book report on charlie and the chocolate factory

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

32 pages • 1 hour read

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Summary and Study Guide

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) is a fantasy children’s novel by renowned British author Roald Dahl, a man known for his strange and wondrous imagination. The story follows Charlie Bucket , who wins a tour in a chocolate factory owned by the eccentric Mr. Willy Wonka . In the years following publication, the novel became a classic and spawned two major film adaptations, one starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka (1971) and a remake starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka (2005).

The novel suggests that Greed and Gluttony will be Punished , while Kindness and Patience will be Rewarded . Protagonist Charlie Bucket turns out to be the hero of the story, a child with absolutely nothing who is nonetheless kind. Everyone in his family cares for each other, and they overcome their suffering with the power of love. The other child characters come from families with more means, but this has not made them more kind or loving.

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 As each child displays his or her character flaws, they are dealt unusual punishments intended to make them better people. Charlie is rewarded for his humility by getting to own and live in Mr. Wonka’s magical factory.

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As Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opens, eccentric chocolatier Mr. Willy Wonka has decided to open his factory to five children and their parents after years of keeping it closed. He places five Golden Tickets inside the wrappers of different chocolate bars and declares that whoever finds one will be able to enter the factory.

Augustus Gloop , a greedy, heavyset child, wins the first ticket, and his town throws a parade in his honor. Veruca Salt is the second winner; her wealthy father purchased over a thousand chocolate bars and charged his factory workers with finding a ticket among them. Violet Beauregarde , the world record-holder for gum-chewing, wins the third ticket, and Mike Teavee , a child obsessed with television, wins the fourth ticket.

The world frantically searches for the fifth ticket. Charlie Bucket, a poor but virtuous boy who lives in a house with his parents and all four of his grandparents, is lucky enough to find the fifth ticket. Charlie receives one chocolate bar every year for his birthday; neither this bar nor Grandpa Joe’s second bar contains the Golden Ticket, but by a stroke of luck, he finds a crumpled dollar in the snow. He buys himself two more bars—the fourth bar revealing the fifth and final Golden Ticket.

The next day, the five Golden Ticket winners wait to meet Mr. Willy Wonka and enter the factory. Neither Charlie’s father nor mother can accompany him, but his eldest grandparent, Grandpa Joe , springs out of bed for the first time in decades—the excitement renewing his energy.

The sights and sounds of the factory are incredible. The children and their parents meet the Oompa-Loompas, a race of small people who work in the factory, dedicated to Mr. Wonka for having saved them. Charlie and his grandfather are respectful and kind, but the other four children fall victim to their own character flaws.

The first child to go is Augustus. He attempts to drink from the hot chocolate river, but he falls in and is sucked into the river’s pipes. Violet chews a piece of experimental gum, grows into a giant blueberry and is rolled out of the factory by the Oompa-Loompas. Veruca is deemed “bad” and thrown into the trash by the squirrels who judge the nuts added to candy. Mike decides to be the first human sent through the TV in Mr. Wonka’s chocolate-by-television delivery system, and when he shrinks, he must stretched by the gum-stretching machine.

Mr. Wonka remains dispassionate about each child’s fate, alienating the parents. He firmly believes that everything will work out in the end. When only Charlie remains, Willy Wonka surprises him by saying he’s won the contest. The visit has been a secret contest to determine the new owner of the chocolate factory. Charlie, Grandpa Joe, and Mr. Wonka fly in a glass elevator until it crashes through the rooves of the factory and into Charlie’s house, where they collect the rest of the Bucket Family.

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Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl

As with all Roald Dahl’s books, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a quaint and charming tale with a strong moral undertone. The book tells the story of Charlie Bucket, a young boy who lives in a cramped house with his parents and both his paternal and maternal grandparents. The family is a poor one; the four grandparents share a bed and they all live on a diet of boiled potatoes and cabbage. The town in which they live is famous for the landmark chocolate factory, maker of tantalising treats a-plenty, and the tale was inspired by Dahl’s experience of chocolate companies during his school days.

When the owner, the elusive Willy Wonka, decides to invite five children inside the majestic gates of his chocolate factory, children far and wide are desperate to find one of the golden tickets hidden inside the wrappers of Wonka chocolate bars. And thus the winners are announced; Augustus Gloop – a greedy young boy who eats constantly, Veruca Salt – a horribly spoilt girl whose father buys her everything she asks for, Violet Beauregrade who chews gum all day and Mike Teavee, a boy whose favourite pastime is to watch TV.

With just one remaining Charlie can’t believe his luck when he finds a ticket; knowing that the life-time supply of chocolate he’ll be given at the factory will see an end to his family’s poverty. And so, the five children’s adventure begins as Willy Wonka leads them through his magical factory, with chocolate rivers, caramel lakes and a never-ending supply of the sweetest of treats. The day, however, doesn’t run smoothly as each of the children’s faults sees an early demise to their day. Augustus Gloop, consumed with greed starts drinking from the chocolate river and falls in; Violet Beauregrade tries some gum despite being warned of potential side effects and swells up like a blueberry, Veruca Salt attempts to steal a sorting squirrel and is thrown down the garbage chute and Mike Teavee is shrunken to six inches after trying to use the Television Chocolate Machine.

Consequently only Charlie remains and Wonka then makes an announcement; Charlie is to inherit the Chocolate Factory. And thus becomes apparent that the golden ticket really was the key to the door of happiness.

Darkly sarcastic and hugely entertaining, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory deals with themes of sin and temptation and sees a triumphant and moral conclusion that spells the end of a life of poverty for Charlie and his family.

About Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory is opening at last!

But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

About Roald Dahl

The son of Norwegian parents, Roald Dahl was born in Wales in 1916 and educated at Repton. He was a fighter pilot for the RAF during World War Two, and it was while writing about his experiences during this time that he started his career as an author.

His fabulously popular children’s books are read by children all over the world. Some of his better-known works include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox, Matilda, The Witches, and The BFG.

He died in November 1990.

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2 comments on “Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl”

Excellent choice for one of the books to read for the challenge. But i would have recommended the Witches or the Twits over Charlie, Not that Charlie and the chocolate factory isn’t amazing, but The Witches and The Twits seem to be slightly lesser known, but are equal in their brilliance.

Saying that, almost every Roald Dahl books are unique and wonderful (Not to mention weird). For people who haven’t read many of his books, look-up lists like this one – Roald Dahl books list – for recommendations!

Hi Kelly, thanks for stopping by! I’m actually planning on reading either The Twits or Witches for my August book challenge so check back soon for my review 🙂

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Learning, living and loving english, charlie and the chocolate factory (book report).

Book Report By: May Chan (2E) Title: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Author: Roald Dahl Publisher: Penguin Books

Are you a chocoholic? Have you ever dreamed about a place where you could enjoy tons and tons of chocolate and the latest candies invented? If you are, Wonka’s chocolate factory, from the following book I’m introducing, is exactly what you are looking for.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, one of my favourite novels, is an interesting children’s fantasy written by Roald Dahl in 1964. It is about the special adventure of an ordinary boy, Charlie Bucket, inside Willy Wonka’s large chocolate factory. The book has also won the Blue Peter Book Award in 2000 and is known as a children’s classic.

As the story opens, the factory has been shut for almost fifteen years, so it is very mysterious to the public. One day, Mr. Willy Wonka, the owner, decides to allow five children to visit the factory in order to choose one of them to take over his business some day. To win the chance, children needed to find one of the five “golden tickets” hidden in random Wonka bars. People then start to shop for Wonka bars, crazily searching for “golden tickets”. Augustus, Veruca, Violet and Mike, four kids from wealthy families, find the tickets easily with great help from the parents’ “power”, and Charlie, who was born in an extremely poor family, also got a chance, perhaps because of his destiny, perhaps because of luck.

During the guided tour, the kids got into trouble: Augustus falls into a big chocolate lake and was sucked into a pipe. In the end, becomes very thin and is still covered in chocolate; Violet tries some of Wonka’s experimental gum without Wonka’s permission, turning her into a large blueberry. Although the juice is drained later, her face will forever remain purple. At last, all the kids, except Charlie, fail to win the ownership of the factory because of their gluttony, self-righteousness, greed or addiction to television.

Charlie, being the only one who wasn’t tempted by any enticement, is chosen, and gets the ultimate prize—to one day take over Willy Wonka’s huge grand chocolate factory. As for the other four, they still get a lifetime supply of chocolate and sweets from Wonka, though they all paid a price.

You may think that it is just another typical children book (and wondering why I love it so much). But if you do think so, you’re totally wrong.

Although the book is very simply written, it does teach people meaningful lessons. One of the main themes of the story is the great disparity between the rich and the poor: Dahl describes Charlie as a boy who lived in extreme poverty: the boy rarely has enough food for meals, and he sleeps on the floor with his parents every night. In contrast, Veruca, one of the other kids on the tour, is absolutely wealthy. Her father uses a lot of money to secure Veruca a golden ticket, just to satisfy his lovely spoiled daughter’s request. Just from this example, we can see the contrast between the poor and the rich so clearly. In my opinion, money is something very dangerous. It draws you into a big trap, making you blindly run after it forever. It’s even more horrible when you start to use it unscrupulously. Veruca’s family falls into such a trap. They are living a luxurious life, but, does that mean they will be happier than the poorer ones? I bet not. Instead, because of their wealth, they will never be satisfied. So, is that how things should be? Money seems to be very powerful. However, it can’t buy us happiness, nor health, wisdom, nor any of much more important things in life. Even if you’re poor, you can still enjoy your life; even if you’re rich, you may not be happy.

Besides, the novel also teaches us that what goes around comes around. As we can see from the story, the four kids, all receive painful punishments for their behaviour. Charlie, the good boy, is also “rewarded”. After all the hard days he had, he finally gets the chance to visit the factory and even wins ownership of it at the end. Although, in real life, things may not be as straightforward as stories, the story is still inspiring and worth thinking over. Sometimes when we make wrong choices in our lives, bad consequence may not be seen immediately, but that doesn’t mean that it will our actions will not come back to haunt us. Life is so unexpected and we never know what will happen next. Look at Charlie, do you think he ever imagined that he could could get the chance of visiting the world’s biggest chocolate factory, not to mention even winning the ownership of it? No! However, he didn’t get all of these because of luck, but because of his good behaviour. What he gets in the end is what he deserves.

In my opinion, to live a good life, we should always be true to our hearts and be nice to people, so that we will not feel sorry and regret. We should never do things going against our sense of ethics it is just not worth it. Dahl brought the whole idea out in a very simple way to let his children readers understand it, which is something I really appreciate indeed.

Dahl’s story is very well-written. It’s simple, but deep in meaning. The messages are very clear. Even small kids can get what Dahl wants to tell. To me, the book is not only something to read as a story, but something to learn as a lesson.

Above all, I sincerely recommend all of you to take time and read this wonderful inspiring novel, and I’m sure that you won’t regret it if you do so!

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19 thoughts on “ charlie and the chocolate factory (book report) ”.

I think Chocolate Factory is a really interesting book too. Charles is my favourite character, because he is a filial boy, he helps to take care of the elderly in his home. Although his family is poor, he doesn’t blame anyone. I think it is a fate for Charles and Willy Wonka to meet and learn from each other. Like Wonka, he finally forgives his father. Also, it is a very good ending that he asks Charles and his family to live in the Chocolate Factory at the end of the story. Therefore, I believe they change each other a lot. All in all, Charles and the Chocolate Factory is an amazing book.

One of my favourite novel . Nice story…..

Thx for your book report

your report is so good!!!!!!!!!

Thanks you help me a lot it so great

This book report is amazing😄😄😄😄😄

this book is too much

paano gawin

this is a nice story i use this for my book report when i was in grade 5

Roald Dahl, a great talented author.i have never seen a book with such deep thoughts,themes and lessons.

i love this story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

its very good story for us! i love this story 🙂 hahahaha

Your report is so good!

ohh its so nice!!!!!! 😛

I love this rewiew as much as I love the book

I haven’t seen every Johnny Depp movie ever made but I’ve seen enough to recognize a great talent at work.

He’s totally awesome. I love watching his films, and so admire his dedication to Hunter. Just amazing.

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Everything you need for every book you read., charlie bucket, grandpa joe, mr. willy wonka, the oompa-loompas, augustus gloop.

Veruca Salt

Violet beauregarde, mike teavee, mrs. bucket, grandpa george.

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”: meaning and analysis of the book by Roald Dahl

What does “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” tell us about?

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This tale by the Briton Roald Dahl was his first work to be translated in Russia. It earned the praise of the literary “father” of Cheburashka and Uncle Fedor, Eduard Uspensky, a man jealous of others’ literary success. And later a movie was made based on this book, with the inimitable Johnny Depp as the eccentric “chocolate magician” Willy Wonka. What is the meaning of this short story, which reminds us of British classics like Oliver Twist as well as the much later mega-popular Harry Potter saga?

Although Charlie Bucket is not an orphan, he grows up not even poor, but really poor, squatting in the same room as his parents and grandparents and wearing patched and darned clothes. The book was written in 1964 and takes place in a world where the Internet had not yet been invented, so Charlie learns about Willy Wonka’s wonderful candy factory from TV shows. Charlie doesn’t even have his own bed, let alone his own room and desk, so he has no idea he’ll win his lucky ticket to this Hoffman-like fantasy fairy tale realm. Well, what happens next is not even in his wildest fantasies.

The meaning of this fairy tale can be interpreted in many ways. For example, “if you dare to firmly believe in your dreams and listen to wise advice, the dream will surely come true.” After all, Charlie took his grandfather’s advice and spent the coin he found in the street dirt, which allowed him to go to Willy Wonka’s factory, an excursion available only to rich children. As the story progresses, it turns out that Willy Wonka also grew up in poverty, realized his cherished dream, and therefore sympathizes with Charlie, seeing in him a kindred spirit.

In addition, we can conclude from this tale that poor people are luckier than rich people, provided that the poor person is resourceful, kind, and unselfish, and the rich person is stupid, limited, vain, and greedy. Such are the rich kids whose parents were able to pay for a tour of Willy Wonka’s Wonder Factory. One of the boys is obsessed with primitive action movies and acts like a juvenile gangster himself, the other is monstrously voracious. Wealthy heiress Veruca Salt is not only impossibly stupid, but is also used to having her flighty wishes granted as if by magic. Finally, future big sports star Violetta thinks only about her current and future records. Not surprisingly, a sad though comical ending awaits these guys, and the single and childless Willy Wonka proclaims baby Charlie as his companion and heir in the finale.

Critics who have analyzed Dahl’s tale find that its plot, as well as the types of characters, are not at all new. The poor little urchin, who not only gets a complete “dream come true”, but also rises to fame, the shaming of the limited, stupid and greedy rich, pictures of a fairy tale kingdom of sweets and the eccentric good wizard, rewarding and punishing on merit – all this is already familiar to both connoisseurs of the respected genre of literary tale, and connoisseurs of the British classics. However, this time the disgusting moneybags are not adult men and women, but children, not even in their teens.

In addition, critics question the brutality of the massacres that Willy Wonka’s sidekicks do to the little rich people. For example, Mike, nicknamed Teevee, gets sucked into the “black hole” of the TV camera, so that he turns into a thumb-boy and is transported to his favorite TV screen. The ever-chewing Violetta swallows the experimental gum herself and swells up like a balloon, despite Mr. Wonka’s warnings. Well, the nasty Veruca, who demands that Willy Wonka’s faithful assistants, the clever squirrels, fulfill her foolish wishes, is dragged away by the squirrels herself and dumped into the garbage chute.

However, in the final of the tale, all the guys are alive and well, and Violetta in addition has become unusually flexible, which will help her achieve new sports records. However, harmful Mike Teevee stretched to three meters, and now he towers over his peers, but also over his own parents.

Nor do the fabulous oompa-loompas who work at Wonka’s factory live up to the latest demands of political correctness. They are too reminiscent of the obliging, perpetually singing and dancing natives of old adventure novels. These were the associations that some of Dahl’s overly picky readers had, which led the writer to “repaint” these little toilers from black to bright pink.

And Mr. Wonka’s story raises perplexing questions-the eccentric old bachelor, who never had a wife or children, suddenly developed friendly feelings for the little boy! “Surely there’s a reason for all this!” – will say the inveterate zealots of morality, demanding that this book be hastily rewritten or at least removed from the shelves of bookstores and school libraries for all eternity.

Like many other authors of famous fairy tales, Roald Dahl told the story of Charlie to his children before reproducing it on paper. At the time, his family was facing severe trials: his daughter Olivia had recently passed away and one of his sons was seriously ill. To comfort and entertain children, and the writer began to tell them his first-ever fairy tale.

Roald Dahl himself said that the plot of “Charlie” was born out of childhood impressions. Like many British boys before the war, he went to boarding school. From time to time the pupils were given chocolates with a surprise. It diversified their monotonous life, and young Roald dreamed of becoming a confectioner when he grew up. He never fulfilled that childish dream, but he did invent the world’s largest and most fantastical candy factory.

Like such famous fairy tale titles as “Gelsomino in the Land of Liars” or “Gulliver’s Journey to the Land of Giants,” the title of this book does not allow for ambiguous interpretations. It talks about a little boy who experiences amazing adventures in a chocolate factory. By the way, the books by Dahl, Swift, and Rodari have one more thing in common: they are all satirical narratives.

At first glance, the moral of a fascinating story with a quirky plot is as simple as two times two: the poor are the good guys and the rich are the bad guys (or trashy girls). If Charlie and his relatives evoke sympathy and even respect for their resourcefulness, determination, and inexhaustible zest for life, and Willy Wonka is not only cranky but also fair, then the rich and spoiled kids are just caricatures, parodies of real people, even if they acted in a fantasy setting.

Still, you can’t say that this book teaches contempt for the rich, because in the finale Charlie himself becomes Willy Wonka’s adopted son and heir, without losing touch with his own family. Most likely, Dahl interprets in his own way the well-known slogan: “From each according to his abilities – to each according to his work. However, this is not a communist slogan, but a slightly altered biblical phrase, a quote from the great book, which says: “To each according to his deeds.

Despite Willy Wonka’s appealing features, this book hardly teaches young readers how to shove unpleasant guests down the garbage chute, reduce them to the size of a plastic doll, or paint them purple. Much better to learn from this same character the tenacity that helped him once work his way up from poverty, or his ingenuity that helps him create extraordinary sweets. As for Charlie the Kid, you can learn from him, as well as from his grandfather, the kindness, resourcefulness, and optimism that helped the boy pass all the tests and prove himself at the candy factory at his best.

The ending of this fairy tale book full of strange adventures is rather traditional and is almost in the spirit of the 19th century children’s story: be good, don’t lose your nerve, and you’ll definitely succeed, just like Charlie. This feature has made Roald Dahl’s tale a target for progressive critics, who felt that the author “feeds” the young reader’s illusions. But the kids loved Dahl’s tale for the author’s inexhaustible imagination, which was the main reason for the book’s popularity throughout the reading world.

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Book Report: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl

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'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' 'Matilda' and other Roald Dahl books that were made into popular movies

Several of dahl's stories, like 'james and the giant peach' have been made into award-winning films.

Dana Perino on children's books' 'woke' makeover: 'This is so stupid'

'The Five' co-hosts discuss a British publisher pushing for more inclusive language in Roald Dahl’s classic children's books.  

Roald Dahl’s books have captured the hearts of children — and adults — for generations. His imaginative stories have made way for many popular movies. 

You may not even know that a handful of your favorite films stemmed from Dahl’s stories. Some live action and animated films of Dahl's include the ever-popular "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

These six movies were inspired by the characters and plots penned by British author Dahl.

Roald Dahl wrote many books that were made into popular movies.  (Ronald Dumont/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

24 ANIMATED MOVIES MADE FOR CHILDREN YOU CAN ENJOY AS AN ADULT: FROM OLD CLASSICS TO NEW EDITIONS

1. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" 

The book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was released in 1964. This book about a chocolate maker named Willy Wonka, who invites a group of children to his mysterious factory, was made into a film shortly after the book was published. 

The first movie based on this story, "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," was released in 1971 featuring actor and comedian Gene Wilder as the chocolate maker. 

A second movie based on the Dahl book, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," was released in 2005. This time, Golden Globe winner Johnny Depp stepped into the role. 

Many debate the topic of who played Wonka best, Gene Wilder (pictured) or Johnny Depp.  (Silver Screen Collection)

In 2023, "Wonka" was released with American-French actor Timothée Chalamet starring as the lead. This movie is inspired by the Wonka character created by Dahl but tells a unique story dissimilar from the other films and the original book. This film serves as a prequel to the original story and dives into the backstory of how Wonka came to be.

A LOOK AT THE 3 ‘CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY’ FILMS CREATED SINCE THE 1964 BOOK BY ROALD DAHL

2. "James and the Giant Peach"

The "James and the Giant Peach" film was released in 1996 and is based on the 1961 book written by Dahl. 

This Disney adaptation of the story was directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi.

This story follows a young orphan living with his two awful aunts. James befriends new insect friends living in a gigantic peach and embarks on a new adventure. The film was a success and received an Academy Award for Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score.

3. "Matilda"

The magical story of "Matilda" is a tale of a highly intelligent young girl who discovers she has the power to move things with her mind. 

"Matilda" was published in 1988, and the movie followed with a 1996 release. Cast members included Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Mara Wilson and more.

In 2010, this story became a musical, first hitting the stage in England. In 2013, the show opened on Broadway. A film adaptation of the musical was released in 2022.

Danny Devito directed and starred in the 1996 movie "Matilda." (Getty Images )

11 MOVIE ADAPTATIONS OF BESTSELLING BOOKS

4. "The BFG"

In "The BFG," a young orphan named Sophie is plucked from her bed in the middle of the night by a giant. She only knows the creatures as those who eat humans but realizes quickly that this giant is unlike others. This particular creature is a friendly giant.

The book was released in 1982 and Steven Spielberg directed Disney’s adaptation of the book titled "The BFG" in 2016. Mark Rylance plays the giant, and Ruby Barnhill plays Sophie.

Mark Rylance plays the giant, and Ruby Barnhill plays Sophie in "The BFG."  (Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

5. "Fantastic Mr. Fox" 

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" was published in 1970 and was made into an animated movie in 2009.

This film includes a star-studded cast, with George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray and Willem Dafoe all voicing characters in the film. 

This picture was nominated for two Oscars; best achievement in music written for motion pictures, original score and best animated film of the year.

6. "The Witches" 

"The Witches" is a 1983 novel by Dahl. Though this dark fantasy story was made for a children’s audience, young kids may be frightened by this story. It’s more suitable for those in late elementary school and early middle school. 

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To date, there have been two movies made based on this book. The first was released in 1990, and the second in 2020.

In the first version, Anjelica Huston plays the Grand High Witch. Other actors in the 1990 movie are Mai Zetterling, Jasen Fisher, Rowan Atkinson, Bill Paterson and Brenda Blethyn.

In the most recent version, Anne Hathaway portrays the Grand High Witch. The cast of the 2020 movie also includes Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci and Chris Rock.

Ashlyn Messier is a writer for Fox News Digital. 

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Gloopie Confessionals - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

• Mar 23 2024
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Sarah and Krissy, professional haters and presidents of the Augustus Gloop Fan Club, read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

In this episode, we read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because we were tricked by the Glasgow Pop Up Wonka Experience. Along the way, we learn that Willy Wonka hates you and your children, the Oompa Loompas have been enslaved and trapped in the chocolate factory for decades??? and Augustus Gloop always should have won the chocolate factory.

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Biography.com

15 Best Roald Dahl Books for Kids and Adults Alike

Posted: March 29, 2024 | Last updated: March 29, 2024

It goes without saying that Roald Dahl’s impressive repertoire of children’s books are classics. Road Dahl books are arguably some of the most widely recognized by both children and adults alike.

The beloved author is back in the headlines recently for controversial reasons, though. Some of his books, including iconic titles like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “James and the Giant Peach,” are being rewritten by Puffin Books.

This action has been met with much criticism from other beloved children’s book authors including Judy Blume . “I think if Roald Dahl was around, you would be hearing what he thinks about that. Whatever he is, whatever he’s accused of being, there’s a lot of truth there,” she said . “But the books are the books. Kids still love the books, and they love them the way he wrote them. So I don’t believe in that.”

Regardless of your take on the current controversy, one thing is for sure: Roald Dahl wrote classics that have shaped the childhoods of countless readers. We rounded up the best of the best Roald Dahl books you should absolutely have on your bookshelf.

1) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Probably the most famous of the Roald Dahl books, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is a story that spans multiple generations.

Originally written back in 1964, the story of the honest Charlie Bucket and the four other mischievous children who get to visit Willy Wonka’s factory still resonates with audiences today — because of the timeless tome, yes, but also due to its several film adaptations, including the most recent one starring Johnny Depp.

More: Roald Dahl Wrote 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' During the 'Most Difficult Years of His Life'

Is there anything more magical than the classic tale of “Matilda?” An Amazon Teacher’s Pick, this story describes the life of a sweet, exceptional young girl with parents who don’t understand her. It’s available in many formats, including an audiobook read by Kate Winslet. It’s the perfect complement to the new musical that’s currently streaming on Netflix.

3) The Witches

The first time you met the witches serves as a core memory for many millennials. This classic novel by Roald Dahl speaks to children (and children-at-heart) from any generation. Not your average fairy tale, this one is a bit scary and focuses on the story of The Grand High Witch, her coven, and what they do to children who don’t behave.

4) James and the Giant Peach

Poor James — his parents are tragically eaten by a rhinoceros and he’s forced to move in with his two horrible aunts, Spiker and Sponge. It’s no fun at all there, until one day, when he drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree. Strange things happen and life starts to take an exciting turn for young James. This “peachy” scented edition makes the adventure even more fun.

5) The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Another classic Roald Dahl book, “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” (now also a charming Wes Anderson claymation film by the same name) tells the story of Mr. Fox himself. The sly main character has been stealing from the three meanest farmers around. They’re on a mission to catch him, but Mr. Fox is determined to win at any cost. He has a fantastic plan to get away with it, too.

6) The Twits

The Twits is Roald Dahl’s story about a gross couple. No, literally: They’re smelly, nasty, and downright mean. They love to play jokes on each other and also treat their caged monkeys, the Muggle-Womps, poorly. But the Muggle-Womps have had enough and are ready to strike back against the Twits.

7) Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

If you loved “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” you’ll love this follow-up Roald Dahl book.

“Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator” picks up where the first book left off. It details the story of Charlie’s adventure with his family and Willy Wonka, who are all traveling inside the Great Glass Elevator, a thousand feet above the chocolate factory. They can see the whole world below them — but they're not alone.

Another beloved classic book from Roald Dahl, “The BFG” is also a fan-favorite film . It’s the heart-warming tale of Sophie who is snatched from her orphanage bed by the BFG, short for Big Friendly Giant. Sophie is initially afraid that the BFG will eat her, but she ends up joining forces to battle some less gentle giants who threaten the children of Earth.

9) Danny the Champion of the World

Another unique child experience masterfully described by Roald Dahl, Danny is one of a kind. He lives in a van, is the youngest master car mechanic around, and his best friend is his dad. One night though, Danny discovers a shocking secret that his father never told him and everything seems to change.

10) The Magic Finger

“The Magic Finger” depicts the story of the Gregg family who loves to hunt. Their next-door neighbor, a special little girl, does not like it at all. When she gets angry, she can’t help herself when she turns her magic finger on the Gregg family. Before they know it, they’re transformed in a big way.

11) Going Solo

This Roald Dahl book is actually an autobiographical account of the life of the writer himself before he became the author that we know and love today.

It details his exploits as a World War II pilot, including the daring deeds and fantastic adventures you might not know about this beloved author.

12) Skin and Other Stories

One of Roald Dahl’s lesser-known books, “Skin and Other Stories” is still one worth having on your bookshelf. It’s a collection of eleven short stories that ask provocative questions. How would you get rid of a murder weapon? Where would you hide a diamond? Roald Dahl gives his spin on these mysterious topics (and more!) in this interesting book.

13) George's Marvelous Medicine

Another classic often shared in elementary schools, teachers and children alike love “George’s Marvelous Medicine.”

George is with his grandma — who is a horribly grouchy grandma. He takes it upon himself to make a special medicine for her to cure her of this grouchiness. Similar to most Roald Dahl books, hilarity ensues, and the outcome isn’t exactly what George initially expected.

14) The Enormous Crocodile

Another great use of character development by Road Dahl, this book tells the story of The Enormous Crocodile. He is incredibly hungry and equally greedy. Of course, he loves to eat children, too. He thinks he can’t be stopped, but other animals in the jungle have something to say about that. Soon the Enormous Crocodile learns a lesson he won’t forget.

15) Roald Dahl 15-Book Box Set

Want to grab all of the essential Roald Dahl books at once? Look no further. This great set of Roald Dahl classics includes many on our list, like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Twits,” and more of the best Roald Dahl books that deserve a spot on your shelf.

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