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Books Like The BFG

A personal project — every book hand-picked by a London dad 🇬🇧

For readers who enjoyed Sophie’s partnership with an unlikely giant, the invented language, and a dangerous plan carried by friendship, these books offer several routes onward.

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12 hand-picked books

How to use this shelf

Choose by reading experience as well as theme. Wordplay and read-aloud performance point toward comic fantasy; secret plans and peril point toward adventure; the central friendship can lead to gentler stories with an unusual companion.

Quick comparison

6 varied places to start. Compare the age, format, and themes, then read the notes or check current UK editions.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Roald Dahl · Chapter Book · ages 6–10 · humour and wonder
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Mr Stink
David Walliams · Chapter Book · ages 7–10 · kindness and friendship
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Stitch Head
Guy Bass · Chapter Book · ages 7–10 · friendship and courage
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Five on a Treasure Island
Enid Blyton · Chapter Book · ages 7–11 · adventure and friendship
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Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties
Humza Arshad · Chapter Book · ages 8–12 · humour and courage
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The Sheep-Pig
Dick King-Smith · Chapter Book · ages 6–10 · kindness and perseverance
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory book cover
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Roald Dahl
Ages 6–10
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Roald Dahl · Quentin Blake
Charlie Bucket finds one of five golden tickets and enters Willy Wonka’s extraordinary chocolate factory.
Why it fits: another title by Roald Dahl, the same chapter book format and shared themes of wonder and kindness.
Chapter Book1964
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Mr Stink book cover
Mr Stink
David Walliams
Ages 7–10
Mr Stink
David Walliams · Quentin Blake
First published in 2009, Mr Stink is a chapter book by David Walliams for children aged 7 to 10. It is illustrated by Quentin Blake. Its themes include kindness, friendship, courage and justice.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of kindness and friendship and overlapping age guidance for 7–10.
Chapter Book2009
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Stitch Head book cover
Stitch Head
Guy Bass
Ages 7–10
Stitch Head
Guy Bass
Stitch Head by Guy Bass is a chapter book for children aged 7 to 10. A useful choice for reading about friendship, courage and kindness.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of friendship and courage and overlapping age guidance for 7–10.
Chapter Book2011
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Five on a Treasure Island book cover
Five on a Treasure Island
Enid Blyton
Ages 7–11
Five on a Treasure Island
Enid Blyton
On the shelf for children aged 7 to 11: Five on a Treasure Island, a chapter book by Enid Blyton. It connects with adventure, friendship and courage.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of friendship and courage and overlapping age guidance for 7–11.
Chapter Book1942
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Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties book cover
Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties
Humza Arshad
Ages 8–12
Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties
Humza Arshad
First published in 2019, Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties is a chapter book by Humza Arshad for children aged 8 to 12. Its themes include humour, courage and friendship.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of courage and friendship and overlapping age guidance for 8–12.
Chapter Book2019
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The Sheep-Pig book cover
The Sheep-Pig
Dick King-Smith
Ages 6–10
The Sheep-Pig
Dick King-Smith
For readers interested in kindness, perseverance and courage, compare The Sheep-Pig by Dick King-Smith. It is a chapter book for children aged 6 to 10.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of kindness and courage and overlapping age guidance for 6–10.
Chapter Book1983
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The 1,000-Year-Old Boy book cover
The 1,000-Year-Old Boy
Ross Welford
Ages 9–12
The 1,000-Year-Old Boy
Ross Welford
The 1,000-Year-Old Boy, a novel by Ross Welford, is selected for children aged 9 to 12. Compare it with other books exploring friendship, wonder and courage.
Why it fits: shared themes of friendship and wonder and overlapping age guidance for 9–12.
Novel2018
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The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse book cover
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Charlie Mackesy
Ages 4–16
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Charlie Mackesy
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy is a picture book for readers aged 4+. A useful choice for reading about kindness, friendship and courage.
Why it fits: shared themes of kindness and friendship and overlapping age guidance for 4–16.
Picture Book2019
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The Butterfly Lion book cover
The Butterfly Lion
Michael Morpurgo
Ages 8–12
The Butterfly Lion
Michael Morpurgo
First published in 1996, The Butterfly Lion is a novel by Michael Morpurgo for children aged 8 to 12. Its themes include friendship, loyalty, wonder and courage.
Why it fits: shared themes of friendship and wonder and overlapping age guidance for 8–12.
Novel1996
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The Hobbit book cover
The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien
Ages 9–14
The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins leaves his comfortable home with Thorin and a company of dwarves to reclaim their mountain and treasure from Smaug.
Why it fits: shared themes of courage and friendship and overlapping age guidance for 9–14.
Classic1937
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The Iron Man book cover
The Iron Man
Ted Hughes
Ages 7–11
The Iron Man
Ted Hughes
First published in 1968, The Iron Man is a classic by Ted Hughes for children aged 7 to 11. Its themes include courage, wonder and kindness.
Why it fits: shared themes of courage and wonder and overlapping age guidance for 7–11.
Classic1968
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James and the Giant Peach book cover
James and the Giant Peach
Roald Dahl
Ages 6–10
James and the Giant Peach
Roald Dahl · Quentin Blake
Choose James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl for children aged 6 to 10. It is illustrated by Quentin Blake. This chapter book is shelved with books about adventure, friendship, courage and imagination.
Why it fits: another title by Roald Dahl, the same chapter book format and shared themes of friendship and courage.
Chapter Book1961
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