September 13 is the 100th birthday of Roald Dahl, the giant (big and friendly) of 20th-century children's literature. Each year his birthday is marked by Roald Dahl Day, with costume parties and readings in schools and homes worldwide. For a golden ticket to this year's centennial celebration, register here to download a party pack.Dahl's bibliography is a pop culture cornerstone: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and The BFG, among many beloved others. Matilda (1988), Dahl's tale of a precocious little girl stifled by neglectful parents and a bullying school principal, remains a mainstay for young readers. Matilda's intelligence, and, of course, her telekinesis, make her one of Dahl's most endearing characters. The novel became a popular film in 1996 starring Danny DeVito and Mara Wilson. In 2010, the Royal Shakespeare Company commissioned Matilda the Musical, a stage production that came to Broadway in 2013 and won five Tony Awards that year. In 2013, Puffin Books republished Matilda as a hardcover classic edition ($16.99, 9780142424278). --Tobias Mutter
