The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) by Roald Dahl was published in 1982. It is a joyful, funny and tender story about an unlikely friendship between a little girl and a gentle giant, and their mission to stop other giants from eating children.
Eight-year-old Sophie is an orphan living in a London orphanage. One night, unable to sleep, she peers out of the window and sees an enormous figure moving through the streets. The giant notices her watching and snatches her up, carrying her off to Giant Country.
Sophie discovers that her captor is the BFG — the Big Friendly Giant. Unlike the other nine giants (who have names like Bloodbottler, Fleshlumpeater and Manhugger), the BFG does not eat children. He survives on a revolting vegetable called a snozzcumber and collects dreams, which he blows through children’s windows at night with a long trumpet.
Sophie and the BFG become firm friends despite the dangers — the other giants bully the BFG and would eat Sophie if they found her. Sophie learns about the BFG’s wonderful, muddled language (full of mixed-up words called ‘whizzpopping’ phrases) and helps him mix a special nightmare dream to send to the Queen of England, showing her what the giants are doing.
The Queen believes the dream — especially when she finds Sophie and the BFG waiting outside her window. She organises the British army and air force to capture the nine man-eating giants and imprison them in a deep pit. The BFG is given his own house near Windsor Castle. Sophie moves into a cottage next to him. The BFG begins writing a book — the book we have been reading all along.