Customer Reviews

The Chocolate Touch

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is basically a twist on the story of King Midas and the Golden Touch. In this case, though, it isnÃ*t gold that the main character, John Midas, loves, but chocolate. When John receives a "gift" of the ability to turn everything he touches to chocolate, it turns out to be more of a curse than a gift. Having his breakfast bacon and eggs turn into chocolate seems wonderful, but when he gets thirsty and canÃ*t get a simple (non-chocolate flavored) drink of water, he begins to understand the need for variety.

I donÃ*t know many children who have an overpowering love of gold, but just about every child can identify with a boy whose desire for chocolate knows no bounds, and so this story is just a natural grabber for elementary school-age children.

You might expect a book with a message (eat a variety of healthy foods) to be moralistic, even a little dull, but this book is nothing like that. The plot is absorbing, much of it is laugh-out-loud funny, and the characters are all well-drawn and interesting.

The Chocolate Touch is a real charmer.

My third grade students at Bi-Cultural day School in Stamford, CT just completed The Courage of Sarah Noble, by Alice Dalgliesh. The students were eager to share their reactions to the historical fiction novel. Stacey Shaener

I would recommend this book to a friend because you are itching to know how John cures himself and that's what I think makes a good book...Ari

I liked this book because... John got the chocolate touch and it was exciting when all those things turned into chocolate . It was exciting when his food turned to chocolate because it tasted yummy. ...Claire

I like this book because it shows you not to just care about yourself like John did, but to care about other people. That's why I like the book ...Daniel R

I disliked this book because I knew what would happen all along the way because it gave me lots of clues. One of the clues was the picture on the cover. It showed me John's mom as chocolate....Eugene

I would recommend this book because this boy John made everything turn to chocolate. My favorite part of the story was when an older boy named Spider Wilson, who went to John's school,saw John eating his gloves. Spider Wilson said,"Why are you eating your gloves?" John told him they tasted like chocolate,but when Spider Wilson tried his didn't. They tasted awful...Hannah

I liked this book because it was funny. It was funny when John was eating his gloves and he turned his mother into chocolate. . . Jeffrey

I would recommend this book to a friend because it was funny in some parts like when John was eating his glove and when he was bobbing for apples and the water turned to chocolate. ..JEREMY

I would recommend this book because everything John put in his mouth turned into chocolate and his trumpet also turned into chocolate. I think that's cool. ...Jonathan

I would recommend this book because I liked the part when John kept trying to tell the storekeeper about his mother but the storekeeper kept talking about something else. This was a funny part....Kayla

I disliked this book because it didn't let you fill the blanks in on your own.It just told you what happens and it was not very exciting because you could guess what was going to happen. ...Lauren

I would recommend this book to a friend or family because it tells lots of details and there are only a few pictures. Since there are only a few pictures, you get to picture how things look in your mind. I really liked The Chocolate Touch...Miles

The Chocolate Touch is a take-off of the King Midas story.But, instead of turning everything he touches to gold, John Midas finds that everything he touches with his lips, turns to chocolate. Of course, at first he thinks this is great. But as time passes, John finds life is getting difficult. When he forgets and kisses his mother, he really begins to panic. This is a classic, be careful what you wish for story, that all kids will love. Easy to read with funny story events that keep kids turning pages to the end. Highly recommended for 2nd - 4th graders.

I read The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling. John is the main character, and he is a kid that loves chocolate and eats too much. Susan is John's best friend, and she is also one of the main characters. The book takes place mostly at school and also at home. One day John got a special piece of candy from a candy store. After John ate the candy, everything he ate turned to chocolate. Just like the time in math class when he bit his pencil and it turned to chocolate. John felt terrible and awful and wanted to stop it but he couldn't. John learned a lesson.

I loved this book because it's about chocolate. My favorite part is when John eats a leather glove. I think the book is suspenseful. Everyone would like this book, especially if you love chocolate!

By Tommy

The Chocolate Touch is a book that will leave you hungry! The story tells of a young boy who loves chocolate. Maybe even too much! It is all he dreams about! Finally he is taught a lesson by being given a single piece of chocolate that will make a selfish boy realize that chocolate is not the only thing in life. This book is perfect for someone who likes to get caught in a good book and has a sweet tooth!

I loved this book.It was the best book I ever read.I thought this book should get an award for the best chocolate book.I wish I was John because I just love chocolate.

Patrick Skene Catling, The Chocolate Touch (Dell, 1952)

Light, funny morality tale about getting what you want. John Midas is a schoolchild who craves nothing more in the world than chocolate. One day, he finds a coin in the gutter which he takes to a chocolate store he's never seen before; what he buys there makes everything that touches his lips turn to chocolate. This causes varying measures of disbelief amongst his schoolmates, teachers, and parents, until an irrevocable act makes his curse impossible to ignore.

I have to admit that, the whole time I was reading the middle part of this book (where things turning to chocolate annoy and inconvenience him, without causing any major havoc), I kept wondering why he simply didn't offer to prove to anyone that this power existed, but it never seems to have occurred to him. This always strikes me as a major failing of the author's when I run across it; there's a simple, logical way for someone to get out of a situation, and they just fail to think of it for the purpose of advancing the plot. That said, it's a quick, humorous read, and one would think that the target audience for the book won't be so critical of various plot failures. (If your kid asks the same question, though, rejoice, for he is well on the way to being a writer. Or despair, for he is well on the way to being a media critic.) ***

I give this book 5 stars. It teaches you not to be greedy and not to think about yourself all the time. The best part is when John gets the chocolate touch. I didn't like it when John kisses his mother and she turns into chocolate. John has to make the choice to give up chocolate in order to bring his mother back to life. He really doesn't want to give up the chocolate touch. What does he decide to do?
Jesse

The Chocolate Touch teaches you not to be selfish. My favorite part of the story is when John was ducking for apples with Susan. The ending is good and I give this book 5 stars.
Charlotte

The Chocolate Touch teaches the lesson not to always think about yourself. During the story John kisses his mother and she turns into chocolate. I liked it when John admitted that he was too greedy, and is willing to give up the chocolate touch in order to save his mother. I think this book is terrific!
Sarah