For children who dream of adding a little mischief to their lives, this book delivers a wonderfully silly, madcap adventure about a boy and his extraordinary concoction.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is feeling frustrated by rules or bossed around by adults and needs a safe, hilarious outlet for their mischievous energy. This classic story follows George, a boy who decides to replace his grumpy, selfish grandmother's medicine with a wild concoction he mixes up himself from household products. The results are explosive, fantastical, and utterly madcap. It’s a celebration of creativity and childlike empowerment, wrapped in Roald Dahl's signature dark humor. Perfect for early chapter book readers, it sparks conversations about consequences (in a very silly way) and is a joy to read aloud, prompting giggles from kids and adults alike.
A character shrinks and disappears permanently. This is presented in a comedic, non-traumatic way.
Mature ThemesMild
A child's dangerous and mischievous act is portrayed as fun and ultimately beneficial.
Mild PerilMild
A character grows to a huge size, breaking through a house. Animals undergo strange changes.
Sensitive Topics
The book's premise involves a child attempting to alter a grandparent with a potentially harmful potion, which is framed as deserved. The grandmother is emotionally cruel. The story ends with her shrinking into nothingness and disappearing, which is a form of character death. It is handled in a fantastical, secular, and comedic way, with the family expressing relief. The resolution is darkly comic, not realistic or tragic.
Ideal Reader
A 7 to 9-year-old with a strong sense of humor and a mischievous side. This book is perfect for a child who feels constrained by rules or annoyed by authority figures, and who delights in imaginative, slightly taboo “what if” scenarios. It's a prime choice for kids who love slapstick and aren't put off by cartoonish meanness.
Parent Prep
A parent must be prepared to have a very clear conversation about the difference between story-magic and real-life danger. Preview the long list of poisonous ingredients George uses to emphasize this is fantasy and should never be copied. The ending, where Grandma disappears, can also be a point of discussion, though most children read it as a funny, magical event rather than a sad one. A parent has witnessed their child getting deeply frustrated with a grandparent or other authority figure, perhaps muttering “She’s so mean!” or engaging in minor, defiant acts of mischief. The child is feeling powerless and needs an outlet for those big feelings.
Age Experience
A younger reader (6-7) will latch onto the slapstick comedy: Grandma shooting through the roof, the bizarre animal transformations, and the zany potion-making. An older reader (8-9) will better appreciate the dark humor, George’s rebellious motivation, and the satire in his father's greedy attempts to commercialize the medicine. They will see it as a story of empowerment.
What Makes It Special
Unlike typical fantasy where magic is an external force, the “magic” here springs from a child’s creative rebellion using mundane household items. This grounding in the real world makes the fantasy feel both accessible and thrillingly forbidden. Roald Dahl's unique authorial voice, which champions the clever child against grotesque adults, makes this book a masterclass in dark, cathartic humor.
Read plot summary
Young George is left alone to care for his horrid, complaining Grandma. In a fit of inspired mischief, he decides to create a new “marvellous medicine” for her, combining everything from animal pills and engine oil to shampoo and floor polish. When Grandma drinks it, she first balloons to the size of the house, then begins to shrink. The story follows the chaotic, magical, and hilarious consequences of his creation, including his father's attempts to replicate the formula to create giant farm animals.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
George used lots of dangerous things in his medicine. If you were to make a 'marvellous medicine' using only safe things from the kitchen, what would you put in it and what would you want it to do?
2
Do you think Grandma really meant the mean things she said to George? Why do you think some people act grumpy?
3
At the end, George's mother is 'a little sad' but also relieved that Grandma is gone. Why do you think she had two different feelings at the same time?
4
George's dad wanted to make more medicine to sell and get rich. Do you think he was focusing on the right thing? What might have been more important?
