Danny Pencampwr y Byd

By Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake

A Welsh adaptation of the well-loved Roald Dahl classic story of Danny and his father who outwit their greedy, rich neighbour, Mr Victor Hazell. Danny thinks his dad is the most marvellous and exciting father a boy could wish for. Life is happy and peaceful in their gipsy caravan, until one day Danny discovers his dad has been breaking the law.

• Language: Cymraeg
• Publisher: Rily
• Release date: Oct 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781849675000

Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl (1916-1990) es un autor justamente famoso por su extraordinario ingenio, su destreza narrativa, su dominio del humor negro y su inagotable capacidad de sorpresa, que llevó a Hitchcock a adaptar para la televisión muchos de sus relatos. En Anagrama se han publicado la novela "Mi tío Oswald" y los libros de cuentos "El gran cambiazo" (Gran Premio del Humor Negro), "Historias extraordinarias", "Relatos de lo inesperado" y "Dos fábulas". En otra faceta, Roald Dahl goza de una extraordinaria popularidad como autor de libros para niños.

Book preview

1

Y Garej Betrol

Pan oeddwn i’n bedwar mis oed, bu farw fy mam yn sydyn a bu’n rhaid i fy nhad ofalu amdanaf ar ei ben ei hun. Dyma sut roeddwn i’n edrych ar y pryd.

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Doedd gen i ddim brodyr na chwiorydd.

Felly drwy fy machgendod, o’r adeg pan oeddwn i’n bedwar mis oed ymlaen, dim ond ni’n dau oedd, fy nhad a minnau.

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Roedden ni’n byw mewn hen garafán sipsi y tu ôl i garej betrol. Fy nhad oedd yn berchen ar y garej betrol a’r garafán a chae bychan yn y cefn, ond dyna’r cyfan roedd yn berchen arno yn y byd. Garej betrol fach iawn oedd hi ar heol fach yn y wlad gyda chaeau a bryniau coediog o’i chwmpas i gyd.

Pan oeddwn i’n dal yn faban, byddai fy nhad yn fy ngolchi a rhoi bwyd i mi ac yn newid fy nghewynnau ac yn gwneud yr holl filiynau o bethau mae mam yn eu gwneud dros ei phlentyn fel arfer. Dydy hon ddim yn dasg hawdd i ddyn, yn enwedig pan fydd e’n gorfod ennill ei fara menyn ar yr un pryd drwy drwsio injans ceir a rhoi petrol i gwsmeriaid.

Ond doedd hynny ddim fel petai’n poeni fy nhad. Dwi’n credu ei fod e’n arllwys yr holl gariad roedd e wedi’i deimlo tuag at fy mam pan oedd hi’n fyw tuag ataf i nawr. Yn ystod fy mlynyddoedd cynnar, theimlais i erioed yn anhapus neu’n sâl am eiliad a dyma fi ar fy mhen-blwydd yn bump oed.

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Erbyn hyn roeddwn i’n fachgen bach anniben fel y gweli di, yn saim ac yn olew o’m corun i’m sawdl, ond roedd hynny oherwydd fy mod i yn y gweithdy drwy’r dydd gwyn, yn helpu fy nhad gyda’r ceir.

Dau bwmp yn unig oedd gan y garej betrol ei hun. Roedd sied bren y tu ôl i’r pympiau lle roedd y swyddfa. Doedd dim byd yn y swyddfa heblaw am hen fwrdd a thil i roi’r arian ynddo. Un o’r rheini oedd e lle roeddet ti’n gwasgu botwm ac roedd cloch yn canu ac roedd y drôr yn tasgu allan yn swnllyd. Roeddwn i wrth fy modd â hynny.

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Yr adeilad brics sgwâr ar ochr dde’r swyddfa oedd y gweithdy. Fy nhad adeiladodd hwnnw ei hun gyda gofal cariadus, a dyna’r unig fan gwirioneddol solet yn y lle. ‘Peirianwyr ydyn ni, ti a fi,’ roedd e’n arfer dweud wrtha i. ‘Rydyn ni’n ennill ein bara menyn drwy gywiro peiriannau ac allwn ni ddim gwneud gwaith da mewn gweithdy gwael.’ Roedd e’n weithdy braf, yn ddigon mawr i gymryd un car yn gyfforddus a gadael digon o le o gwmpas yr ochrau i ni weithio. Roedd ffôn yno er mwyn i gwsmeriaid drefnu i ddod â’u ceir i mewn i’w trwsio.

Y garafán oedd ein tŷ a’n cartref ni. Hen garafán sipsi go iawn oedd hi gydag olwynion mawr a phatrymau melyn a choch a glas hyfryd drosti i gyd. Roedd fy nhad yn dweud ei bod hi o leiaf gant a hanner blwydd oed. Roedd llawer o blant y sipsiwn, roedd e’n dweud, wedi cael eu geni ynddi ac wedi tyfu rhwng ei waliau pren. Gyda cheffyl yn ei thynnu, mae’n rhaid bod y garafán wedi crwydro miloedd o filltiroedd ar hyd heolydd a lonydd Lloegr. Ond nawr roedd y crwydro ar ben, ac oherwydd bod yr adenydd pren yn yr olwynion yn dechrau pydru, roedd fy nhad wedi rhoi brics i’w chynnal hi.

Un ystafell yn unig oedd yn y garafán a doedd hi ddim yn llawer mwy nag ystafell ymolchi fodern weddol o faint. Ystafell gul oedd hi, yr un siâp â’r garafán ei hun, ac yn erbyn y wal gefn roedd dau wely bync, y naill ar ben y llall. Fy nhad oedd â’r gwely uchaf, a fi oedd â’r gwely gwaelod.

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Er bod goleuadau trydan gyda ni yn y gweithdy, doedd gennyn ni ddim hawl i’w cael nhw yn y garafán. Roedd pobl y trydan yn dweud nad oedd hi’n ddiogel rhoi gwifrau mewn rhywbeth mor hen a simsan. Felly roedden ni’n cael ein gwres a’n golau fel roedd y sipsiwn wedi gwneud flynyddoedd yn ôl. Roedd stôf oedd yn llosgi coed gyda simdde oedd yn mynd i fyny drwy’r to, a dyma oedd yn ein cadw ni’n gynnes yn y gaeaf. Roedd llosgwr paraffin i ferwi tegell neu goginio cawl arno, ac roedd lamp baraffin yn hongian o’r nenfwd.

Pan fyddai angen bath arnaf, byddai fy nhad yn twymo llond tegell o ddŵr ac yn ei arllwys i fasn. Yna byddai e’n tynnu fy nillad i gyd ac yn fy sgrwbio drosof i gyd, a minnau’n sefyll. Rwy’n credu bod hyn wedi fy ngolchi mor lân ag y byddai bath wedi gwneud – yn lanach, siŵr o fod, gan nad oeddwn i’n eistedd yn fy nŵr brwnt fy hun.

O ran dodrefn, roedd dwy gadair a bwrdd bach gyda ni, a’r rheini, ar wahân i gist o ddroriau fach iawn, oedd yr unig bethau i’n gwneud ni’n gysurus. Dyna’r unig bethau oedd eu heisiau arnom.

Cwt bach pren doniol oedd y tŷ bach, a hwnnw yn y cae ychydig y tu ôl i’r garafán. Roedd e’n iawn yn yr haf, ond gallaf i ddweud wrthot ti bod eistedd allan fan ’na ar ddiwrnod o eira yn y gaeaf fel eistedd mewn oergell.

Yn union y tu ôl i’r garafán roedd hen goeden afalau. Roedd afalau hyfryd yn dod arni oedd yn aeddfedu yng nghanol mis Medi a byddet ti’n gallu eu casglu nhw am y pedair neu bum wythnos nesaf. Roedd rhai o ganghennau’r goeden yn hongian yn union dros y garafán a phan fyddai’r gwynt yn chwythu’r afalau i lawr yn y nos, bydden nhw’n aml yn glanio ar ein to ni. Byddwn i’n eu clywed nhw’n mynd bwmp . . . bwmp . . . bwmp . . . uwch fy mhen wrth orwedd yn fy ngwely bach, ond fyddai’r synau hynny byth yn codi ofn arnaf oherwydd roeddwn i’n gwybod yn union beth oedd yn eu gwneud nhw.

Roeddwn i wrth fy modd yn byw yn y garafán sipsi honno. Roeddwn i wrth fy modd gyda’r nos yn enwedig, pan oeddwn i’n cwtsio yn fy ngwely a ’nhad yn adrodd storïau wrtha i. Roedd y lamp baraffin wedi’i throi’n isel, a gallwn i weld talpiau o goed yn tywynnu’n goch eirias yn yr hen stôf ac roedd hi’n wych cael gorwedd yno’n gynnes braf yn fy ngwely yn yr ystafell fach honno. Y peth gorau oll oedd gwybod, ar ôl i mi fynd i gysgu, y byddai fy nhad yn dal yno, yn agos iawn ataf, yn eistedd yn ei gadair wrth y tân, neu’n gorwedd yn y gwely uwchben fy ngwely i.

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2

Y Cawr Mawr Mwyn

Fy nhad, heb os nac oni bai, oedd y tad mwyaf rhyfeddol a chyffrous a gafodd unrhyw fachgen erioed. Dyma ddarlun ohono.

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Pe na bait ti’n ei adnabod e’n dda, fe allet feddwl ei fod e’n ddyn chwyrn a difrifol. Doedd e ddim. Mewn gwirionedd, roedd e’n ddyn hynod o ddoniol. Yr hyn oedd yn gwneud iddo ymddangos mor ddifrifol oedd y ffaith na fyddai e byth yn gwenu â’i geg. Roedd e’n gwneud y cyfan â’i lygaid. Roedd ganddo lygaid glas disglair a phan fyddai e’n meddwl am rywbeth doniol, byddai ei lygaid yn fflachio ac os oeddet ti’n edrych yn ofalus, gallet ti weld gwreichionen euraidd bitw fach yn dawnsio yng nghanol pob llygad. Ond fyddai’r geg byth yn symud.

Ro’n i’n falch mai gwenu â’i lygaid roedd fy nhad. Roedd hynny’n golygu na roddodd e wên ffug i mi erioed, achos mae hi’n amhosib gwneud i dy lygaid befrio, os nad wyt ti’n teimlo’n befriog dy hunan. Mae gwên â’r geg yn wahanol. Rwyt ti’n gallu ffugio gwên â’r geg unrhyw bryd rwyt ti eisiau, drwy wneud dim mwy na symud dy wefusau. Dwi hefyd wedi dysgu bod gwên â’r llygaid yn mynd gyda phob gwên go-iawn â’r geg, felly bydd yn ofalus pan fydd rhywun yn gwenu arnat ti â’i geg ond bod y llygaid yn aros yr un fath. Gwên ffug yw hi, yn siŵr i ti.

Doedd fy nhad ddim yn rhywun y byddet ti’n ei alw’n ddyn dysgedig a dwi’n amau a oedd e wedi darllen ugain llyfr yn ystod ei oes. Ond roedd e’n wych am adrodd storïau. Roedd e’n arfer meddwl am stori cyn cysgu i mi bob nos, ac roedd y rhai gorau’n cael eu troi’n gyfresi ac yn mynd ymlaen am sawl noson.

Roedd un ohonyn nhw, a oedd wedi para am hanner can noson o leiaf, siŵr o fod, am ddyn anferthol o’r enw’r Cawr Mawr Mwyn, neu’r CMM (yr èc, èm, èm). Roedd yr CMM dair gwaith mor dal â dyn cyffredin ac roedd ei ddwylo fel dwy ferfa. Roedd e’n byw mewn ogof enfawr danddaearol heb fod ymhell o’n garej betrol ni, a dim ond pan fyddai hi’n dywyll y byddai e’n dod allan. Yn yr ogof roedd ganddo ffatri bowdr lle roedd e’n gwneud dros gan math gwahanol o bowdr hud.

Weithiau, wrth adrodd ei storïau, byddai fy nhad yn cerdded i fyny ac i lawr gan ysgwyd ei freichiau a symud ei fysedd. Ond fel arfer, byddai e’n eistedd yn agos ar ymyl fy ngwely bync ac yn siarad yn dawel iawn.

‘Mae’r Cawr Mawr Mwyn yn gwneud ei bowdr hud o’r breuddwydion y mae plant yn eu breuddwydio pan fyddan nhw’n cysgu’ meddai.

‘Sut?’ gofynnais. ‘Dwed wrtha i sut, Dad.’

‘Pethau rhyfedd dros ben yw breuddwydion, cariad bach. Maen nhw’n hofran yn awyr y nos fel cymylau bach, yn chwilio am bobl sy’n cysgu.’

‘Wyt ti’n gallu’u gweld nhw?’ gofynnais.

‘Does neb yn gallu’u gweld nhw.’

‘Felly sut mae’r Cawr Mawr Mwyn yn eu dal nhw?’

‘A,’ meddai fy nhad. ‘Dyna sy’n ddiddorol. Mae breuddwyd, ti’n gweld, wrth iddi hofran drwy awyr y nos, yn gwneud sŵn bach, bach sïo-hymian, sŵn sydd mor dawel ac isel fel ei bod hi’n amhosib i bobl gyffredin ei glywed e. Ond mae’r CMM yn gallu’i glywed e’n hawdd. Mae ei glyw e’n hollol wych.’

Roeddwn i’n dwlu ar yr olwg bell ac astud oedd ar wyneb fy nhad pan fyddai’n adrodd stori. Roedd ei wyneb yn welw ac yn llonydd ac yn bell, a doedd e ddim yn ymwybodol o unrhyw beth oedd o’i gwmpas.

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‘Mae’r CMM,’ meddai, ‘yn gallu clywed sŵn traed buwch goch gota wrth iddi gerdded dros ddeilen. Mae e’n gallu clywed morgrug yn sibrwd wrth iddyn nhw sgrialu o gwmpas yn y pridd gan siarad â’i gilydd. Mae e’n gallu clywed bloedd sydyn coeden yn atseinio’n fain pan fydd coediwr yn torri i mewn iddi â bwyell. O oes, ’machgen annwyl i, mae byd cyfan o sŵn o’n cwmpas ni na allwn ni ei glywed oherwydd nad yw ein clustiau ni’n ddigon sensitif.’

‘Beth sy’n digwydd pan fydd e’n dal y breuddwydion?’ gofynnais.

‘Mae e’n eu carcharu nhw mewn poteli gwydr ac yn cau’r cloriau’n dynn, dynn,’ meddai fy nhad. ‘Mae ganddo filoedd o’r poteli hyn yn ei ogof.’

‘Ydy e’n dal breuddwydion cas yn ogystal â’r rhai da?’

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‘Ydy,’ meddai fy nhad. ‘Mae e’n dal y ddau fath. Ond dim ond y rhai da mae e’n eu defnyddio yn ei bowdr.’

‘Beth mae e’n ei wneud â’r rhai cas?’

‘Mae e’n eu ffrwydro nhw.’

Mae’n amhosib dweud wrthot ti faint roeddwn i’n caru fy nhad. Pan oedd e’n eistedd yn agos ataf ar fy ngwely bync byddwn i’n estyn fy llaw ac yn ei llithro i mewn i’w law yntau, ac yna byddai’n plygu ei fysedd hir am fy nwrn, gan gydio ynddo’n dynn.

‘Beth mae’r CMM yn ei wneud â’i bowdrau ar ôl iddo eu gwneud nhw?’ gofynnais.

‘Yn ystod oriau mân y bore,’ meddai fy nhad, ‘mae e’n sleifio drwy’r pentrefi gan chwilio am dai lle mae plant yn cysgu. Gan ei fod e mor dal, mae e’n gallu cyrraedd ffenestri sydd un llawr a hyd yn oed dau lawr i fyny, a phan fydd e’n dod o hyd i ystafell lle mae plentyn yn cysgu, mae e’n agor ei gês dillad . . .’

‘Ei gês dillad?’ meddwn i.

‘Mae’r CMM yn cario cês dillad ac utgorn bob amser,’ meddai fy nhad. ‘Mae’r utgorn bron mor hir â pholyn lamp. Mae’r cês dillad ar gyfer y powdr. Felly mae e’n agor y cês dillad ac yn dewis yr union bowdr cywir . . . ac mae e’n ei roi yn yr utgorn . . . ac mae e’n llithro’r utgorn i mewn drwy’r ffenest agored . . . ac wff . . . mae e’n chwythu’r powdr i mewn . . . ac mae’r powdr yn hofran o gwmpas yr ystafell . . . ac mae’r plentyn yn ei anadlu i mewn . . .’

‘Ac wedyn beth?’ gofynnais.

‘Ac wedyn, Danny, mae’r plentyn yn dechrau breuddwydio breuddwyd ryfeddol a gwych . . . a phan fydd y freuddwyd yn cyrraedd ei heiliad fwyaf rhyfeddol a gwych . . . wedyn, mae’r powdr hud yn cymryd drosodd mewn gwirionedd . . . ac yn sydyn, nid breuddwyd yw’r freuddwyd mwyach ond digwyddiad go-iawn . . . a dydy’r plentyn ddim yn cysgu yn y gwely .

Reviews for Danny Pencampwr y Byd

[mstrust · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Eight year-old Danny and his widower father have lived in a caravan behind their auto repair and filling station for Danny's whole life. His father is kind and attentive, always happy to teach Danny a new skill, and Danny loves being with his dad. But their village has a wealthy man who demeans Danny and his father, so Dad needs revenge. He and Danny make a plan to ruin the annual pheasant shoot, taking the rich man's birds for themselves and humiliating him in the process.I expected a whimsical Dahl story, but this isn't like other Dahls. There's a villain who needs to be taught a lesson, but otherwise, this is the most realistic story I've read from Dahl. Danny and his father have a good relationship, though Dad doesn't have the best judgement, such as holding five year-old Danny out of school until he's seven. But the main plot point of this book, which is longer than the average Dahl, is that of poaching pheasants. Danny's dad adores poaching and once the topic is introduced, he explains how it's done and how he does it, and then Danny gets involved, SPOILER* by suggesting that they drug the flock of pheasants. His dad thinks it's a great idea. I'll have to put this plot down to a different time and place, because the idea of getting even with a human by wiping out a flock of a hundred birds is bizarre. I would have given this a lower rating if not for the good relationship of Danny and his dad. Didn't hate it, but certainly not my favorite.

[robinsonstef · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I just reread this book because I remember checking it out over and over as an elementary school student (I went through a big Dahl phase. I enjoyed the writing and the relationship between Danny and his dad- though I didn't love the topic (poaching pheasants). Glad to have reread it and I am thinking back in the day I must have loved the way Danny and his dad are with each other. :)

[bookwyrmm_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Rather dated, but fun story of a boy and his dad - if you can get past the word "poaching".

[arkrayder · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think this is my favourite Roald Dahl book. My daughter and I looked forward to bedtime every night so we could read this. I identified with the father and Danny. Recollections of my own Da surfaced and now I have memories of my daughter and myself.

[peggyk49 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Even though this is primarily a book for young readers, it can be enjoyed by all ages, even those in the 60+ age bracket. I thought it was a wonderful story and loved the characters.

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful and sweet story of the love between father and son and their triumph over an overbearing bully.
Recommended for both children and adults.

[pattyhoward · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Danny the Champion of the World is much more sweet and sentimental than most of Roald Dahls' books, and has a unique feel to it. It has a special place in our household, because it is the sweet story of a boy and his father. This book is great for all kids, but probably best for kids between 3rd and 7th grades.

[benuathanasia · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I hate this book. To be fair, I don't care for Dahl (he's got great ideas, but they're always poorly executed). This particular book, though, I couldn't get behind it at all. It's all about illegal poaching. I loathe hunters and I hate illegal activities. Plus, the whole book is very petty. Nope. No thank you.

[lukerik-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

“I knew a baby once who caught his fingers in the spokes of a pram wheel,” my father said. “It cut them clean off.”The doctor smiled.Classic Dahl. What's really clever is how the novel is fully a third in before any characters other than Danny and his father appear on stage. You have recalled incidents but they exist in a sort of dream-like world made real.

[laviniarossetti · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Danny lives with his father in a small, rickety caravan. I think it is rather clever, for the caravan is based on the caravan which was in Roald Dahl's garden. His mother died at childbirth. His father, a wonderful, sparky young chap, seemed completely normal. But not until later on did Danny realise that he was breaking the law.

Not disobeying the 'law-law', but disobeying animal cruelty orders. Quite a long time ago, poaching pheasants - or poaching anything, to be frank - was highly illegal. But William couldn't resist the temptation of the roasted pheasant. He crept out into the woods, which was an hour and a half away, when he was sure Danny would not wake.

But it's one of those days when he did. He wasn't sure where his father was. He wasn't in the workshop by the filling-station fixing up the Baby Austin, a car they had been working on. He wasn't in his top bunk, either. Danny called all round, up the streets, through the farm, and shouted to passing neighbours. But they did not know where he was or didn't hear him. It was looking like it was all dead to Danny.

Then he saw his father, walking back from Hazell's Wood, an hour and a half away. He saw him coming through the gap in the hedge in the tiny distance, and saw him making his way up the road. He dashed towards him - he couldn't wait for such a long time - and questioned him and asked him and persuaded him to tell him what he had done up in the wood so far away.

"Poaching pheasants," he replied flatly; "Don't tell anyone, Danny. It's a real major thing, that. Illegal - but I don't think I can resist that wonderful taste of... roasted pheasant. Delicious."

Danny soon forgives him, and therefore decides to poach with him. They come up with a marvellous sleeping plan to kill them all - every one of the 200 pheasants, so that the Shooting Party won't be able to shoot the pheasants. Then miserable old bucket Mr. Victor Hazell won't be shaking his finger anymore!

But will a disaster strike..?

Great read, interesting and funny, hilarious and so stickstriking I could not put it down!

[rata_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent story about a young boy and the love - friendship between him and his dad. Danny is 10 years old and lives with his dad in a gypsy caravan beside their filling station. They are poor, but rich in love for each other, Danny’s dad is the best dad ever. One day Danny wakes up in the middle of the night and discovers that his dad has disappeared. Danny questions him, when he returns, and is surprised that his dad goes out and poaches pheasants in Mr Hazell’s estate. Mr Hazell is a mean and nasty man who has a false sense of his own importance. Danny wants to learn the art of poaching as his dad and his dad before him. He and his dad hatch a plan to poach as many pheasants as they can to foil the annual Hazell’s Pheasants shoot. Danny becomes the champion of the world as his master plan works.

[terris-7 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cute book. Fulfilled a Roald Dahl reading challenge for me.

[areadingmachine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Want to teach your kid about poaching, the finer points of law and long cons? Want to be an awesome dad? Well read this book and follow its teachings. There is such an amazing relationship between father and son here and as the two share the most amazing adventure they grow closer and closer. It will teach you to always smile with your eyes not just your mouth.

[philsyphe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I can’t remember much about “Danny, the Champion of the World”, as I read it when at primary school, but I do recall how popular Roald Dahl was with most if not all of the class, and this book was amongst the most popular. For that reason I’m rating this four stars and hope I’m not being unjustified.I either read this or had it read to me (the equivalent to an audio book) or both somewhere from 1983-85, thus I’ve put 1984 as reading dates as an average. I will have read/heard a few of Mr Dahl’s books during this period, of which some titles I can’t remember at all.If I had to or wanted to re-read any children’s books for some reason or other then I’d definitely opt for works by this author. All these years on and he’s left a very faint yet happy memories in the back of my mind.

[kraysaulis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A conversation with one of my elementary school teachers brought this book to mind and I am so glad. I forgot how beautiful it is. How much love their is between this father and son. How funny and frivolous. This is a completely underrated piece of Dahl's work.

[nosajeel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another wonderful Roald Dahl book, we listened to about half of this on Audible and I read about half of it aloud. I had never read it before and it was a wonderful story about a boy and his father--up against a villainous neighbor and aided by a variety of characters from the local village. My six-year old son pointed out that it is the mirror image of Matilda--it's about a boy not a girl, the headmaster is good not bad, the teacher is bad not good and the father is good not bad. It is not as inventive as some other Roald Dahl (BFG, Charlie), the plot is not as interesting as some others (Matilda), and some of it seems extraneous (the scenes at school), but overall it is still amusing, sweet and ultimately morally righteous.

[aliceap-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As I said in my review of D is for Dahl there are no official biographies of the illustrious author himself but a few of his children's stories are odes to his past and this is one of them. The story centers on Danny and his father, William, who it must be said is one of the greatest fathers known to man. It is a thank you note to all of the fathers who take the time to really get to know their kids and who share parts of themselves in return. A lighthearted tale of a boy who came into his own and at the same time learned to love his father even more (which was quite the feat since he loved him quite a lot). As you'd expect with Dahl it's full to bursting with whimsy and imagination and I dare you to read it and not feel buoyed up with joy.

[breton07 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have a great fondness for Roald Dahl's books. This book in particular is unusual. It tells the story of a boy and his father. This bond is very strong between Danny and his father. Here you will find a single parent story that is delightful, funny and poignant! The part about the pheasants is really worth the read.-Breton Kaiser-Shinn

[potterhead9.75 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful.

[jonnam-490798 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I was a wee girl of 7, my mother insisted I read aloud to her to both strengthen my reading and comprehension skills. We chose Matilda by Roald Dahl and from the very first pages, my love affair with books began. I decided to try the same thing with my son Beck, age 8, with Dahl's classic, "Danny the Champion of the World". Hearing and reading this book with my son awakened a love of books and oral recitation in both of us! Roald Dahl always creates characters that are relatable to both young and old, with story lines that are quirky and whimsical yet always deliver a deeper message of love, understanding and equality.

[martensgirl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I don't think that this book shows Dahl at his best. Most of Dahl's books are timeless; this book is obviously from a bygone age. Yes, the baddie gets his comeuppance, the poor kid does well etc. but I did find it a little bit dull. It didn't have much of the usual Dahl magic.

[amberthehuman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I hadn't read this one as a child. I had no idea what it was about ... so I was as surprised as Danny was when it turned out that his father loves to poach pheasants. But it's very sweet and there's a bad guy and it's a fun read.

[mporterf_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Currently reading this with my 9-year old son. Loving every chapter of it so far...

[aimless22 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An interesting story about a widower raising his young son in England. THe father owns a small parcel of land with a gas station, a workshop, some apple trees and their gypsy caravan home. Danny learns much from his father from how engines work to how to poach pheasants from the neighbor's woods. I found it interesting that Danny becomes "champion of the world" when he comes up with a new idea about how to poach the pheasants from the hated neighbor .

[marcolinop_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ok book Little bit confusing bit to longbut i guess it was good to read

[katwinther · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I read this book because I remember Roald Dahl as being one of my favourite authors when I was a child, but sadly this book really dissapointed me. The age group he was aiming for is probably not me, but still I think the execution of the plot was to simple and not many other elements were added.

[cameronmatarau · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

why i piced it up?..... i was reading the roald dahl searies and i saw this one caught the coner of my eye. the title took to my atetion and i wanted to know why he was the champion of the world.why i finnished this book?.....it was interesting and didn't tell you why he was the champion of the world until the end and even after you've found out why the story keeps going and it gets even more exiting.who would reccomend this book to?..... i would reccomend this book to boys mainly but some girls may enjoy it. i think the ages between 10-17 would enjoy it most but some 9 yr olds could enjoy this book.

[sroslund_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Danny and his father live in a small gypsy caravan just big enough for two, next to their small filling station where they both work on engines and fill up gas tanks. They live in a small town and Danny goes to a small school. But Danny’s father has a big, huge secret. One night, when Danny wakes up to find that his father is not asleep in the bunk above him, he goes out in search of his father and winds up knowing a lot more about the man than he could ever imagine. There is no other children’s author quite like Roald Dahl - his mastery of melding the worlds of children, adults, and magical fantasy looks so easy, readers are often left thinking: “How does he do that?” As an award-winning author of young and adult fiction, a fighter pilot and spy, and a world-renown philanthropist, nothing seems to stand in Dahl’s way. His characters are brilliant in their wholly-developed, yet simplistically-pure natures and readers can’t help falling in love with each and every one of them (even the baddies). “Danny: Champion of the World” may be one of Dahl’s lesser known children’s books – perhaps few parents and teachers were very thrilled about pushing a book in which the lead character was a pheasant poacher – but it still takes its place amongst Dahl’s pantheon of works as a delightful yarn that teams up adoring father and son in pursuit of the perfect, most-succulent meal. Recommended for ages 8-11.

[flanerie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed it. It was fun.

[2pigs_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing book. My favourite book.