Fun Reading Activities for James and the Giant Peach
By Lily | Published 5 September 2022 | Goodreads Rating 4.03 | This post may contain affiliate links.
We’ve curated a list of fun activities inspired by James and the Giant Peach for you and your kids. Be sure to try some (or all!) of these ideas to extend the reading fun, while creating special memories for your family along the way!
James and the Giant Peach is a classic children's book by Roald Dahl, telling the story of a young boy who enters a magical world inside a giant peach. Kids will love reading this book because of its imaginative and whimsical storyline, colorful characters, and humorous tone.
Here are 10 activities to extend the reading fun of this imaginative book! If you or child need a refresher, be sure to check out the book summary for James and the Giant Peach!
10 Peachy Book-Themed Activities for James and the Giant Peach
Activity 1: Learn how the delicious peach grows!
Many of today’s kids live far from farms and miss the opportunity to learn where fruit comes from. They see it as a fruit on a shelf at the supermarket or at best, at a farmer’s market. So this video from @TRUE FOOD TV did a wonderful job in giving the history behind this delicious fruit! This channel also does an awesome job in showing appreciation for the hardworking farmers and the workers who grow and harvest our fruits and veggies! So if you have space in your back yard, consider purchasing a peach tree to plant in your yard!
Activity 2: Go pick peaches … or any fresh fruit!
If it's summer, visit a local farm or orchard to pick fresh fruits like peaches, strawberries or blueberries. If you don’t live near a farm, your kids can follow along with Emma in her vlog from @Everyday With Us as she documents her family’s visit to a peach farm in Georgia!
Activity 3: Go on a Peach Scavenger Hunt … at the supermarket!
Head to the supermarket with your child to go on a scavenger hunt! Have your kids spot at least 10 items made of peaches, like canned peaches, peach jam, peach tea and so much more! Afterwards, let your child pick one to take home and try!
Activity 4: Bake a peach-themed treat, like a pie, cobbler or cake!
Peaches can be great for baking! They have a sweet and juicy flavor that can add a delicious taste and texture to baked goods. Peach pie, peach cobbler, and peach crisp are all popular desserts that feature baked peaches. Additionally, sliced peaches can be added to cakes, muffins, and breads to create a fruity twist on traditional recipes.
When selecting peaches for baking, it's best to choose ones that are ripe but not overly soft, as they will hold their shape better during baking. Here are 55 delicious peach recipes for inspiration! Or, follow this simple recipe for peach cobbler by John at Preppy Kitchen!
Activity 5: Create a bug habitat + go on a bug hunt!
Study the different bugs in the book and also research local bugs in your area. Then, together as a family, create a habitat for them in your backyard or in a jar before setting off on a bug hunt in a garden or local park. Before you set off, be sure to have the below items on hand:
Find a clear jar or container to make it easier for kids to observe the bugs.
Provide magnifying glasses so that kids can get a closer look at the bugs and observe their features.
Use colorful bedding at the bottom of the container, such as flowers, leaves or even colorful tissue paper.
Provide age-appropriate books or resources, with colorful pictures especially for younger children.
Allow your kids to decorate the habitat with stickers, markers or other art supplies.
Watch Ranger Dai from Haven holiday parks as he guides you to go on your very own mini-bug safari!
Activity 6: Make yummy vegetable bug snacks!
If you have fussy eaters who pick at their vegetables, try these fun and healthy finger fruit and vegetable bug snacks! This is one time you’ll want them to play with their food! ;-)
These adorable bug snacks from @Darcy Miller include directions for some of the critters in James and the Giant Peach, like a ladybug, a very hungry caterpillar, and two different types of snails! There’s no cooking required, so this is a fun project that is easy to set up and for all ages! Your kids will have fun helping to put together their own bug snacks of creatures both real or imagined!
Activity 7: Organize a family movie night of James and the Giant Peach!
Plan a family night to watch the Disney-version of James and the Giant Peach, produced by Tim Burton, released in 1996. This film begins with 20 minutes of normal live action, but becomes stop-motion animation after James enters the peach. Then returns to live action when James enters New York City.
While the basic storyline is the same, there are several notable differences. For example, Miss Spider is a friendly character in the movie but is portrayed as a villain in the book. The Cloud Men on the other hand were portrayed as a fierce and dangerous group that James and his friends must avoid, while in the movie, they are friendly characters who help the group on their journey. While both versions have their own unique qualities, it's worth noting that the book remains a beloved classic of children's literature.
Activity 8: Create a small garden.
Starting a garden can be a fun and educational activity for kids. Here are some things you need to know to help your child create a small garden:
Choose a good location: Pick a spot in your yard that gets plenty of sunlight and has good drainage.
Decide what to plant: Choose plants that are easy to grow and suitable for your climate. Vegetables like tomatoes, lettuce, and beans are good choices for beginners.
Prepare the soil: Make sure the soil is fertile and free of weeds before planting. You can add compost or organic matter to improve soil quality.
Plant the seeds: Follow the instructions on the seed packets for planting depth and spacing. Water the seeds well after planting.
Water and care for the plants: Water the plants regularly and make sure they get enough sunlight. Remove any weeds or pests that may be harming the plants.
Harvest the crops: Once the plants are mature, harvest the fruits or vegetables. This is a great opportunity to teach your kids about healthy eating and cooking.
Activity 9: Download free resources to build reading comprehension!
Visit the official Roald Dahl website which includes a Lesson Plan on Jame’s horrid Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker.
Here’s another resource from the scrumpdiddlyumptious world of Roald Dahl.
Vocabulary.com is a great resource to test your child's knowledge, as well as spelling acumen of words learnt from James and the Giant Peach.
Download this free activity booklet for James and the Giant Peach from Reading Quests to help with your child’s comprehension of this book and to make reading fun especially for struggling readers!
Activity 10: Check out other fabulous books by Roald Dahl!
If your child enjoyed the whimsy, imagination, and humor writing of James and the Giant Peach, be sure to read the rest of Roald Dahl’s children’s books including the below:
Esio Trot: Spell "Esio Trot" backwards and you get the word "tortoise", which is a clue enough to detect how funny and crazy this book is. It follows the story of Mr Hoppy's unrequited love for Mrs Silver, who lives downstairs and, in turn, only has eyes for her pet tortoise, Alfie. Esio Trot is often forgotten amongst the Roald Dahl catalog, even though it is often regarded as one of his best pieces of work.
Fantastic Mr. Fox: This book is Dahl at his best and told from the perspective of a (particularly clever) group of animals. This tale features Mr Fox who is exactly the kind of hero Roald Dahl loves, as will your child! This story is rich in detail of the conflict between the Fox family and three greedy farmers.
The BFG: “This warmhearted tall tale, published a year before Dahl picked up the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, artfully whisks readers away on a magical journey through London, Giant Country and beyond, to a realm of wild imagination.” --TIME Magazine
The Witches: This story follows an orphaned boy sent to live with his grandmother in Norway, who warns him to be wary of witches. But on their way to England together, they come across a witch convention and encounter an enchanting adventure too funny to miss.
REWARD: Celebrate James and the Giant Peach!
When your child has finished the book and completed one or more of the above activities, download this FREE artwork!
Inspired by James and the Giant Peach, hang or frame this special poster in your child’s room as a memento of this special book!
More book-themed activities & rewards for James and the Giant Peach
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