Matilda Wormwood is an extra-ordinary child. She has an ordinary brother called Michael and parents that loathed her because of her intelligence. By the time she was three, Matilda had taught herself how to read, and by the time she was four, she was able to read fast and well.
While her brother was at school, her mum was playing bingo and her dad was at work, Matilda would go to the local library. When Matilda arrived, she introduced herself to Mrs Phelps, the librarian. Mrs Phelps was slightly startled to see such a young girl come in unaccompanied by an adult.