I’ve been wanting to incorporate a cover feature for quite a while now. There are so many of my favorite books that have multiple eye-catching covers and I would love to have a place on my shelf for them all. But I don’t really need multiple copies of the same book. In Cover Craze I will share multiple copies of a favorite book that I can only dream of owning.
This month marks the 50th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, loved by children (and adults) worldwide it doesn’t need an introduction. I had been planning a Charlie-themed Cover Craze for a while and it seemed apt to bring it forward in celebration of the anniversary.
- Collins Hardcover (1991) – Although not a favorite, this is the very first Roald Dahl book I was ever given so it holds a very special place in my heart. This edition was part of a Best of Roald Dahl collection along with Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Fantastic Mr. Fox, James and the Giant Peach, and The Magic Finger. I own the first four, and they now sit on my daughter’s bookshelf!
- Puffin Modern Classics (1997) – I love the blue on this cover and how the picture is more prominent than the title. This edition is part of the Puffin Modern Classics collection. Puffin being the Children’s arm of Penguin. The Penguin Modern Classics edition is a whole other story and I dislike it a lot. I’m not including it here, but if you missed it, you can click here.
- Puffin Paperback (1998) – Simplistic and of course illustrated by Quentin Blake!
- Knopf for Young Readers (2001) – This is the only cover I have ever seen which focuses on the factory (the outside anyway).
- Penguin USA (2007) – This USA edition is part of an entire reprint collection with matching covers for most (if not all) of Dahl’s books. If I remember correctly, you can buy as a boxset, and who doesn’t like a good boxset?
- Penguin Classics Edition (2011) – This has to be one of my favorite covers for Charlie. I love the comic style of the design.
- Puffin Books (2013) – Another Quentin Blake illustrated edition. I think most people conjur up images of Blake’s illustrations when thinking of Roald Dahl.
- Knopf 50th Anniversary Edition (2014) – One of the special editions reprinted for the 50th anniversary. I still can’t believe that this story is 50 years old. It never ages!
Which is your favorite of the editions I selected? Do you collect different editions of the same book?
When I think of Dahl’s books I do think of Blake’s illustrations, so I probably prefer those generally to any other covers – but I do really like #4 – there’s that sense of something magical just beyond the gates. I love to collect different covers of my favorite book (Jane Eyre) especially if it an illustrated edition.
Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy recently posted…Star Trek TNG Season 5 – Top 5 Favorite Episodes
You know, I haven’t actually read Jane Eyre. I have it on my kindle waiting patiently. It’s great that you collect different editions of a favorite book. There are only a couple that I have multiple copies of but mainly because the first copy is still in the UK, and I bought another one here in the US.
I’ll always love the Puffin paperbacks the most. That was the edition I grew up with and I don’t think I can imagine Roald Dahl without immediately also thinking of Quentin Blake and his fantastic illustrations.
Annie recently posted…Countdown Survey
Yes I immediately think of Quentin Blake’s illustrations whenever I think about a Roald Dahl book. The two just go hand in hand.