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Spotty Powder and Other Splendiferous Secrets
A treasure of Roald Dahl! Feast your eyes on an original chapter from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and tuck into some tasty tales from Roald Dahl's school days to discover more about the World's No. 1 storyteller! No Roald Dahl collection is complete without this splendiferous, surprising treat.
89 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
13 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Roald Dahl
1,475 books26.7k 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 41 reviews
December 27, 2022
✩ 4/4.5 stars
May 29, 2023
4,5/5
ben cocukken bu yazara asiktim. cevrilmis her kitabini alip okumustum, hatta 72847393 tane kitabim olmasina ragmen tekrar tekrar onun kitaplarini okurdum. bu kitabi ilk okudugum da ogrenmistim yazarin olmus oldugunu ve cok uzulmustum😭
ben cocukken bu yazara asiktim. cevrilmis her kitabini alip okumustum, hatta 72847393 tane kitabim olmasina ragmen tekrar tekrar onun kitaplarini okurdum. bu kitabi ilk okudugum da ogrenmistim yazarin olmus oldugunu ve cok uzulmustum😭
September 13, 2013
This book is for the younger Dahl's fans but I did like it too.
This book contains extracts from My Year, Boy: Tales of Childhood and chapter Spotty Powder from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory early draft. Also interesting tidbits about the author and his work. Like Willy Wonka's Oompa-Loompas were going to be called Whipple-Scrumpets and in the early draft of the story there were ten Golden Tickets and Charlie Bucket got stuck inside a chocolate statue and witnessed a bulgary.
This book contains extracts from My Year, Boy: Tales of Childhood and chapter Spotty Powder from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory early draft. Also interesting tidbits about the author and his work. Like Willy Wonka's Oompa-Loompas were going to be called Whipple-Scrumpets and in the early draft of the story there were ten Golden Tickets and Charlie Bucket got stuck inside a chocolate statue and witnessed a bulgary.
April 21, 2021
Oui, sympathique, mais un peu vide tout de même... il y a des recettes de cuisine pour combler le peu de choses qui nous sont offertes... A réserver aux fans ultimes de Roald Dahl.
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August 5, 2024musait oldugum ilk is kitaptaki tarifi yapacagim 🙇🏼♀️
June 29, 2021
This book is a complement to Roald Dahl's books and nothing else.
It's okay.
There are good stuff in it: extra chapters for some of his books, secrets, details, he talks about cut characters, plots, and more, he also talks about writing and his life.
It's an okay book if you are already a seasoned Roald Dahl fan.
It's okay.
There are good stuff in it: extra chapters for some of his books, secrets, details, he talks about cut characters, plots, and more, he also talks about writing and his life.
It's an okay book if you are already a seasoned Roald Dahl fan.
December 6, 2017
A book containing short facts about Roald Dahl's life, interspersed with amusing illustrations and some early draft pieces from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
An easy read, but not very exciting.
An easy read, but not very exciting.
May 11, 2025
An insite of how Charlie and the Chocolate Factory came to be. this book tells you of other different characters & scenarios that were not used in the book.
April 10, 2017
You can find many interesting splendiferous stories behind "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" here. Here are some of them.
Did you know that Roald Dahl was very bad at spelling, so his teacher say that he was like a camel?
Did you know that if Roald Dahl ever had a school there won't be any history teacher, but have chocolate teacher instead?
Did you know that Roald Dahl write many versions of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", but he rewrite it and rewrite it again until it reached its ultimate form like now?
Did you know that in the very first version of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" has so many nasty children, that he has to delete some of them, but he loved them too much and didn't want to erase them from the story?
Did you know that when he was 16, he travelled alone to France and run out of money so he can't back home?
And....
Did you know that his nickname at home was Apple?
I think it's enough. You have to find another splendiferous secrets by yourself. I won't tell you anymore....
Did you know that Roald Dahl was very bad at spelling, so his teacher say that he was like a camel?
Did you know that if Roald Dahl ever had a school there won't be any history teacher, but have chocolate teacher instead?
Did you know that Roald Dahl write many versions of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", but he rewrite it and rewrite it again until it reached its ultimate form like now?
Did you know that in the very first version of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" has so many nasty children, that he has to delete some of them, but he loved them too much and didn't want to erase them from the story?
Did you know that when he was 16, he travelled alone to France and run out of money so he can't back home?
And....
Did you know that his nickname at home was Apple?
I think it's enough. You have to find another splendiferous secrets by yourself. I won't tell you anymore....
December 28, 2016
2.5 stars
This is actually the same book as "The Missing Golden Ticket and Other Splendiferous Secrets"
Well, if you are an absolute fan of Roald Dahl or a collector of his works, this is a good book to have. Otherwise, this is not a book for you.
It is full of interesting tidbits about Dahl, and about chocolate, and about "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". It even has a Charlie quiz and two recipes.
It just feels like they did anything they can to put together a book. Not because it would make a good book, but because they wanted to have another book to sell.
This is actually the same book as "The Missing Golden Ticket and Other Splendiferous Secrets"
Well, if you are an absolute fan of Roald Dahl or a collector of his works, this is a good book to have. Otherwise, this is not a book for you.
It is full of interesting tidbits about Dahl, and about chocolate, and about "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". It even has a Charlie quiz and two recipes.
It just feels like they did anything they can to put together a book. Not because it would make a good book, but because they wanted to have another book to sell.
October 9, 2022
rip, roald
January 10, 2021
Ya rastgele okuyorum Roald Dahl yazmış diye Charlie’nin Çikolata Fabrikası’nın çıkartılmış bölümü denk geliyor, feels...
June 3, 2022
A nice little book that any Dahl fan will enjoy. Spotty Powder and other Splendiferous Secrets goes over what Roald Dahl did and changed while writing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we get to see the kids that got cut out and there's a whole chapter that never made it into the book here for us to read.
We also learn about the other sides of Dahl like how he wrote the screenplay for a James Bond movie and his fascination with chocolate, there is even a brief history of chocolate in the pages. We also get to see a little about his illustrator Quentin Blake who made lovely drawings like the one below this paragraph. The book documents the struggles or non-struggles he had illustrating his work.
Anyways it's a fine companion to "Charlie and the chocolate factory" if you want to learn a little about the writer. I am defentily listening to or reading Boy: Tales of Childhood next.
We also learn about the other sides of Dahl like how he wrote the screenplay for a James Bond movie and his fascination with chocolate, there is even a brief history of chocolate in the pages. We also get to see a little about his illustrator Quentin Blake who made lovely drawings like the one below this paragraph. The book documents the struggles or non-struggles he had illustrating his work.
Anyways it's a fine companion to "Charlie and the chocolate factory" if you want to learn a little about the writer. I am defentily listening to or reading Boy: Tales of Childhood next.
January 25, 2024
Bu kitap beni Umpa Lumpaların şarkıları eşliğinde çocukluğuma doğru bir zaman yolculuğuna çıkardı. Charlie’nin Çikolata Fabrikası’nı hep çok sevdim, filmini defalarca izledim, kitabını da defalarca okudum Charlie’nin Büyük Cam Asansörü ile birlikte. Bu kitapta ise Charlie’nin Çikolata Fabrikası’nda yayımlanmayan bir bölümü, Bay Wonka’dan bazı tarifleri, Roald Dahl hakkında sıradışı bilgileri okuyorduk. Dahl’ın yılın her ayı için yazdığı bolca tabiat gözlemleri içeren notlarını okumak ve onu daha yakından tanımak oldukça keyifliydi. Diğer kitaplarını da bayağı beğendiğimden kendisi çok sevdiğim bir yazar. Bir gün yediği çikolatadan altın bilet çıkmasını ve Bay Wonka'nın fabrikasını ziyaret etmeyi ümit eden herkese tavsiye ederim.
July 29, 2017
Really sad to give one of my favourite authors such a low rating. I just felt that it was introduced to make more money off Roald Dahl's name. I did however enjoy the deleted versions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and I agree - they wouldn't have made for a successful story with them in it.
Loved the interesting facts about Mr Dahl - but it was snippets from his personal life that I had already read in his other books like Flying Solo.
Loved the interesting facts about Mr Dahl - but it was snippets from his personal life that I had already read in his other books like Flying Solo.
November 27, 2016
This is an interesting little book for fans of Roald Dahl, giving some more information on ideas considered for 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', additional children, and other inventions such as the 'spotty powder' of the title.
I picked this up as a freebie as part of the Roald Dahl centenary this year. It was a quick read, about 20 mins.
I picked this up as a freebie as part of the Roald Dahl centenary this year. It was a quick read, about 20 mins.
February 21, 2019
This is nothing I would sit down and read myself, but my eldest wanted to hear it next, so we gave it a shot. Actually, it's a great mix of very short fiction and non-fiction entries that kept my kiddos entertained while also having observations about nature and such. Not a bad bedtime book for the little Roald Dahl fan(s) in your house.
June 14, 2019
Spotty Powder and the other Splendiferous Secrets will give you more behind-the-scenes stories of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Additional crumbs of what Roald Dahl is also supplied. In the latter portion, tips on becoming a great writer, based on Mr. Dahl practices is also shared, which I find gem-like is greatly appreciated. If you have extra time, read this book.
August 31, 2017
Actual rating three point five.
August 28, 2018
Fun book with the bits about my fave author... what's not to love?
November 5, 2018
I read this with an 8 year old. Thr kid thought it was boring with too much information, but I enjoyed it. 3 stars is our combined rating
July 11, 2019
Un petit livre qui se lit facilement et qui nous fait découvrir pleins de choses sur Charlie et la Chocolaterie et sur son auteur.
March 20, 2021
Never read this before. Just short ramblings and chocolate recipes.
December 18, 2021
Behind the scenes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Roald Dahl's life.
Was expecting a children's story not this behind the scenes book. Somewhat interesting but I mostly skimmed it.
Was expecting a children's story not this behind the scenes book. Somewhat interesting but I mostly skimmed it.
August 12, 2022
roald dahl💛
December 30, 2023
Aslında beğendim ama beklediğimden değişik çıktı iyi anlamda! Okumanızı öneririm. Ama bunu okumadan önce Roald Dahl'ın diğer kitaplarını okuyun yoksa anlayamayabilirsiniz.
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April 7, 2024C'est dans ce livre que j'ai appris que la réglisse était faite avec du sang de rat
July 30, 2024
A good book from my childhood
September 10, 2024
Not the best Dahl!
January 29, 2025
Çarşı ve çikolata fabrikası ilaç tanışmak ne büyük şans
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews