl turns a big feeling all kids (and big, giant grownups too) have into a message they can hold close to their hearts: even though you’re lonely, it doesn’t mean that you’re alone.

The Twits are an ugly married couple who absolutely despise each other and play horrible pranks to try to get the upper hand. The biggest problem I have with this book isn’t the nastiness of the Twits, or even their animal abuse (they force pet monkeys to stand on their heads all day, and trap live birds with glue to bake into pies). My biggest issue with The Twits is the underlying message that unattractive people are ugly on the outside because they’re ugly on the inside, and good people are beautiful because they’re beautiful on the inside. This is a dangerous thought to seed into young minds and a Dahl book that should be left out of your collection.

Ah, to be whisked away from your worries by a giant magical peach and a lovely bunch of insect BFFs. James and the Giant Peach is a book about the power of hope, and a thrilling adventure every child deserves to have imprinted on their brains. Be aware: there’s a racist line in Chapter 28 to watch out for– the grasshopper says, “I’d rather be fried alive and eaten by a Mexican!”– so make sure to talk to your kid about that when you get to it. The rest of the writing, though, is brilliant, and some of the very best of Dahl.