The Twits [Paperback]

Roald Dahl (Author), Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: August 16, 2007 | Age Range: 7 and up

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Dahl's typically outre outing, the repulsive, misanthropic Mr. and Mrs. Twit become the target of revenge by the Mugglewump monkeys--who have finally had enough. Ages 7-11.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-Actor Simon Callow tackles one of Roald Dahl's most gruesome stories (Puffin, pap. 1998) with relish in this gleefully naughty audiobook. Mr. and Mrs. Twit are two of the most disgusting, nasty, and horrid characters in children's literature, from their repulsive looks (the story opens with a long, detailed description of Mr. Twit's unkempt beard) to the mean and horrible tricks they play on one another (Mrs. Twit enjoys hiding her glass eyeball in unexpected places and lacing the spaghetti with worms; Mr. Twit works for weeks to convince his wife that she has "The Shrinks"). Callow captures the dry humor of Dahl's narrative voice perfectly, and creates appropriately nasty voices for Mr. and Mrs. Twit as well. Unfortunately, the thick accents and loud tones of these voices often mean that the dialogue is difficult to understand. Still, Callow's able narration brings Dahl's ironic sensibilities to life, and a sense of satisfaction is inevitable when the terrible Twits come to an appropriately gruesome end.
Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbus
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Puffin; Reprint edition (August 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 014241039X
• ISBN-13: 978-0142410394
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (200 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Disgusting, Funny, and Exciting Book December 14, 1999

By Jasmine Quiroz

Format:Paperback

Hi, I'm a ten year old girl who has read the book The Twits, by Roald Dahl. It's disgusting in a way, exciting, and funny. The BFG was as good as The Twits, but it wasn't disgusting. The Twits are people that have three monkeys. They hate children. They make bird pie. Mrs. Twit has a glass eye. Mr. Twit has food in his beard which was very long. I would recommend this book to people that like funny, exciting, and disgusting books.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Twits Crack Me Up! November 28, 2000

A Kid's Review

Format:School & Library Binding

The Twits is a book by Roald Dahl. The Twits are husband and wife and although they are very funny, they are not too bright! Mr. Twit has a long, shaggy beard that has bits of rotten fish, apple, stale bread, etc. stuck in it. Mrs. Twit used to be very pretty when she was young, but she kept having frightening throughts and ended up as an ugly old hag! The Twits love to play mean tricks on each other. For example, one day Mr. Twit is enjoying a big, bubbly beer when Mrs. Twit pops out her glass eyeball and plops it into his mug. After spying the eyeball floating in his beer, Mr. Twit flees the scene leaving the mug and eye behind. She enjoys a good laugh. To get back at her, Mr. Twit puts a frog in her bed. Throughout the book they quarrel constantly, not with words, but by playing mean tricks on one another. My favorite trick was when Mr. Twit attached thin pieces of wood to the bottom of her cane and chair. Over time she thought she was shrinking. He (and I) had a good laugh. I enjoy reading books by Roald Dahl, and this one is among my favorites. In conclusion, I'll just tell you that the Twits end up with a "small" problem. If you read this book, you'll know what I mean by "small."

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the read September 18, 2006

By Norliza Ismail

Format:Paperback

Just the title, THE TWITS, attracted me to this particular book, and with an illustration in the front cover, who wouldn't be curious! It was another coincidence when I picked up to read this book when it was Roald Dahl's Day!

THE TWITS is the story of a couple of, well, twits! Mr Twit is has a nasty, unhygenic, ugly beard and Mrs Twit could be recognized by her glass eye, who lived in a windowless house. They have four pet monkeys, and a huge dead tree where they catch the birds for their weekly bird pie. to past time, they love to play tricks on each other.

When enough is enough, the four monkeys strategize a plan to turn the tables on the Twits with an interesting plan.

I must admit, the best part of this book, was the part where it says, no matter how you look like physically, if you're a good person, it would shine through and that would makes you a beautiful person.

THE TWITS is a really good read and people in every ages should try pick up this book and take you time to read it. It is worth your time.