By the age of one and a half, she could speak perfectly and
knew as many words as most grown-up people. By the time she
was three, Matilda could read newspapers. At the age of four, she
could read fast and well.
'Daddy,' she said, 'could you buy me a book?'
'A book?' he said. 'What's wrong with the TV? We've got a nice
TV and now you come asking for a book! We're too good to you
already, my girl!'
Nearly every afternoon, Matilda stayed in the house while her
br th cr (who was five years older than her) went to school,
her farter went to work and her mother went tO the cinema.
one aflnnoon, Matilda walked to the library in the village.
Mrs Phelps, the woman at the library, was surprised to see this
small girl.
'Where are the children's books, please?' asked Matilda.
Mrs Phelps showed her. 'Shall I find you a nice one with lots
of pictures in it?' she said.
'I'm sure I can find something,' said Matilda.
After that, she walked down to the library every afternoon and
sat quietly in a corner reading.
'What can I read next?' she asked Mrs Phelps one day. 'I've
finished all the children's books.'
'You mean you've looked at the pictures.'
'Yes, but I've read the books, too,' said Matilda.
Mrs Phelps was very surprised. 'How old are you, Matilda?' she
asked.
'Four years and three months,' answered Matilda.
Mrs Phelps was even more surprised, but she was too sensible
to show it. 'What sort of book would you like to read next?' she
asked.
'A really good one,' said Matilda. 'A famous one.'
So Mrs Phelps gave her Great Expectations by Charles
Dickens, a very famous English writer. For the next few