George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl is a light hearted and imaginative read, following George, a young boy who’s had enough of his unpleasant and grumpy grandmother. Determined to change her behaviour, George decides to create his own medicine using whatever he can find around the house—and the results are far beyond what anyone expected.
George is a clever and inventive character, mixing together a strange concoction made from everyday household items like shampoo, shoe polish, and engine oil. His goal is simple: to make his grandmother kinder. But when she takes the medicine, things quickly spiral out of control, leading to a series of funny and unexpected events.
Dahl’s trademark humour and wit are clear throughout the story. His portrayal of George's grandmother is exaggerated in the best way—she’s so cantankerous and rude that George’s drastic approach feels almost understandable. The ridiculousness of the situation is what makes the book so enjoyable and amusing.
At its heart, George’s Marvellous Medicine is about using creativity and imagination to solve problems in unexpected ways. The fact that George’s "solution" involves ordinary household products adds to the humour, making it feel relatable and entertaining without becoming too serious.
The book is fast-paced and packed with humour, making it an enjoyable read for children, although adults can also appreciate Dahl's clever storytelling. The mischievous tone keeps things light, and the unpredictable consequences of George’s experiment add an extra layer of fun.
For those who enjoy a bit of mischief, humour, and imaginative storytelling, this is a great pick. It's an engaging, quick read that showcases Roald Dahl’s ability to create memorable characters and outlandish scenarios in a way that remains entertaining and light-hearted.
See below for ‘George's Marvellous Medicine’ words. You can also access an editable list here.
Vocabulary Cards
As well as word lists, we also offer free use of our vocabulary cards, which can be downloaded as a PDF for use in class. Complete a short form and we will email you the cards straight away.
Vocabulary cards include:
- Definition;
- Word type;
- Synonyms and antonyms;
- Example sentence;
- Image.
Check out our weekly lists every Wednesday! Click here for last week's curation...
The Vocab Module - How it Works
Find out more about our Vocab module. It's simple, online, and each learner has their own username and password. You (the teacher) allocate the word list you'd like your class to work on... and away they go!
