The Magic Finger – Roald Dahl, Illustrated by Quentin Blake (2027-28)

The Magic Finger is one of the shortest books by Roald Dahl, and one of the strongest in its message. A little girl has a strange power in her pointing finger: when she gets really angry, something happens to the person she points at. This Puffin paperback, with pictures by Quentin Blake, is suited to Classes 2 to 4 and is a neat, quick pick 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: The Magic Finger
• Author: Roald Dahl · Illustrator: Quentin Blake
• Imprint: Puffin
• Length: a very short book, easy to read in a single sitting or two
• First published: 1966
• Cover: blue, with an orange-red splash and a girl pointing her finger upward
• Session: a small, strong pick for 2027-28

What is The Magic Finger about?

The story is told by a young girl who has a secret. Whenever she loses her temper and points at someone, a kind of magic leaves her finger and something very odd happens to that person. She does not choose it and cannot always control it. She says it is a bit like a spell, but one that no one can predict.

Next door lives a family called the Greggs. Mr Gregg and his sons love hunting animals, especially ducks and deer, and the girl cannot bear it. One day she gets so angry about it that she points her finger at them. What follows is a very clever reversal: the Greggs get a taste of what they have been doing to the animals, while the animals have a turn at being in charge. It is a mix of humour, fantasy and a plain lesson about cruelty.

Because the book is so short, it is easy to talk about its theme afterwards. Is it fair that the Greggs are punished? What would you have done in the girl's place? Children enjoy giving their opinions, and teachers enjoy the debates that follow.

A guide to the story

1. The girl and her power. The opening sets up the idea of the finger and shows why she does not tell grown-ups about it.
2. The Greggs. We meet a family who loves to hunt, and the girl's feelings about them build up.
3. The turning point. The finger is pointed. The change that follows is the heart of the book and the part young readers remember the most.
4. The new arrangement. The Greggs and the animals meet on new terms. The ending is calm and neat, and it leaves a clear message.

Who should read it?

• Children aged six to nine. The language is simple and the sentences are short.
• Parents who want to begin a conversation with a child about kindness to animals and about anger.
• Teachers who need a short story for a one-week unit: reading, retelling, a role-play of the Greggs and the ducks, and a writing task titled "If I had a magic finger".
• Struggling readers in Classes 4 and 5 who need a book they can finish.

Why does a short story like this matter?

A very short book can still teach a lot. This one shows how a clear idea, a limited number of characters and a surprising twist can make a good story. It also raises a moral question without lecturing: the book never says "hunting is wrong", but it lets the reader feel what it would be like to be hunted.

For teachers of English it is also a good example of story structure, with a clear problem, a turning point and a resolution that fits on a small number of pages.

When and how to use it

Read it aloud in one sitting and then let the child re-read it in two or three short sessions. Afterwards ask: "What would you do if you had a magic finger?" and "Do you think the Greggs deserved it?" These two questions usually produce a longer discussion than you would expect from such a short book.

A second reading a week later often leads to new thoughts, because the child notices details that were missed the first time.

Questions to talk about after reading

1. Why does the girl lose her temper with the Greggs?
2. Is the change that happens to the Greggs fair? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if the same thing happened to you?
4. What is the difference between hunting for food and hunting for fun?
5. How could the girl have solved the problem without using her finger?

Activities for home or class

• Write a new ending. What would happen if the girl pointed her finger at someone else?
• Role-play. Two children can act the Greggs and two the ducks, and then swap places.
• Draw a scene. Pick the moment you remember most and draw it in your own style, then compare with Quentin Blake's pictures.
• Start a kindness list. Write five ways to be kind to animals in your own neighbourhood.

Is it right for session 2027-28?

Yes. It is an easy reading book for younger students in the 2027-28 session, and it also works as a short class reader. If your school has a specific list, send it to us on WhatsApp and we will match the edition.

More Roald Dahl for the same age

• Fantastic Mr Fox: another animal story in which the animals get the better of their enemies.
• The Twits: animals again take revenge on horrible humans.
• The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me: a lighter, friendlier animal tale.
• Matilda is another story where a child has a special power, though it is much longer.

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

People also search for this book as

the magic finger roald dahl · magic finger puffin book · roald dahl short story class 3 · gregg family ducks book · english story book 2027-28 · roald dahl books price lahore · دی میجک فنگر

Frequently asked questions

Is The Magic Finger suitable for session 2027-28?

Yes. It is a short reading book for younger students in the 2027-28 session. Check your school's list for the edition.

How long is it?

It is one of Roald Dahl's shortest books, so it can be read in one or two sittings.

Does it have pictures?

Yes. Quentin Blake's drawings accompany the story, as stated on the cover.

What is the main message?

That cruelty to animals is wrong, told through a funny, fantastic twist rather than a lecture.

How do I order?

WhatsApp 0317 4846676 or visit our shop. We deliver across Pakistan with cash on delivery and to the Gulf countries.

Inside the book — contents and sample pages