The Grand Lobby
A huge lobby with a shiny marble floor, a sweeping staircase, and a doorman who keeps checking his watch. It feels like the sort of place where important things happen quietly.
READING GUIDE
The Witches
by Dahl - Roald · Witches, Mice, and a Brave Boy
About the book
This guide accompanies Roald Dahl's The Witches, a story that opens in Norway, where a young boy lives with his loving grandmother after losing his parents. When the two travel to an English seaside hotel, the boy stumbles into a secret gathering of witches and must rely on courage and quick thinking. Dahl blends dark humour with suspense, making it a gripping read for children in the middle primary years.
Why kids love it
The Witches rewards young readers with a fast-moving plot and a memorable, larger-than-life villain, while quietly asking serious questions about bravery and how we judge people by appearances. The boy's bond with his grandmother offers a warm counterweight to the scarier moments, and the story gives families plenty to talk about afterwards. It is also a useful book for building vocabulary and for discussing how authors use exaggeration and humour.
Step into the world of The Witches
The Ballroom
A vast room with a polished floor and rows of little chairs. The air smells faintly of mice and something sharp and chemical.
The Dining Room
White tablecloths, silver teapots, and a long menu of fancy dishes. A boy in short trousers is trying to sneak a doughnut from the dessert trolley.
Sample questions
Here is the kind of thinking The Witches asks for — drawn from the actual quiz:
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Who is the boy's grandmother?
The boy calls her Grandmamma, and she is a former witch hunter from Norway.
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The boy and his grandmother go to a hotel in England.
They stay at the Hotel Magnificent, where the witches hold their annual meeting.
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Where does the boy live at the beginning of the story?
The boy lives in Norway with his grandmother after his parents die.
Words to know
- hideous
- Extremely ugly or unpleasant to look at.
- potion
- A special drink, often one with magical effects.
- vial
- A very small bottle, usually used for liquids.
- squirming
- Wriggling and twisting about, often because of worry or discomfort.
- formula
- A precise set of ingredients or instructions for making something.
- plan
- An idea worked out in advance about what to do.
- disguise
- Something worn or done to change how you look so people don't recognise you.
Talk about it
How does the boy's grandmother help him feel safe, and why do you think her knowledge about witches matters so much in this story?
The witches look like ordinary women. What does the book seem to be saying about judging people by appearances, and do you agree?
Think about a moment when the boy is frightened but acts anyway. What does bravery look like in this story, and how is it different from not being scared at all?
How does the author use humour alongside scary moments? Did that make the frightening parts easier or harder to read?
If you were in the boy's place at the hotel, what would you have done differently, and what might have gone wrong?
Play the full quiz
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