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The Twits, the Minpins & the Magic Finger
THE TWITS
How do you outwit a Twit?
Mr. and Mrs. Twit are the smelliest, nastiest, ugliest people in the world. They hate everything—except playing mean jokes on each other, catching innocent birds to put in their Bird Pies, and making their caged monkeys, the Muggle-Wumps, stand on their heads all day. But the Muggle-Wumps have had enough. They don't just want out, they want revenge.
THE MINPINS
Little Billy strays into the forest, where he meets the Minpins?tiny people who live within the trees. The Minpins tell Billy about The Gruncher, who preys on them. So Billy embarks on a mission to rid the Minpins of their foe once and for all, and sets off?on the back of a swan?to confront The Gruncher.
THE MAGIC FINGER
What happens when the hunter becomes the hunted?
To the Gregg family, hunting is just plain fun. To the girl who lives next door, it's just plain horrible. She tries to be polite. She tries to talk them out of it, but the Greggs only laugh at her. Then one day the Greggs go too far, and the little girl turns her Magic Finger on them. When she's very, very angry, the little girl's Magic Finger takes over. She really can’t control it, and now it's turned the Greggs into birds! Before they know it, the Greggs are living in a nest, and that's just the beginning of their problems….
How do you outwit a Twit?
Mr. and Mrs. Twit are the smelliest, nastiest, ugliest people in the world. They hate everything—except playing mean jokes on each other, catching innocent birds to put in their Bird Pies, and making their caged monkeys, the Muggle-Wumps, stand on their heads all day. But the Muggle-Wumps have had enough. They don't just want out, they want revenge.
THE MINPINS
Little Billy strays into the forest, where he meets the Minpins?tiny people who live within the trees. The Minpins tell Billy about The Gruncher, who preys on them. So Billy embarks on a mission to rid the Minpins of their foe once and for all, and sets off?on the back of a swan?to confront The Gruncher.
THE MAGIC FINGER
What happens when the hunter becomes the hunted?
To the Gregg family, hunting is just plain fun. To the girl who lives next door, it's just plain horrible. She tries to be polite. She tries to talk them out of it, but the Greggs only laugh at her. Then one day the Greggs go too far, and the little girl turns her Magic Finger on them. When she's very, very angry, the little girl's Magic Finger takes over. She really can’t control it, and now it's turned the Greggs into birds! Before they know it, the Greggs are living in a nest, and that's just the beginning of their problems….
Audio CD
First published September 26, 2013
16 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Roald Dahl
1,501 books26.9k followersRoald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
March 15, 2017
Mariah's review is wonderful!!!!! Thanks, Mariah!
Roald Dahl fans in this house --my kids loved them --I loved them -- Paul loved them. (a couple of his adult books are good too)
I haven't --though --ever listened to The Twits or James and the Giant Peace --or any of Dahl
s books on audio. Tempted!!! :)
Roald Dahl fans in this house --my kids loved them --I loved them -- Paul loved them. (a couple of his adult books are good too)
I haven't --though --ever listened to The Twits or James and the Giant Peace --or any of Dahl
s books on audio. Tempted!!! :)
March 15, 2017
The Twits by Roald Dahl
This book is about the grossest couple: Mr. and Mrs. Twit. They are the smelly and ugly. They hate everything! They even hate each other and they keep pulling pranks on each other. They're mean! They catch innocent birds to put in their Bird Pies and make their monkeys stand on their heads all day. Thankfully the birds and monkeys have had enough and they fight back!
This book is about the grossest couple: Mr. and Mrs. Twit. They are the smelly and ugly. They hate everything! They even hate each other and they keep pulling pranks on each other. They're mean! They catch innocent birds to put in their Bird Pies and make their monkeys stand on their heads all day. Thankfully the birds and monkeys have had enough and they fight back!
I originally read this book in either elementary school or middle school and really enjoyed it. Since I am reading all of Roald Dahl's books again, I thought "why not," and re-read this one. Surprisingly, I don't remember this story at all.
This book is about the grossest couple: Mr. and Mrs. Twit. They are the smelly and ugly. They hate everything! They even hate each other and they keep pulling pranks on each other. They're mean! They catch innocent birds to put in their Bird Pies and make their monkeys stand on their heads all day. Thankfully the birds and monkeys have had enough and they fight back!
____________________________________________________________
The Minpins by Roald Dahl
This was not one of my favorite Roald Dahl books. That is probably because almost every item and descriptive word was made up and not real. I really had to expand my mind to follow a long and to picture what he was talking about.
____________________________________________________________
The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (Illustrator)
I really enjoyed this story! It was a fast, easy read that was very entertaining.
This story would be a perfect fantasy story about animal rights. The main character lives next door to a family that loves to hunt birds. She doesn't like that they are hurting animals, so she tries to talk them out of it, but they only laugh at her. Then one day the family goes too far and kills a ton of birds. This makes the main character angry and when she is angry her finger starts to tingle. She didn't mean to turn her magic finger on the family, but when the little girl is angry her Magic Finger takes over. It turned the family into birds! This forces them to live in a nest, eat nonhuman food and more. Then more problems keep arising...
I suggest this book to anyone that likes short stories and Roald Dahl's amazing writing :)
This book is about the grossest couple: Mr. and Mrs. Twit. They are the smelly and ugly. They hate everything! They even hate each other and they keep pulling pranks on each other. They're mean! They catch innocent birds to put in their Bird Pies and make their monkeys stand on their heads all day. Thankfully the birds and monkeys have had enough and they fight back!
This book is about the grossest couple: Mr. and Mrs. Twit. They are the smelly and ugly. They hate everything! They even hate each other and they keep pulling pranks on each other. They're mean! They catch innocent birds to put in their Bird Pies and make their monkeys stand on their heads all day. Thankfully the birds and monkeys have had enough and they fight back!
I originally read this book in either elementary school or middle school and really enjoyed it. Since I am reading all of Roald Dahl's books again, I thought "why not," and re-read this one. Surprisingly, I don't remember this story at all.
This book is about the grossest couple: Mr. and Mrs. Twit. They are the smelly and ugly. They hate everything! They even hate each other and they keep pulling pranks on each other. They're mean! They catch innocent birds to put in their Bird Pies and make their monkeys stand on their heads all day. Thankfully the birds and monkeys have had enough and they fight back!
____________________________________________________________
The Minpins by Roald Dahl
This was not one of my favorite Roald Dahl books. That is probably because almost every item and descriptive word was made up and not real. I really had to expand my mind to follow a long and to picture what he was talking about.
____________________________________________________________
The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (Illustrator)
I really enjoyed this story! It was a fast, easy read that was very entertaining.
This story would be a perfect fantasy story about animal rights. The main character lives next door to a family that loves to hunt birds. She doesn't like that they are hurting animals, so she tries to talk them out of it, but they only laugh at her. Then one day the family goes too far and kills a ton of birds. This makes the main character angry and when she is angry her finger starts to tingle. She didn't mean to turn her magic finger on the family, but when the little girl is angry her Magic Finger takes over. It turned the family into birds! This forces them to live in a nest, eat nonhuman food and more. Then more problems keep arising...
I suggest this book to anyone that likes short stories and Roald Dahl's amazing writing :)
May 2, 2022
the twits - 4 stars
the minipins - 3.5 stars
the magic finger - 4.5 stars
the minipins - 3.5 stars
the magic finger - 4.5 stars
November 28, 2013
Although I have enjoyed many of the movies made from Roald Dahl's books (most notably James and the Giant Peach) I cannot recall reading any of his books except Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which was ... fine but not world changing for me. That's kind of odd too, when I think about it, because I was the right age to be the prime audience when a lot of his books were coming out but I was largely oblivious to them. (Yep. Dated myself. Don't care.)
However, as I have learned in the past, audio often breaks open a book or author who I didn't find congenial in print. It was that way with Coraline by Neil Gaiman. It was that way with the last half of The Lord of the Rings (yes, I am ashamed but I will not lie). And, now, it is that way with Roald Dahl.
The Twits are the most horrible couple in the world and quite hateful to each other, until they are under attack from a common enemy. Even then they are horrible which makes it quite gratifying to see them get their comeuppance from the Muggle-Wump monkey family and the Roly Poly bird. This story had the most disgusting description of a beard I have ever encountered. Even while I was grimacing, I was also laughing because Dahl had such a clever way with words. Narrator Richard Ayoade had a lovely, calm British narration style that didn't preclude hilarious, low-class voices for the Twits. First class stuff.
The Minpins has the most perfect monster name I've ever heard -- The Gruncher, a fire-breathing, boy eating creature in Sin Forest. It sends Billy right up a tree where he meets the Minpins and they form an ingenious alliance to deal with their common foe. Bill Bailey narrated this with a great deal of gusto which didn't detract in the least from the story.
The Magic Finger was my favorite story, partially because Kate Winslet's narration won me over from the very beginning. I also just couldn't resist the little girl who "puts my Magic Finger" on those who displease her. The Greggs are worthy of a magic finger punishment because they are such keen hunters. What the Magic Finger does is typical Dahl ingenuity at its best.
All three of these are little stories but each is a gem which children would love. Heck, I liked them quite a bit myself and, as I have revealed, I am far past the age of tender youth. I am now going to look for more Roald Dahl in audio, possibly even revisiting Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I got this Roald Dahl sampler courtesy of SFFaudio.
However, as I have learned in the past, audio often breaks open a book or author who I didn't find congenial in print. It was that way with Coraline by Neil Gaiman. It was that way with the last half of The Lord of the Rings (yes, I am ashamed but I will not lie). And, now, it is that way with Roald Dahl.
The Twits are the most horrible couple in the world and quite hateful to each other, until they are under attack from a common enemy. Even then they are horrible which makes it quite gratifying to see them get their comeuppance from the Muggle-Wump monkey family and the Roly Poly bird. This story had the most disgusting description of a beard I have ever encountered. Even while I was grimacing, I was also laughing because Dahl had such a clever way with words. Narrator Richard Ayoade had a lovely, calm British narration style that didn't preclude hilarious, low-class voices for the Twits. First class stuff.
The Minpins has the most perfect monster name I've ever heard -- The Gruncher, a fire-breathing, boy eating creature in Sin Forest. It sends Billy right up a tree where he meets the Minpins and they form an ingenious alliance to deal with their common foe. Bill Bailey narrated this with a great deal of gusto which didn't detract in the least from the story.
The Magic Finger was my favorite story, partially because Kate Winslet's narration won me over from the very beginning. I also just couldn't resist the little girl who "puts my Magic Finger" on those who displease her. The Greggs are worthy of a magic finger punishment because they are such keen hunters. What the Magic Finger does is typical Dahl ingenuity at its best.
All three of these are little stories but each is a gem which children would love. Heck, I liked them quite a bit myself and, as I have revealed, I am far past the age of tender youth. I am now going to look for more Roald Dahl in audio, possibly even revisiting Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I got this Roald Dahl sampler courtesy of SFFaudio.
May 2, 2017
Quick, clever, and funny.
You do not want to live with the Twits. You do want to visit the Minpins. It's probably best we don't all have magic fingers--but then, maybe some of us should.
You do not want to live with the Twits. You do want to visit the Minpins. It's probably best we don't all have magic fingers--but then, maybe some of us should.
February 5, 2023
It’s amazing to hear Richard Ayoade do various voices, as he’s usually so deadpan.
July 20, 2020
There are some stories that are just absolutely FUN on audio, and this collection definitely falls under that. I stumbled on it quite on accident via my Libby app when I was looking for Richard Ayoade's book, and went "oooh, look, he narrated one. Oooooh, and it's Roald Dahl!" I already knew how much I loved Kate Winslet's narration of "Matilda" so that was an easy sell. Bill Bailey was the third narrator, and all three of them were excellent.
The stories themselves are also very good. Classic Dahl: a strong dose of the fantastic woven right in with the everyday, mostly featuring child protagonists (except for the The Twits), and an exaggerated display of right and wrong where a bit of luck and cleverness means wrong will get its comeuppance every time. Humor is present in some form, although it's not always the kind of humor that will appeal to everyone. I found The Twits to be almost too awful in their delight of cruel pranks at each other, but between Ayoade's narration and the Muggle-Wumps, it was still great fun. The Magic Finger is also quite imaginative.
My favorite story of the three is definitely The Minpins. I would have adored this as a child, and I think it would appeal to anyone of any age who has dreamed of the sort of adventure that involves finding friendly folk in the forest.
All in all, this is a fun, short audiobook that's perfect for doing yard work on a Saturday morning while you're getting revenge on invasive mimosa trees that are trying to take over the back yard. Or any other occasion for listening to stories, really. Just happen to have that particular one in mind for no reason whatsoever.
The stories themselves are also very good. Classic Dahl: a strong dose of the fantastic woven right in with the everyday, mostly featuring child protagonists (except for the The Twits), and an exaggerated display of right and wrong where a bit of luck and cleverness means wrong will get its comeuppance every time. Humor is present in some form, although it's not always the kind of humor that will appeal to everyone. I found The Twits to be almost too awful in their delight of cruel pranks at each other, but between Ayoade's narration and the Muggle-Wumps, it was still great fun. The Magic Finger is also quite imaginative.
My favorite story of the three is definitely The Minpins. I would have adored this as a child, and I think it would appeal to anyone of any age who has dreamed of the sort of adventure that involves finding friendly folk in the forest.
All in all, this is a fun, short audiobook that's perfect for doing yard work on a Saturday morning while you're getting revenge on invasive mimosa trees that are trying to take over the back yard. Or any other occasion for listening to stories, really. Just happen to have that particular one in mind for no reason whatsoever.
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February 24, 2025This was a collection of 3 fun, short stories by Roald Dahl.
The Twits - Was not crazy about this one. A tale of a most disgusting and rude couple who hate each other and play tricks on each other, and the animals that seek revenge. My kids didn’t mind it
The Min Pins - LOVED! A little boy gets help (and in turn, helps!) a village of miniature people. This one was adorable. Feels like childhood classic material, though I’d never heard of it.
The Magic Finger - A fun one! A little girl with a magic finger seeks revenge on a family who hunts ducks. This one had a very Matilda-esque vibe. I enjoyed it!
The Twits - Was not crazy about this one. A tale of a most disgusting and rude couple who hate each other and play tricks on each other, and the animals that seek revenge. My kids didn’t mind it
The Min Pins - LOVED! A little boy gets help (and in turn, helps!) a village of miniature people. This one was adorable. Feels like childhood classic material, though I’d never heard of it.
The Magic Finger - A fun one! A little girl with a magic finger seeks revenge on a family who hunts ducks. This one had a very Matilda-esque vibe. I enjoyed it!
January 6, 2025
Here are my ratings of the stories: The Twits 2 stars, the Minipins 4 stars and the Magic Finger 3 stars for an average of 3 stars. The British actors who read these three stories did a wonderful job.
February 10, 2015
Three of Roald Dahl's short stories, read by three different people, packaged together.
The Minpins & The Magic Finger would work great for a broad age-range, perhaps ages 4 to 9, while Mr. & Mrs. Twit are just so awfully mean that I would think The Twits is best for ages 7 to 14, when readers won't keep hoping for a gentler, kinder character to appear in the story. There are a wealth of nasty ways to describe people in The Twits - it could be used with Shakespeare in a workshop on "improving the quality of your insults."
If I heard or read these in my childhood, I had forgotten them, but I am certain The Minpins would have been my favorite at age 8 or 9, as I loved tree-houses and anything miniature.
In all of them, magical things happen to bring about justice, good is rewarded, and evil punished. The most didactic and simple is The Magic Finger, but readers can easily imagine follow-up episodes. If it were published today, it would be the start to a series, for sure.
Also, IF anyone else was wondering about some of the unusual names that we've also heard elsewhere, I looked it up: The name Mugglewumps (which is shortened to Muggles within the story) is used for a monkey in The Twits - 22 years after The Gammage Cup had a character named Muggles, but 17 years before Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and in The Minpins, the forest is filled with awful creatures, including a Whangdoodle - 8 years before Julie Andrews wrote The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, in which the creatures are completely different.
The Minpins & The Magic Finger would work great for a broad age-range, perhaps ages 4 to 9, while Mr. & Mrs. Twit are just so awfully mean that I would think The Twits is best for ages 7 to 14, when readers won't keep hoping for a gentler, kinder character to appear in the story. There are a wealth of nasty ways to describe people in The Twits - it could be used with Shakespeare in a workshop on "improving the quality of your insults."
If I heard or read these in my childhood, I had forgotten them, but I am certain The Minpins would have been my favorite at age 8 or 9, as I loved tree-houses and anything miniature.
In all of them, magical things happen to bring about justice, good is rewarded, and evil punished. The most didactic and simple is The Magic Finger, but readers can easily imagine follow-up episodes. If it were published today, it would be the start to a series, for sure.
Also, IF anyone else was wondering about some of the unusual names that we've also heard elsewhere, I looked it up: The name Mugglewumps (which is shortened to Muggles within the story) is used for a monkey in The Twits - 22 years after The Gammage Cup had a character named Muggles, but 17 years before Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and in The Minpins, the forest is filled with awful creatures, including a Whangdoodle - 8 years before Julie Andrews wrote The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, in which the creatures are completely different.
April 20, 2020
I loved these stories as a child and I still enjoy them. They're fun and silly. The Twits are a grumpy old couple and their crazy shenanigans. The Minpins is about a little boy and his imaginary, fantastical adventures in the woods with the creatures there. The Magic Finger is about a little girl who accidentally curses people when she gets mad at them. The focus of the story is on a family of duck hunters who switch places with ducks.
The Twits are a little bit crude, but all of them are fun children's stories. The humor seems more geared toward boys though.
The Twits are a little bit crude, but all of them are fun children's stories. The humor seems more geared toward boys though.
March 20, 2014
I love the twit
May 21, 2014
The narration is amazing. The stories are entertaining but not as good as some of his other work.
May 1, 2018
Listened in the car with 6 and 3 year olds. Adults and kids both loved it. Great voices by Richard Ayoade especially, even though the Twits was kind of gross.
March 8, 2025
roald dahl i’m watching you
September 8, 2020
I enjoyed the narration. Though I enjoyed the stories more as a kid.
June 27, 2016
Title: The Twits, The Minpins, and The Magic Finger
Author: Roald Dahl
Read by: Richard Ayoade, Bill Bailey, and Kate Winslet
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Length: Approximately 1 Hour (2 CDs)
Source: Review Copy from Penguin Thanks!
My ten year old son Kile, my eight year old son Daniel, and I started listening to this collection on the way to Mom and Son Scout camp. Their five –year old sister Penelope started listening at the end of The Twits when we returned home and now we can’t go anywhere without listening to “a story” by Roald Dahl. Although Kile is at regular Scout Camp this week and we were told that we cannot listen to any more of Matilda without him.
The Twits are the most miserable people you have ever met. They spend their time putting glue on a tree to catch birds for their bird pie and maybe a spare boy or two. The monkeys they keep caged decide that they are tired of their and the birds’ situations and are set for vengeance. The kids thought this was hilarious.
The Minpins was by far the favorite story for my kids. It was a great fantasy story about a boy, Billy, who ventures out into the woods against his mother’s advice and discovers that the beast she had warned him of is all too real and has him cornered in a tree. While there, he also discovers an entire race of small people living in the trees who ride birds. Will Billy be able to find his way back home?
A girl has The Magic Finger and turns a family of hunters into the hunted so that they can learn what it is like to be a family of ducks.
This audio collection is superb with great jaunty music before and after each story and fantastically expressive narrators for all three stories. It is incredibly engaging for not only the children to listen to, but their mother as well.
Overall, this is a fantastic collection of stories that are full of Roald Dahl’s inventive storytelling and dark humor. My kids and I loved it and are now continuing on into listening to Matilda.
This review was originally posted on my blog at: http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2016/...
Author: Roald Dahl
Read by: Richard Ayoade, Bill Bailey, and Kate Winslet
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Length: Approximately 1 Hour (2 CDs)
Source: Review Copy from Penguin Thanks!
My ten year old son Kile, my eight year old son Daniel, and I started listening to this collection on the way to Mom and Son Scout camp. Their five –year old sister Penelope started listening at the end of The Twits when we returned home and now we can’t go anywhere without listening to “a story” by Roald Dahl. Although Kile is at regular Scout Camp this week and we were told that we cannot listen to any more of Matilda without him.
The Twits are the most miserable people you have ever met. They spend their time putting glue on a tree to catch birds for their bird pie and maybe a spare boy or two. The monkeys they keep caged decide that they are tired of their and the birds’ situations and are set for vengeance. The kids thought this was hilarious.
The Minpins was by far the favorite story for my kids. It was a great fantasy story about a boy, Billy, who ventures out into the woods against his mother’s advice and discovers that the beast she had warned him of is all too real and has him cornered in a tree. While there, he also discovers an entire race of small people living in the trees who ride birds. Will Billy be able to find his way back home?
A girl has The Magic Finger and turns a family of hunters into the hunted so that they can learn what it is like to be a family of ducks.
This audio collection is superb with great jaunty music before and after each story and fantastically expressive narrators for all three stories. It is incredibly engaging for not only the children to listen to, but their mother as well.
Overall, this is a fantastic collection of stories that are full of Roald Dahl’s inventive storytelling and dark humor. My kids and I loved it and are now continuing on into listening to Matilda.
This review was originally posted on my blog at: http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2016/...
November 6, 2015
I would have enjoyed reading this collection of stories, Roald Dahl's writing has always appealed to me, from the very first book I read by him, James and the Giant Peach, which was read to my class in 2nd or 3rd grade. However, the fact that these stories were read to me by such great talents, especially Richard Ayoade's reading of the Twits which had me completely engrossed. He did such perfect voices for the two garrulous spouses.
I would highly recommend this audiobook, even if one has already read the Twits, Minpins or the Magic Finger before, these readers bring it to life. It was hilarious and just great to hear Dahl's great writing and wordplay read out loud by a talented reader. Would be great for a short road trip, or just in the car on errands, though I can't say it would be great for getting things done, since one would probably end up sitting in the parking lot of the grocery store or bank drawing stares rather than checking off items on the old to-do list.
I would highly recommend this audiobook, even if one has already read the Twits, Minpins or the Magic Finger before, these readers bring it to life. It was hilarious and just great to hear Dahl's great writing and wordplay read out loud by a talented reader. Would be great for a short road trip, or just in the car on errands, though I can't say it would be great for getting things done, since one would probably end up sitting in the parking lot of the grocery store or bank drawing stares rather than checking off items on the old to-do list.
June 2, 2016
My family listened to this audiobook during a car trip. This trip was supposed to take 4 hours, but took 7 because of horrible traffic through Chicago. Listening to Roald Dahl saved our sanity! We enjoyed all three of these stories, but The Twits was our favorite. We were cracking up! I'm sure it's fun to read, but hearing it was a blast. My eight-year-old loved it so much that she insisted on listening to it again on the drive back home two days later. I think listening to Ronald Dahl on car trips will be our new tradition.
August 5, 2016
I listened to this audio book with my 11 and 8 years old in the car on the way to their summer day camp. It was a short drive, so we only listened a fragment of the stories. They loved the books - jiggled along with the story, whispered I wished I could have a magic finger; When I picked them up from camp in the afternoon, they asked to continue listening as soon as they jumped into the car. I found the stories delightful, packed with plenty dose of humor and sense of right and wrong in childish way. Recommended to kids at elementary schools' age.
August 1, 2017
I wasn't a big fan of The Twits. It had it's moments, but I really enjoyed both The Minpins and The Magic Finger.
After the last few books I've listened to of Dahl's, I've come to appreciate how he blends narrative, imagination, and life lessons all into one. He creates good fun and humor, but leaves you pondering. It's a wonderful mix and I'm becoming more and more a fan of him!
After the last few books I've listened to of Dahl's, I've come to appreciate how he blends narrative, imagination, and life lessons all into one. He creates good fun and humor, but leaves you pondering. It's a wonderful mix and I'm becoming more and more a fan of him!
January 20, 2018
A collection of three short stories. The Twits are SO mean to each other! The Minpins is a cute story about how size doesn't matter. But, The Magic Finger is just a message on how supposedly hunting is bad...
February 5, 2020
**2.5 stars**
The Twits: 3 stars
The Minpins: 2 stars
The Magic Finger: 2 stars
Pains me to give anything from Roald Dahl lower than 4 stars, but I just wasn't a big fan of these stories. However, I did love this line from the Minpins: "Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."
The Twits: 3 stars
The Minpins: 2 stars
The Magic Finger: 2 stars
Pains me to give anything from Roald Dahl lower than 4 stars, but I just wasn't a big fan of these stories. However, I did love this line from the Minpins: "Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."
November 10, 2020
I think The Twits is probably my favorite Roald Dahl book and the audio version by Richard Ayoade is superb! The Minpins and The Magic Finger, in my opinion, are pretty big let downs after listening to The Twits.
August 4, 2019
Loved this audio edition. The readers were fantastic! I'd never read these stories before but they were just as lovely and twisted as you'd expect from Dahl.
September 25, 2014
Kamryn really enjoys Roald Dahl books.
December 2, 2014
Roald Dahl is so creepy. i love it
May 17, 2017
Delightful! Three amusing stories of mischievous magic that teach the nasty, wrong-doers a lesson in compassion. Expertly read.
February 17, 2015
Audiobook
Enjoyable stories, perfect for young readers and adults that enjoy silly but fun stories.
Enjoyable stories, perfect for young readers and adults that enjoy silly but fun stories.
February 18, 2015
Of the three stories, the shortest, 'The Magic Finger', was my favorite.
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