Charlie and the Chocolate Factory [Paperback]

Roald Dahl (Author), Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: June 1, 1998 | Age Range: 8 and up | Lexile Measure: 810L (What's this?)

The gates of Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory are opening at last -- and only five children will be allowed inside.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, along with Roald Dahl's other tales for younger readers, make him a true star of children's literature. Dahl seems to know just how far to go with his oddball fantasies; in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, for example, nasty Violet Beauregarde blows up into a blueberry from sneaking forbidden chewing gum, and bratty Augustus Gloop is carried away on the river of chocolate he wouldn't resist. In fact, all manner of disasters can happen to the most obnoxiously deserving of children because Dahl portrays each incident with such resourcefulness and humor.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a singular delight, crammed with mad fantasy, childhood justice and revenge, and as much candy as you can eat. The book is also available in Spanish (Charlie y la Fabrica de Chocolate). (The suggested age range for this book is 9-12, but nobody this reviewer has met can resist it, including New York City bellhops, flight attendants, and grumpy teenagers.) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

He was our modern Pied Piper The Times Blake is beyond brilliant ... his partnership with Roald Dahl was made in heaven Daily Telegraph The ultimate children's story, ever --David Walliams --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141301155
• ISBN-13: 978-0141301150
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (591 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,670 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was born in Llandaff, South Wales, and went to Repton School in England. His parents were Norwegian, so holidays were spent in Norway. As he explains in Boy, he turned down the idea of university in favor of a job that would take him to"a wonderful faraway place. In 1933 he joined the Shell Company, which sent him to Mombasa in East Africa. When World War II began in 1939 he became a fighter pilot and in 1942 was made assistant air attaché in Washington, where he started to write short stories. His first major success as a writer for children was in 1964. Thereafter his children's books brought him increasing popularity, and when he died children mourned the world over, particularly in Britain where he had lived for many years.The BFG is dedicated to the memory of Roald Dahls eldest daughter, Olivia, who died from measles when she was seven - the same age at which his sister had died (fron appendicitis) over forty years before. Quentin Blake, the first Children's Laureate of the United Kingdom, has illustrated most of Roald Dahl's children's books.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 75 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Children's Book of All Time April 8, 2002

By Jose R. Perez

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Along with his other classic, "James and the Giant Peach", Roald Dalh's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" stands at the top of the heap when it comes to children's books. This is a pure classic of imagination, storytelling and magic. Far superior to the film (where Willy Wonka becomes the title character), the book tells the story from Charlie Bucket's point of view. Charlie, who lives with his four ancient grandparents and his mother in a one-room house, is the kind of child who can only dream about his future, since his family has barely enough money to survive. When the Wonka chocolatier announces that five golden tickets to visit the aged factory have been carefully tucked inside chocolate bars the world over, Charlie's dreams are suddenly wide open. He stumbles on some money in the street, purchases a chocolate bar and is thrust into the limelight beccoming one of the five lucky vistors. The rest of the tale is one of scrumptous folly and nerve-wracking sentiment, highlighted by magical workers (the one and only Oompa Loompas), the etheral Willy Wonka, a host of loony characters - both adults and kids - and a thrill ride in a factory where time stands still and also rocks forwards, backwards, sideways and then some! It's a classic tale of the triumph of good over evil, generosity over greed and family over fair-weathered friends. Sure to be enjoyed by children of all ages, adults included, this is the best children's book ever written - and deserves prominent place in every child's library.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Desserts -- More Engaging Story Than the Movie Provides January 11, 2001

By Donald Mitchell HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Researchers constantly find that reading to children is valuable in a variety of ways, not least of which are instilling a love of reading and improved reading skills. With better parent-child bonding from reading, your child will also be more emotionally secure and able to relate better to others. Intellectual performance will expand as well. Spending time together watching television fails as a substitute.

To help other parents apply this advice, as a parent of four I consulted an expert, our youngest child, and asked her to share with me her favorite books that were read to her as a young child. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was one of her picks.

Since many people have seen the movie and not read the book, let me briefly compare them. The book creates more of a contrast between want and plenty. Charlie Bucket and his family are literally starving to death in the book. The book is also more of a moral tale, along the lines of Dickens. Some of the satire is much more wickedly funny as well. For example, each time something happens to one of the other children in the Chocolate Factory, the Oompa-Loompas sing a very witty, satirical song to emphasize the lesson . . . not unlike a Greek chorus.

If you don't know the story, Willie Wonka is a regular candy magician. He has made a chocolate ice cream that doesn't melt even when out in the sun all day. He can make a gumball that never melts in your mouth, so you never have to buy another. He has candy balloons that you can blow up, and then eat.

But his competitors sent spies into his factory and stole his secrets. So he fired all of his employees and closed the factory. Then, one day it started up again behind a locked gate. But no one ever came in or went out. You could see small shapes behind some of the windows.... The candy comes out each day from a hole in the wall all packed and addressed for the post office.

Suddenly, Willie Wonka announces that the children who are the holders of five golden tickets (hidden in five of his candy bars) will be allowed a one day tour of the factory. Everyone wants one!

Augustus Gloop lives on candy. His mother isn't surprised when he gets a ticket because he always eating candy.

Miss Veruca Salt is spoiled and her parents are rich. Her father bought 100,000 candy bars and had the people in his factories open all the wrappers until they found one.

Miss Violet Beauregard is a world champion gum chewer, and has been working on the same piece for 3 years now.

Mike Teavee never leaves his television, and likes to shoot at the screen with his 8 toy pistols.

Charlie Bucket is a poor boy who lives next to the factory. His father has just lost his job. He gets one candy bar a year for his birthday. Alas, the candy bar did not have a ticket in it. Feeling sorry for him, his grandfather gives Charlie his last 10 cents. That doesn't do it either. What now?

Inside the Chocolate Factory is a world better than Oz. Every child will love to hear about its wonders. Every parent will feel terrific for reading about these amazing features and sharing them. If you are like me, you will especially like the INVENTING ROOM.

After you finish enjoying this story with your child, I suggest that you talk about what you can do to help poor children. After all, Willie Wonka only helped one. There are lots more out there. I guess he wanted each of us to have our chance to help.

The next time you are in the mood for a dessert, imagine that you can have one of Willie Wonka's amazing delights! It'll feed your imagination while keeping your waistline right where it is. Read more ›

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Charlie and the Chocolate factory May 22, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

The gates of Mr. Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory are opening at last- and only five children are allowed inside. The only way they are allowed in is if they have the golden wrapper from a Wonka chocolate bar. And the five winners are: Augustus Gloop, Veruca salt, Violet Beauregrade, Mike Teavee, and Charlie Bucket. Charlie is the main character, and comes from a poor family made up of his mom, and two sets of grandparents. When his birthday comes around, he just gets a homemade scarf and a candy bar. But candy seems to be the latest craze all over the world, because it seems that 5 golden wrappers were hidden with the candy bar. Whoever discovered the wrappers would win a lifetime of chocolate, after a visit to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Each day, a new winner was announced. Day one was Augustus Gloop. Day two was Veruca Salt. Day three, Violet Beaurgrade, and day four was Mike Teavee. There was one day left for Charlie to find the golden wrapper. And after a fortunate buy, Charlie discovered it. Able to bring only one person, he brought his grandfather, who was closest to him. And the two went hoping for the chance to become the most famous people in the world. I think this book has an interesting plot, with lots of interesting changes happening to Charlie along the way. Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I strongly recommend it to anyone.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Charlie's Dreams Come True April 26, 2003

By T. Thompson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

What kid wouldn't love to tour a chocolate factory that no one had visited for several years? What kid wouldn't want access to secrets held by the greatest candy maker ever?
What kid wouldn't want to embark on a wild adventure and meet the amazing, Willy Wonka?
I can't think of one who wouldn't! :-)
I know I would love to do all of those things and I'm not even a kid anymore... well, I guess I'm a kid at heart.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an amazing book. I was first exposed to this story by my 3rd grade teacher, as a whole class read aloud. And from that day forward, I was a lover of the writings of Roald Dahl.
I have since read this story every year of my teaching career to my own classes. And I can honestly say that I have not found a class yet that has not loved the story of Charlie's amazing adventure! This is one of the greatest books ever written for children... and I really mean that!
Roald Dahl introduces us to the Bucket family, an unfortunate family who struggles to survive on the money Mr. Bucket makes as a toothpaste cap screwer.
One day Mr. Bucket is laid off from his job and the family begins to starve. One member of the family, little Charlie, struggles to subsist on bread and cabbage soup. Poor Charlie finds himself starving to death, when one day he finds a dollar in the snow and his whole life changes. With this dollar Charlie buys a candy bar just to fill his stomach and gets so much more than he could ever imagine.

Charlie becomes the 5th child to find a golden ticket and with it, has the marvelous opportunity to visit Mr. Wonka's chocolate factory.

At the factory Charlie meets up with a most wild assortment of characters:
* Augustus Gloop: A large boy who loves to eat more than anything in the world.... His uncontrollable appetite leads him to a sticky end.

* Veruca Salt: A spolied rotten young lady. Who is prone to terrible tantrums when she can't get what she wants. Her greed leads her to a messy exit.

* Violet Beauregard: An incessant gum chewer who chomps and chomps her jaws day in and day out. Her insatiable desire for gum leads to her chewy end.

* Mike Teevee: A crazy Television addict, whose love for TV sends him zipping through the stratosphere.

* The Oompa Loompas: A group of melodic factory workers who work for Mr. Wonka, and act as a chorus in a greek tragedy. Their silly songs are one of the many highlights of this book.

* Mr. Willy Wonka: The enegmatic ruler of a chocolate universe. He has more secrets and surprises than we could ever hope for.

I highly reccommend this book for kids from 0 to 99! It is a nice read aloud for younger children, at an appropriate independent reading level for 3rd through 5th graders and can easily hold the attention of an adult. Read this wonderful book you will not be disappointed! Read more ›