Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Title: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Author: Roald Dahl
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0141301155

Recommended for Grades 6 and up
Genre: Fiction-Fantasy

Reader’s Annotation:
Poor Charlie Bucket only gets one chocolate bar each year, and only on his birthday. When chocolate maker Willie Wonka announces that five golden tickets to his factory are hidden in his chocolate bars it would take a miracle for Charlie to win.

Plot Summary:
Charlie Bucket loves chocolate more than any other food. Unfortunately his family only has enough money to buy him one chocolate bar every year on his birthday. When Willy Wonka, the owner of the local chocolate factory, announces that he has hidden five golden tickets in his chocolate and those who find the bars will be allowed to tour the factory, Charlie knows that it will be a miracle if he wins. But luck is on Charlie’s side.

Inside Mr. Wonka’s factory are a number of marvelous rooms, and his fantastic employees, the Oompa Loompas. What starts out as an exciting tour soon turns more sinister as each of the other four children start to disappear before Charlie’s eyes. Each one of them is a victim of their vices and as they disappear, the Oompa Loompas warn the remaining children of the dangers of each vice in turn. With only Charlie left he wonders, how long before he disappears to?

Evaluation:
The four other children who tour the factory and the consequences of their actions, plus Charlie’s reward, help to provide a positive role model for young readers.

Notes:
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is the sequel to this book.

Two theatrical adaptations have been made of this book: the 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory put out by Paramount Pictures and 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory released by Warner Brothers.