“The Veldt”

• Genre: Fiction; science fiction short story
• Originally Published: 1950
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 600L; grades 9-12; college/adult
• Structure/Length: Short story; approx. 15 pages; approx. 30 minutes on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: In the future, George and Lydia Hadley grow increasingly concerned about their technologically advanced home and its impact on their children, Wendy and Peter—especially the nursery, which takes on the realistic appearance of whatever scene the visitor imagines. When the nursery appears as an extremely lifelike African veldt, the parents try to lock the door, but the children have other plans.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Death (murder) of family members; violence

Ray Bradbury, Author

• Bio: 1920-2012; born in Waukegan, Illinois; began writing every day after a childhood encounter with a carnival magician; known for imaginative fiction written in poetic prose; published his first collection of short stories, Dark Carnival, in 1947; wrote novels, stories, and screenplays, including scripts for The Twilight Zone; awarded the National Medal of Arts (2004) and a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation (2007) “for his distinguished, prolific and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy”
• Other Works: “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed” (1949); The Martian Chronicles (1950); Fahrenheit 451 (1953); Dandelion Wine (1957)
• Awards: International Fantasy Award nomination for the collection The Illustrated Man, in which “The Veldt” was published (1952)