Book picks similar to
Roald Dahl and His Chocolate Factory by Andrew Donkin
non-fiction
biography
childhood-reads
history
Spartacus And His Glorious Gladiators
Toby Brown - 2004
He is dead famous for: being quite a good gladiator; giving the Romans the run-around; and, looking an awful lot like Kirk Douglas. But have you heard that Spartacus: fought for the Romans as well as against them. This title presents the inside story in Spartacus' secret diary.
Henry the VIII and His Chopping Block
Alan MacDonald - 1999
"Off with his head!" This clever biography showcases Henry's early life as a young prince, his turbulent years as king, and the stories of his unfortunate victims.
Joan Of Arc And Her Marching Orders
Phil Robins - 2002
But have you heard that Joan was always having to prove she was'nt a witch, loved writing cheeky letters to very important people, and made the King of France look like a complete coward? Yes, even though she's dead, Joan's still full of surprises. Now you can get the inside story with Joan's secret diary, read the news that set France ablaze in The Gallic Globe, and find out exactly how a teenage girl gave an entire army its marching orders.
Cleopatra and Her Asp
Margaret Simpson - 2000
She's dead famous for: having a fling with Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony; getting carried away with her eyeliner, and having a nasty accident with an asp. But did you know that Cleo married, both her brothers, was dead brainy and spoke nine languages, and had her little sister killed?
Elvis and His Pelvis
Michael Cox - 2001
He is horribly famous for being the King of Rock 'n' Roll, having trouble fitting into his spangly white jumpsuits and causing a riot with a wiggle of his pelvis. But not everyone knows that Elvis escaped from tornadoes by hiding in a cave, flew halfway across America for 22 giant sandwiches and had a tooth stuck in his lung...Everything you ever wanted to know about the man with the pelvis.
Inventors and Their Bright Ideas
Mike Goldsmith - 2002
Now you can get the inside story from their long lost notebooks, read the ground-breaking news as their inventions hit the headlines, and find out about their bright ideas.
Boy: Tales of Childhood
Roald Dahl - 1984
From his years as a prankster at boarding school to his envious position as a chocolate tester for Cadbury's, Roald Dahl's boyhood was as full of excitement and the unexpected as are his world-famous, best-selling books. Packed with anecdotes—some funny, some painful, all interesting—this is a book that's sure to please.
Isaac Newton and His Apple
Kjartan Poskitt - 1999
He is dead famous for: discovering gravity, being a right clever dick and getting hit on the head with an apple. But have you heard that Isaac: came bottom of the class at school, poked sticks in his eye and nearly blinded himself and nearly got himself executed?
The Vile Victorians
Terry Deary - 1994
A book about the Victorians by Horrible Histories.
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Judith Kerr - 1971
Suppose that without your noticing, it became dangerous for some people to live in Germany any longer. Suppose you found, to your complete surprise, that your own father was one of those people.That is what happened to Anna in 1933. She was nine years old when it began, too busy with her schoolwork and toboganning to take much notice of political posters, but out of them glared the face of Adolf Hitler, the man who would soon change the whole of Europe – starting with her own small life.Anna suddenly found things moving too fast for her to understand. One day, her father was unaccountably missing. Then she herself and her brother Max were being rushed by their mother, in alarming secrecy, away from everything they knew – home and schoolmates and well-loved toys – right out of Germany…
On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894
Laura Ingalls Wilder - 1962
They heard that the soil there was rich and the crops were bountiful -- it was even called "the Land of the Big Red Apple." With hopes of beginning a new life, the Wilders made their way to the Ozarks of Missouri.During their journey, Laura kept a detailed diary of events: the cities they passed through, the travelers they encountered on the way, the changing countryside and the trials of an often difficult voyage. Laura's words, preserved in this book, reveal her inner thoughts as she traveled with her family in search of a new home in Mansfield, where Rose would spend her childhood, where Laura would write her Little House books, and where she and Almanzo would remain all the rest of their happy days together.
Cheaper by the Dozen
Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. - 1948
Translated into more than fifty languages, Cheaper by the Dozen is the unforgettable story of the Gilbreth clan as told by two of its members. In this endearing, amusing memoir, siblings Frank Jr. and Ernestine capture the hilarity and heart of growing up in an oversized family.Mother and Dad are world-renowned efficiency experts, helping factories fine-tune their assembly lines for maximum output at minimum cost. At home, the Gilbreths themselves have cranked out twelve kids, and Dad is out to prove that efficiency principles can apply to family as well as the workplace. The heartwarming and comic stories of the jumbo-size Gilbreth clan have delighted generations of readers, and will keep you and yours laughing for years.
Escape from Warsaw
Ian Serraillier - 1956
Now they are alone. With the war raging around them, food and shelter are hard to come by. They live in constant fear.Finally, they get word that their father is alive. He has made it to Switzerland. Edek and Ruth are determined to find him, though they know how dangerous the long trip from Warsaw will be. But they also know that if they don't make it, they may never see their parents again.Their gripping story is taken from actual accounts.
Jacky Daydream
Jacqueline Wilson - 2007
With photographs and new illustrations by Nick Sharratt, this book will delight all of Jacky’s fans — and be a treat for new readers too.
The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia
Esther Hautzig - 1968
The Rudomin family has been arrested by the Russians. They are "capitalists' enemies of the people." Forced from their home and friends in Vilna, Poland, they are herded into crowded cattle cars. Their destination: the endless steppe of Siberia.For five years, Esther and her family live in exile, weeding potato fields and working in the mines, struggling for enough food and clothing to stay alive. Only the strength of family sustains them and gives them hope for the future.