Matilda – Roald Dahl, Illustrated by Quentin Blake (Session 2027-28)

Matilda by Roald Dahl is the story of a girl who reads everything, doesn't get along with her family, and discovers that her mind has more power than anyone suspects. Puffin's paperback, illustrated by Quentin Blake, has 21 chapters, and it is one of the most loved class novels for Classes 4 to 7. This page is written for readers and parents planning for the 2027-28 session.

Exams Book House, Shop Number 4, Al Fazal Market, Urdu Bazar, Lahore, supplies it with cash on delivery across Pakistan and delivery to the Gulf countries.

Quick facts about this copy

• Title on the cover: Matilda
• Author: Roald Dahl · Illustrator: Quentin Blake
• Imprint: Puffin
• Chapters: 21, starting on page 1 and ending on page 221 with "A New Home"
• First published: 1988
• Session: a favourite reading novel for 2027-28

What is Matilda about?

Matilda Wormwood is five years old and has already read dozens of books. Her father is a dishonest car dealer and her mother plays bingo all afternoon, and neither of them notices how clever she is. They think she is a nuisance and the television is more important. Matilda discovers the public library and reads her way through it, so books become her real family.

When she starts school, she meets two very different women. Miss Honey, her class teacher, is gentle and sees at once that Matilda is a gifted child. The headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, is a former hammer-thrower who treats children as enemies and invents terrible punishments. Matilda learns that she can do things with her mind that other people cannot, and she uses that power in order to defend herself and her classmates, and to help Miss Honey.

At its heart, it is a story about intelligence, justice and finding the people who truly care about you. It is also very funny, and the humour comes from exaggeration: awful adults and a smart small girl who outwits them.

Contents of Matilda (with page numbers)

The book in four sections

1. Home (chapters 1 to 6, pages 1 to 59). Matilda's family, her library visits and her first small revenge on her father. The pranks with the hat and the glue and the ghost show her cleverness, and "Arithmetic" shows how good she is at numbers.
2. School and Miss Honey (chapters 7 to 9, pages 60 to 94). Matilda meets her teacher and the Trunchbull, and the reader learns what kind of headmistress Crunchem Hall has. Chapter 9 brings the parents into the school story.
3. The Trunchbull's world (chapters 10 to 13, pages 95 to 152). Throwing the Hammer, the famous scene with Bruce Bogtrotter and the cake, the Lavender chapter and the weekly test are the heart of the humour. These chapters also show why the children fear her.
4. The miracles (chapters 14 to 21, pages 153 to 221). A series of surprising events, Miss Honey's cottage and her own story, then names, practice and a final miracle that lead to the ending in "A New Home".

Who should read Matilda?

• Students in Classes 4 to 7. Chapters are short and fast, so a reader of eight or nine can manage it, and a twelve-year-old still enjoys it.
• Parents who want a book that celebrates reading. It is a rare novel that makes a child proud of loving books.
• Teachers looking for a class novel with good discussion topics: kindness and cruelty, being gifted, how adults should treat children, and how to stand up for others.
• Girls and boys alike. Matilda is a heroine of the mind, not of muscles, and the story has fans of every kind.

Why is it so popular?

Matilda is a child who wins through brains and courage, not through magic alone. The book has terrific villains, from the boastful Mr Wormwood to the unforgettable Trunchbull, and a kind adult, Miss Honey, whom readers cheer for. It also has scenes that people remember for years, such as the cake chapter. Behind all the comedy there is respect for children as thinking people.

When and how to use it

For a Class 5 student, a chapter a day makes the book last three weeks. Ask these questions as you go:

• Which character would you want as a teacher and why?
• What would you do if you were Bruce?
• Which "miracle" surprised you most?

After finishing, hold a "library day": each child brings a favourite book and tells the class why they like it.

Is Matilda a good choice for 2027-28?

Yes. It is a safe, widely read novel for the 2027-28 session, suitable for home reading and for many school reading lists. If your school asks for a particular edition, send us the list on WhatsApp.

Other books by the same author to read next

• The Witches: another brave child against cruel grown-ups, with a darker feel.
• The BFG: a gentle story about a small girl and a big friend.
• Boy: Tales of Childhood: the real-life school stories that inspired some of the Trunchbull's world.
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for more mischief.

Buy it in Urdu Bazar, Lahore

• Shop: Exams Book House, Shop Number 4, Al Fazal Market, Urdu Bazar, Lahore 54000
• Urdu Bazar Lahore book shop number: 0317 4846676 (call or WhatsApp)
• Open: Monday to Saturday, 9 AM – 9 PM; closed on Sunday
• Delivery: all over Pakistan with cash on delivery, and to the Gulf countries

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Frequently asked questions

Is Matilda right for session 2027-28?

Yes. It is a favourite reading novel for Classes 4 to 7 in 2027-28. Check with your school for any specific edition.

How many chapters does it have?

Twenty-one chapters, from "The Reader of Books" on page 1 to "A New Home" on page 221.

Does it have illustrations?

Yes, by Quentin Blake, as printed on the cover.

Is it suitable for a Class 3 child?

It can be read aloud to Class 3 children. Independent reading is easier from Class 4.

Do you deliver outside Lahore?

Yes, all over Pakistan with cash on delivery, and to the Gulf countries. WhatsApp 0317 4846676.

Inside the book — contents and sample pages