Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a classic children’s book about five children who win a chance to tour Willy Wonka’s, chocolate factory and their incredible adventures, once inside it. Willy Wonka is a famous, yet eccentric chocolatier who does and says strange things, but is truly good at heart.

The book was first published in 1964 and was adapted into two major motion pictures: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory in 1971, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2005. The book’s sequel,Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, was written by Roald Dahl in 1972. Click on the appropriate links to be taken to the wikipedia page, for more information.

Plot:

Charlie Bucket, is a boy who lives in poverty in a tiny house with his four grandparents, mum and dad. He walks past Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory daily, and hopes for a chance to win a  golden ticket to go inside. Once a year, on his birthday, Charlie is given one Wonka Bar as a present, which he keeps for many months and sharing it with his family and devouring it oh so slowly. One day, Charlie finds a fifty-pence coin in the snow and buys himself some chocolate before turning the rest over to his mother. After unwrapping the chocolate bar, Charlie finds the fifth golden ticket! The next day is the date that Mr. Wonka has set for his guests to enter the factory.

The news of the golden ticket is enough to get Grandpa Joe out of bed all ready to escort him to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. There they meet the Oompa Loompas (my personal favourites) and witness Augustus Gloop, one of the fist golden ticket winners, fall in a chocolate river. Veruca Salt is a “bad nut” as she is thrown by the squirrels into the trash. Violet Beauregarde chews herself into a blueberry and Mike Teevee shrinks himself into a tiny size.

With Charlie Bucket being the only one left, Willy Wonka congratulates him on winning the factory. Charlie got a factory and Willy Wonka a family…

Who do you think became richer?

Recommendations:

This book has a lot of hidden messages that can be found if read critically. It certainly is great fun to read, and I would recommend you read it first before watching any of the films. It gets a five star rating from me!

Dear teachers, you can find a great teaching pack on the Roald Dahl official website. Parents, this could make a great present for your kids, or just a good recommendation for something for them to read. Pupils, what are you waiting for if you haven’t read it yet, go to that library and search for it! 

Till next time…

Images downloaded from the internet.