Friday Face Off : Middle Grade – choose whatever pleases you
12 March 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Bookx by Proxy, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Friday Face off, Roald Dahl
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future week’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme. I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout. This week’s theme:
Middle Grade – choose whatever pleases you
I don’t really read MG these days but surprisingly I had a number of books to choose from. This week I’ve gone for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. There are so many covers for this. I’ve gone for a small selection:
So, lots of covers, apologies if your favourite isn’t here. My choice this week comes down to these two:
Do you have a favourite?
I’ve updated the list now to include themes for next year. If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know. Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions. Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books. If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:
Next week – Ruin or derelict, old and worn, could be the book itself, a building, a place
2021
March
19th – Ruin or derelict, old and worn, could be the book itself, a building, a place
26th – A picture within a picture
April
2nd – A train or tram – travelling down the track, could be old style, futuristic, overhead, down below.
9th – Cartoonish or graphic
16th – I have to have it – a cover that gave you ‘grabby hands’
23rd – Your current read (if it has covers to compare) or any recent read
30th– A series that you love – highlight all the books in the series
May
Month of Wyrd and Wonder
7th – A Series where the cover changed midway through – which style do you prefer most
14th – The earliest fantasy you recall reading – or the first fantasy book you really loved, maybe the book that kickstarted your love of fantasy
21st – The Top Hat
28th – The Hood
June
4th – The nose boop – any animal, or human, with a close up shot.
11th – A cover that annoyed you and why
18th – Out of Perspective, or make you feel a bit dizzy
25th – Upside down, back to front or topsy turvy
July
2nd – A book with a landscape you’d like to visit
9th – A Wicked Grin
16th – Books with ‘book’ in the title
23rd – A Black Hole – could be in the universe or going deep into the ground
30th – Chaos – maybe too much going on in this one
August
6th – “They cluck their thick tongues, and shake their heads and suggest, os so very delicately!” – The Motel
13th – A favourite holiday read
20th – Dressed to kill (could be literally someone dressed to kill, or someone dressed up for a big night out
27th – Sunbathing or on the beach
September (RIP event)
3rd – 1920s feel, noir detective
10th – I’m Henry the Eighth I am – let’s look at Kings or other Emperors/rulers
17th – Books with ‘Murder’ in the title
24th – A favourite thriller
October
1st – A Halloween read
8th – Chills – anything at all that almost makes you too scared to pick up the book (your own pet hate)
15th – Your favourite book of magic
22nd – Books with ‘Queen’ in the title
29th – Must be gothic
November – Sci Fi Month
5th – Your earliest sci-fi read or the first sci-fi you reviewed
12th – A book with ‘star’ in the title
19th – Futuristic vista
26th – A Black Hole – in the universe or going deep into the ground
December
3rd – Windswept, the classic figure, stood majestically, with wind blowing out in a fetching way
10th – A fairytale retold
17th – Winter Solstice approaching – anything cold and seasonal
24th – All things fire – red hair, red covers, fire breathing dragons, simply fire?
31st – What’s your catnip – if it’s on a cover you have to pick it up
Yes, gotta love Quentin Blake’s artwork!
Yes, you do.
Lynn 😀
I like the one on the left from your two choices: the man’s face in the foreground sports a delightfully quirky expression 🙂
Yes, I love his expression, it’s just perfect.
Lynn 😀
I like #1 and 4 the best. Great choice, I love this book😁
I love this book too, and the original film. I wasn’t really keen on the remake.
Lynn 😀
Great pick this week!
Thanks 😀
You’re welcome!
Aww, this was one of my favorite books as a kid. Mogsy mentioned above that much of the artwork is from Quentin Blake. Learnt something new today, thanks to FFO 🙂
Yes, I’d heard of the artist – I seem to recall watching a short documentary about Roald Dahl which is probably where I picked that up and his work is just so perfect for the books.
Lynn 😀
I’ve never actually read any Dahl! I think I find his stuff (based on the films) rather creepy lol.
Oh yes, Dahl definitely treads a fine line between creepy or not, I do love some of his children’s books though. He did in fact write an adult series called Tales of the Unexpected – which was definitely creepy and was also adapted for tv.
Lynn 😀