Children's · Fantasy
The BFG
A young orphan is carried off in the night by a giant who turns out to be kind. Together they set out to stop larger, nastier giants who prey on children.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1982
- Pace
- Fast
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 199
- Format
- Part of The Roald Dahl Classic Collection
Read this if you like silly invented words, dream-catching and a friendship between a small girl and a huge, bumbling giant.
Skip this if you want a story without any mild peril or a lot of gross-out humour.
The feel
Content warnings
None noted yet.
Quick answers about The BFG
- What is The BFG about?
- A young orphan is carried off in the night by a giant who turns out to be kind. Together they set out to stop larger, nastier giants who prey on children.
- Who should read The BFG?
- Read it if you like silly invented words, dream-catching and a friendship between a small girl and a huge, bumbling giant. Skip it if you want a story without any mild peril or a lot of gross-out humour.
- How long and how fast is The BFG?
- It is a fast-paced, short read of about 199 pages, first published in 1982.
- Does The BFG have content warnings?
- We have not noted any content warnings for this book yet.
- Can I borrow The BFG for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The BFG; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The BFG?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, The Neverending Story.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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Because you might love it
If you loved The BFG
-
Matilda Another Dahl story in which a small, sharp child outwits the grown-ups around her.
-
James and the Giant Peach
Shares the same cheerful absurdity and an orphaned hero who finds odd, loyal companions.
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The Neverending Story A longer and more serious tale of imagination, for readers ready to go further into fantasy.
Children's
