Book #12
The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl
In this much-loved Dahl story, the giraffe, the pelican and the agile monkey set out to prove that they are the best window-cleaning company around.
This is one of Dahl's slightly more outlandish stories, and I think it's meant for a younger audience than most of his others. Dahl introduces us to three animals - the Giraffe, the Pelly, and the Monkey - who run a ladderless window cleaning company. Stories don't get much more fantastic than this.
The three animals and Billy go to the Duke of Hampshire's house to help clean his 600-odd windows and whilst there manage to catch a thief! This results in a happy ending for everyone, with the Duke allowing the three animals to live on his estate in return for window cleaning, and he buys Billy his coveted sweet shop!
I think here Dahl is trying to instill in us that all the good deeds we do in life will be rewarded, and how important it is to be kind and help people.
The imagery is marvellous as usual. I particularly enjoyed the idea of the Pelly's beak being like a retractable tape measure, and the Giraffe's extendable neck.
It's a lovely quick read, and would be an excellent one to read aloud to a younger person. And there's a happy ending! What more could you possibly ask for?