The classic story of Matilda, something I read as a child and also a story I’ve read to my children, a story they have read themselves. This book will never age and will continue to delight children for many years to come. A real treat

Wow, what a wonderful idea to keep one of the incredible, Roald Dahl's most loved books evolving, and being able to see how Matilda turned out and what she is doing with her life at age thirty is so very special. It captured my heart from the first few lines, and I simply couldn't stop myself reading the whole book in one heartwarming sitting. Ironically, I then wished I had devoured it a little slower in order to savour it, and because of this I know I will return to it again and again!

I must also mention the iconic illustrations by Quentin Blake, they are as timeless now as they were when the original was published back in 1988. I have already purchased three copies to give to my nieces for christmas, and I know my sister will love it as much as the kids will! I certainly enjoyed my reunion with Matilda and love that the inspirational, kind-hearted and strong girl has blossomed into a woman with the exact same substance she had back then. An unmissable book that both children and the young-at-heart will appreciate.

Many thanks to Penguin Random House UK Children’s for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I don't think I can say anything that hasn't been said before.
Bookworm girl who saves herself.
One of the most perfect stories there is!
I just wish that I could be Matilda.
It was wonderful imagining her at 30.

Brilliant, brilliant as always. I hope that hundreds of young girls read this book now that Matilda has turned 30 years old and see how incredible they can be with the power of their brains.

I jumped at the chance to read Roald Dahl's Matilda. I've no idea how I got to my 60s without having read the book or watched the film. I was aware of the characters in the story, I just hadn't read it.

How do you review a book that's been around and popular for 30 years? It's funny, it can be scary at times and is quite brilliant. So easy to imagine the scenes. You know exactly who the baddies are. It's brilliant and it's timeless. As an adult I enjoyed reading it. It's definitely one I want to read with my little granddaughter when she's a bit older.

I like the new covers created for the 30th anniversary edition. What would Matilda be 30 years on? Chief Executive of the British Library? Astrophysicist? World Traveller? She could be any of these things. I like to think that whether she was a chief executive or astrophysicist she could be a world traveller too.

Thanks for letting me read this one.

Matilda is my all time favourite Roald Dahl book and should be compulsory reading for everyone!

I love it!

Highly recommended and 5 big fat shiny stars *****

How wonderful to revisit Matilda having just started to read the original books again with my granddaughter, her mother has just been to see Matilda the Musical and the film was regularly watched on video(!) during both my daughter's childhoods. It so lovely that the stories span the generations and the childhood fans of Matilda remain into adulthood. The illustrations are just as expected and it seems so natural to revisit Matilda again as an adult. A wonderful read for children and adults alike and this will certainly be bought for both my daughters this Christmas, (as will the original film on DVD for my granddaughter as we no longer have a video player) a classic timeless book.

To my eternal shame, I don't think I have ever read this book (or seen the film) and that is mostly due to not being a fan of Roald Dahl politics more than anything else. But reading this whilst trying to put those out of my mind, I can see why this would be such a beloved book to millions of children. Perhaps if I had read it as a child my thoughts would be different? Matilda is an exceptional child and the writing style is extremely easy for a young reader to be able to cope with themselves. I love the new covers, my British Library one is a thing of beauty (and an inspired choice for Matilda's grown-up job).

Excellent children’s book, covering some serious themes but in a way that keeps children feeling safe. All about taking back control over your own life. There’s a reason this is a classic.

Matilda is one of my favorite childrens books, and it’s easy to see why it appeals to readers. This is about a little girl who loved to read and believed that she could do anything, even if people around her weren’t as supportive. It is adventurous and imaginative. As a child I wished I had powers like Matilda! Her adventure was fun to follow, and the illustrations are really good as well.

In our house of children's books and films, there are but a handful of leading ladies who champion reading, education, resilience, persistence and individuality above all else. Among our fistful of feminine favourites are Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Anne (of Green Gables and Avonlea -of course) and the triumphant, Matilda.
In fact, it is unlikely that I could overemphasise her popularity in our home. We have the bedspread and pillowcases, we've visited the show (twice), we have multiple copies and have watched, discussed and reviewed the film over and over again.
As with so many children's stories, Dahl first alienates (as opposed to annihilates, as in James and the Giant Peach, or The BFG) the parents and then sets his protagonist off on their adventure. Unlike many of his tales which I feel have a tendency to begin with a bang and then fade away (the Twits and The Witches), Matilda strides forward from beginning to end, finding solace in her local library and the comfort of a teacher who sees something in her that others are blind to.
And so there, amongst the caricatures of her ballroom dancing parents, her TV watching brother and her gymnastic headteacher, are the quiet and glittering pools of truth and simplicity that may just speak to your child as they join the legions of previous lucky readers and immerse themselves in Dahl's pages.

“So Matilda’s strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone.”

I think every bookworm can relate to Matilda, and I think most probably adored the funny, whimsical and slightly silly stories Roald Dahl graced many childhoods with. Matilda is my most favourite of his stories, not least of all because Matilda embodies what it is to truly love to read. There is nothing quite like living through the pages of books, escaping reality and feeling that yearning to continue with a well-loved book.

Books for Matilda are, in some part, an escape route from her lousy family. I love how scheming she is! Plotting against her cruel, inattentive parents to teach them a lesson the hard way makes for a really fun read with a deeper message at heart. Her relationship with reading and thirst for knowledge inspired me as a child, and now as an adult they give me that nostalgic feeling - I remember curling up by the bookcase as a child and devouring this book in one sitting just wishing I could be like Matilda and, most of all, feeling safe in the knowledge that there were other children like me who found solace in books.

A sprinkling of magic, a dash of trickery and lots of wonderful writing; Matilda is the perfect children's book, not just for children.

I received an e-copy of Matilda for the upcoming release of Matilda at 30, but I'll always love my beaten up copy just that little bit more.

Perfection!
Matilda is just as good as the first time I read it as a child! I read this with my little girl, who also loved it.
Roald Dahl was always a favourite author of mine when I was younger, I now feel nostalgic and want to re-read all of Roald Dahl's books

Matilda is a little girl who is far too good to be true. At age five-and-a-half she is knocking off double digit multiplication problems and blitz-reading Dickens.

Matilda Wormwood is often I'll-treated by her parents and older brother, Michael. She retaliates by playing pranks on them. When she goes to school, it's just as bad as the school principal is twice as bad as her parents. Her class teacher, Miss Honey, is the only person Matilda believes in.

This is a fun read. Royal Dhal is a fantastic author. I loved this book. A heart-warming of a girl living a tough life and finding a way to get through it. A book kids will either love to read by themselves or to be read to. Adults will enjoy this book as well.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Random House UK, Children's and the author Roald Dhal for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This, even 30 years on, is one of the most magical children’s stories of all time. Roald Dahl never shied away from addressing real subjects with children, and never dumbed down his writing to accommodate younger readers. If anything he challenged what it was to be a children’s writer by introducing the magical and exciting to everyday life. He inspired a generation of Ressler’s, and still delights my own children today. His stories are ageless.

This edition was extra special because of Quentin’s memorable pictures. Quentin Blake is synonymous with Roald Dahl, and it was delightful to see Matilda in her 30s (like me!) doing extraordinary things, yet also still inspiring the young.

An absolutely brilliant step back in time and one of my favourite Roald Dahl books. I have always been a bookworm and two of my favourite characters growing up were Marilda and Belle - both also avid readers like me who I felt connected to in some way.

Roald Dahl was able to teach amazing life lessons through his words - Matilda is able to overcome her obstacles - the awful family, the lack of early schooling and having no friends through her wonderful teacher, a lot of determination and a little magic.

A book for every child's bookcase, even thirty ye4ars on!

This book is an absolute delight! I have seen the movie and the stage show but am of a generation who are too old to have been of an age to read the book when it first came out and my children read it on their own so I didn't get to appreciate it that way either. I loved this edition and seeing the Quentin Black illustrations new and old was fabulous. Personally I am voting that Matilda is now Chief Executive of the British Library!

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children's UK Puffin for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read and collected Roald Dahl books as a child, now as a parent I’m able to treat my children to his incredible storytelling. 30 years later and Matilda is still just as good, in fact I think I appreciate it more.

A true classic! Matilda is just the most fantastic novel for young and old. This story never gets boring.

Matilda is such a beloved story, I remember it from my childhood and its crazy to think it is 30 years old!
Matilda is a little girl that loves to learn, she is the youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs Wormwood. She has an older brother too. Her family don’t like learning, they sit and watch the tv all the time, her dad is crooked and mum just likes to play bingo everyday. When Matilda asks for a book, her dad goes mad saying she has everything she could possibly want they have a tv why do you want books?
So Matilda goes to the library and starts reading all the books she can get her hands on. Soon she wants to go to school, so her dad sends her to a horrible school where the headmistress is an awful person who doesn’t like children at all. But luckily her teacher is lovely and she soon sees that Matilda is a remarkable girl.
Meanwhile Matilda finds out she has powers, she can move things with her mind! This comes in handy later in the book when the headteacher becomes more of a brute than usual and is mean to the lovely teacher that is also her niece.
It’s safe to say this story has a happy ending.
This story is a true children’s classic, loved by young and old alike.