The snozzecumber is one of my favorite descriptions in the story especially thinking of how kids can often be with vegetables. "'It's filthing!' he splutered, speaking with his mouth full and spraying large pieces of snozzcumber like bullets in Sophie's direction...'It's sickable! It's rotsome! It's maggotwise!...to me it is tasting of clockcoaches and slimewanglers!'" The words and sentence structure make the story fun and entertaining for the reader, however I do think that it could be difficult for a younger reader to get through the text. But it would work wonderfully as a read-aloud!
Throughout Sophie's adventure I came across hilarious sayings and scenarios that I simply loved. In the beginning, the BFG was explaining to Sophie what people from certain countries tasted like. In Denmark, the people taste very much like dogs, as do the people of Labrador. Obviously Danish people would taste like Great Danes and the people of Labrador would taste like Labradors. Of course! "'Wrong! cried the Giant, slapping his thigh. 'Danes from Denmark is tasting doggy because they is tasting of labradors.'" And the people of Labrador taste like Danes. Of course! What were Sophie and I thinking?!
I also found it rather funny how the BFG would ask Sophie "right or left?" at the end of a question just like we would say, "We're having snozzcumbers for dinner, right?" It's such a small detail but I know that kids and adults will get a kick out of it just like I did. The book is full of similar details which are so small but work together to create quite a fun story.
I would love to create an entire interdisciplinary unit around this book...from English to math, science, art, and beyond, there are so many fun and unique ideas that you could use in the classroom. There are a plethora of interesting creative writing ideas: what might happen in 'the witching hour', create some aditional similes to describe the BFG, think of words to describe snozzcumbers, etc. I think math and science would be fun by using the BFG to discuss measurements and proportions, sound waves, where dreams come from, etc. This book is full of endless possibilities which I think is a great resource for teachers! Dream the Impossible: Creative Literacy Activities
I like how your mind went into questioning what a word meant, when the BFG was talking. I think that could be an interesting question for students. I thought that was funny that the BFG and the other giants described people from different places tasting differently. If you want a fun activity for may be a younger group, ask them what they think they would taste like and why. Maybe they would say pizza because it is their favorite food. I think you could get some really funny answers. I love the idea of adding math or science while reading this book, I think it would bring this book to life for some students.
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