Danny the Champion of the World

Sections: Information | Description | ReviewsAwards | Fun Stuff | Teacher Ideas | Covers | Penguin Readers, Bulgarian, CzechDutch, EstonianFrench, FrisianGalician, German, Greek, Hebrew, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Slovakian, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Welsh Covers


Information

Information on identifying editions is from Richard Walker’s “Roald Dahl – A Guide to Collecting His First Editions”.

  • First editions:
    • Knopf, 1975, USA.
      • Illustrated by: Jill Bennett
      • To identify: Used a numberline with jacket priced at $5.95
    • Jonathan Cape, 1975, UK.
      • To identify: Used single statement as per normal practice (‘First published’ followed by the date with later printings stated underneath) with a jacket priced at £2.25
      • Illustrated by: Jill Bennett
  • Later editions:
    • Jonathan Cape, 1994, UK.
      • To identify: Used a number line and a jacket pricing of £8.99
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
    • Knopf, 2002, USA.
      • To identify: Used a number line in a non-priced jacket
      • Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
  • Connections:
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Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.


Description

Can Danny and his father outsmart the villainous Mr. Hazell?

Danny has a life any boy would love—his home is a gypsy caravan, he’s the youngest master car mechanic around, and his best friend is his dad, who never runs out of wonderful stories to tell. But one night Danny discovers a shocking secret that his father has kept hidden for years. Soon Danny finds himself the mastermind behind the most incredible plot ever attempted against nasty Victor Hazell, a wealthy landowner with a bad attitude. Can they pull it off? If so, Danny will truly be the champion of the world.


Reviews

  • “The middle ground” by Isabel Quigly from the December 6, 1975 issue of The Spectator (UK) (read online)

Awards

  • Surrey School award (UK 1978)
  • California Young Reader Medal (USA 1979)

Fun Stuff

Danny the Champion of the World Quiz
Danny the Champion of the World Word Find
Danny the Champion of the World Word Find

Merchandise


Teacher Ideas


Covers


Penguin Readers Covers

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. Simplified story texts are combined with beautiful original illustrations for students aged 7 and above.


Bulgarian Covers – Дани – шампион на света


Czech Covers – Danny, mistr světa


Dutch Covers – Daantje, de wereldkampioen


Estonian Covers – Danny, maailma parim


French Covers – Danny, Champion du Monde


Frisian Covers – Lytse Daan, de Wrâldkampioen


Galician Covers – Danny, o campión do mundo


German Covers – Danny oder Die Fasanenjagd


Greek Covers – ΝΤΑΝΙ, Ο ΠΡΩΤΑΘΛΗΤΗΣ ΤΟΥ ΚΟΣΜΟΥ


Hebrew Covers


Korean Covers – 우리의 챔피언 대니


Lithuanian Covers – Denis pasaulio čempionas


Norwegian Covers – Danny og den store fasanjakten


Polish Covers – Danny, mistrz świata


Portuguese Covers – Danny, o Campeão do Mundo


Russian Covers – Дэнни – чемпион мира


Serbian Covers – Deni, prvak sveta


Slovakian Covers – Danny – majster sveta


Spanish Covers – Danny el campeón del mundo


Vietnamese Covers – Nhà Vô Địch Thế Giới


Welsh Covers – Danny Pencampwr Y Byd