Reviews of Roald Dahl's The Magic Finger, illustrated by Quentin Blake, highlight its inventive plot and moral undertone, appealing to both children and adults. Positive feedback centers on the humor and engaging storytelling, while criticisms point to its brevity and oversimplified characters. Quentin Blake's illustrations receive consistent praise for complementing the narrative's whimsical style.

A reader who would enjoy The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl and illustr. Quentin Blake is typically a child between the ages of 7 and 10 who enjoys whimsical, imaginative tales with moral lessons. Comparable to the audiences of Charlotte's Web and The Tale of Despereaux, they appreciate humor and thought-provoking stories.

In Roald Dahl's The Magic Finger, an eight-year-old girl with a magical finger curses her hunting-obsessed neighbors, the Greggs, turning them into bird-sized humans with wings. As the Greggs experience life as birds, they confront their actions and ultimately vow to stop hunting, leading to their transformation back to human form.

- The Magic Finger was first published in 1966, and it explores themes of justice and empathy through a fantastical and whimsical narrative.
- The book features illustrations by Quentin Blake, whose collaboration with Roald Dahl has become iconic, contributing to the popularity and distinctive look of Dahl's works.
- In 1998, The Magic Finger was adapted into an animated short film for television, further expanding its audience and demonstrating its lasting appeal.

**Unnamed Narrator**  
The unnamed narrator is an empathetic eight-year-old girl who opposes hunting and possesses the mysterious Magic Finger, a power she uses sparingly.

**The Gregg Family**  
A neighboring family consisting of Mr. Gregg, Mrs. Gregg, and their two sons, William and Philip, who love hunting and undergo a transformative experience.

**The Four Ducks**  
A group of giant ducks who parallel the Gregg family and play a critical role in the narrative's comedic and moral elements.

**Mrs. Winter**  
The unnamed narrator’s unkind teacher who experiences an unusual transformation due to the Magic Finger.

**The Coopers**  
A family mentioned as avid hunters who reside near the Greggs, signaling potential for future events similar to those affecting the Greggs.

Roald Dahl

Illustr. Quentin Blake

Middle grade

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

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The Magic Finger

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