CALLING all mischief monkeys and mayhem-makers! To celebrate the great children’s author’s birthday, the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre (a short hop away, in Bucks) will be more jam-packed than usual.

From a “Dahlicious” dress-up day to swashboggling storytelling sessions, you’re invited to blow out the candles in whichever style you prefer to mark the late Roald’s birthday (which is on Sunday).

Great Missenden was the home of the fighter pilot-turned-writer for 36 years until his death in 1990. The village, with its gorgeously crooked old high street (perfect for stooping giants to peek into windows), is also home to the family-friendly museum and fantabulous story centre aimed squarely at six to 12-year-olds. If you’ve never been, it’s worth a squizz for little writers and readers (and a sugar rush for parents too, of course). And this weekend is the golden ticket.

Friday (September 13) is the eighth annual Roald Dahl Day. Stories will be read at Roald Dahl’s garden at Gipsy House (open 1-5pm, just behind the high street) and museum visitors can be mesmerised by some marvellous magic.

Isabelle Reynolds adds: “Village trails will lead you to the garden to see the caravan that inspired Danny the Champion of the World, try out circus skills in the meadow and picnic in the orchard. “The museum café will serve delumptious treats and the shop will be open for mischievous and magical books, gifts and pocket money toys.”

And, as suits a dreamer of big ideas, this is just the start of a wider celebration of Roald Dahl.

Michael Rosen will host the Puffin Virtually Live event at 2pm on Friday, hosting live from the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon.

He will be joined by Sir Quentin Blake (whose illustrations grace this page and many a bedtime story) and guests from the two hit stage musicals inspired by Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Last year’s Puffin Virtually Live reached a quarter of a million young people all over the globe, from Ipswich to India, so it’s worth joining the conga. Register for Puffin Virtually Live event by visiting puffinvirtuallylive.co.uk On Friday, September 27, primary children across the UK are asked to donate £1 to dress up as their favourite Dahl character.

Funds will help Roald’s Marvellous Children’s Charity provide specialist children’s nurses and equipment for youngsters with rare, severe health conditions. And £92,000 is last year’s total and the one to smash. Schools can sign up now at roalddahlcharity. org/schools or call 01494 890 465.

And, bookworms like Matilda will be pleased to hear that throughout 2013, Puffin Books will release amazing new audiobooks of Roald Dahl’s best-loved stories, read by A-listers including The Giraffe The Pelly & Me read by Hugh Laurie and Esio Trot read by Sir Quentin Blake.

Make sure you join the fun.