A classic children's story from Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
Date:	26/09/08 (93 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great tale

Disadvantages: None

When I was a child and I had first learnt to read properly, I became obsessed with reading, and I soon homed in on two authors: Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl. I would spend a long time reading books from both authors, and I think one of the first of Dahl's books I read was this one; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It is a wonderful tale that gives people hopes and dreams and is a magical read.

Charlie Bucket lives with his entire family (grandparents included) in the tiniest of houses. Multi-millionaire and chocolatge factory owner Willy Wonka launches a competition featuring 5 golden tickets, hidden inside the wrapping of a Wonka Bar, the most popular chocolate bar on the market. The prize is the chance to enter the factory, something which no one is ever allowed to do. Charlie dreams of even being able to afford a Wonka Bar, but when he finds some money in a drain and buys a bar, luck shines on him and he wins the last Golden Ticket! Choosing his Grandpa Joe to go in with him, Charlie enters the Chocolate Factory with the strange Willy Wonka and the other four winning kids, and embarks on a magical and strange journey.

Dahl has a knack of creating a wonderful tale out of thin air. His writing, designed for kids and initially written for his family, including granddaughter Sophie Dahl, is very easy to read, and I find that, every now and then when I pick one up to remind me of how good it is, as I read through the story I always end up with a smile on my face.

Dahl's books are world famous, and this one has been made into a film on two occasions. Disregard the majority of the films as they don't follow the book as closely as Dahl would have liked. Either way, the book is far better than wither of the films, and spawned a sequel entitled Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, which is very good but not a patch on this book.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is available from most stores and also online. You can get it for £4.19 from amazon.co.uk. It's one definitely worth having.

Summary: One of my favourite kids' books