The Chocolate Touch

John Midas #1

by Patrick Skene Catling, Margot Apple (Illustrator)

It all started when John found the funny old coin. The man at the candy store was more than glad to trade John a box of chocolates for it. And John loved chocolate more than anything else in the world. Or so he thought...

At first, John was disappointed because inside that big box was just one piece of chocolate. But after he ate it, everything tasted like chocolate! That's when John discovered that his chocolate touch was more - much more - than he bargained for.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Chapter Books, Humor, School

87 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Patrick Skene Catling is a British children's book author and book reviewer best known for writing The Chocolate Touch in 1952.

Catling was born and schooled in London and was educated there and at Oberlin College in the United States. Catling served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a navigator and as a journalist at The Baltimore Sun and The Manchester Guardian.

He has traveled extensively. His present home is in the Republic of Ireland. He continues writing books, and writes reviews for The Spectator, The Telegraph, and other publications.

His first publication of The Chocolate Touch in 1952 received enthusiastic responses from several reviewers. The New York Herald Tribune remarked, "it has already proved a hilarious success with children," and The Saturday Review said, "it is told with an engaging humor that boys and girls will instantly discover and approve." Catling has since written dozens of books, and has developed the popular The Chocolate Touch character John Midas into the children's book series: John Midas in the Dreamtime (1986), John Midas and the Vampires (1994), John Midas and the Radio Touch (1994), and John Midas and the Rock Star (1995). Of John Midas in the Dreamtime, School Library Journal wrote, "...children who have been dragged around tourist sights will relate to John's boredom".

Reviews

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

omg this book brought back so many memories!! only took me like half an hour to read and was surprisingly not fatphobic despite a "stop eating candy!" moral. i'm just a sucker for classic children's books with illustrations though.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun way to teach an important lesson: Too much of a good thing is bad. In an engaging manner, the story of young John Midas serves to show young readers why moderation is important. The characters and realistic situations make this story relatable to all.

I'd recommend reading/telling the story of King Midas to young readers first. They'll then easily be able to find similarities between both stories.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this yearly with my students and have done so throughout my career. It's a book that works well at the beginning of the year or with groups who may not be up to level later in the year.

John Midas likes chocolate. He finds a coin. On one side is a picture of a fat boy, on the other his initials. He finds that he can purchase a box of chocolates with this coin. Soon he has his own special Midas touch.

I find that I need to teach the students the story of King Midas prior to reading this book they understand the parallels.

The reading is fairly easy and the concepts clear. Students do not struggle to understand the humor.
****

p65 simile "bounded ahead like a jackrabbit"
****

1 October 2006

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book partly because I read it as a child and partly because I love the lessons that it teaches children, such as:
1. There definitely can be TOO much of a good thing (such as Christmas every day, chocolate all the time, etc.)
2. Nutrition - our body needs healthy foods to function healthily.
3. Moderation in all things.
4. It teaches these ideas in a fun, silly way that kids love.

[Fatma Al Zahraa Yehia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cautionary retelling of the famous legend of King Midas. The story is perfect for 6 or 7 years old for its predictable and cute telling.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always loved this book :) This reading of it was no different. It wasn't quite how I remembered, but a charming fable nonetheless.

[Kirby star rod · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was a good book but I would not want to be in the same situation he is in. But chocolate is one of my favorite things. So I would definitely read this book

[Annastone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had one lesson, not to be greedy. The book stayed on topic so it wasn't very confusing. Some books I read didn't have that "trait" in them. It`s a great book for children.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have loved this when I was a child, even though it's not all that well written. It just pushes kids' buttons, eh? I mean, I read the original King Midas story over and over, and I was much more familiar with chocolate than with gold. I would have liked the details, too, like the names (homeroom teacher Miss Primrose, music teacher Mrs. Quaver, and of course Dr. Cranium...). And the vocabulary lesson reminder, "The more words you know, the more exactly you can think" is neat. (One of my favorite authors was William Steig, in large part because he used a rich vocabulary.)

And now I'm going to see if I can find a copy of Chocolate Fever - it looks like a richer book on the same subject, perhaps not as quick and easy or fun but more recommendable?

Thanks to Little Free Libraries for making Chocolate Touch avl. to me... I had heard of it, but probably would never have read it if I'd not found it for exchange in one of the boxes.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repetitive, repetitive, repetitive! And did you notice all of those "repetitives?" Well, add a couple more! The early parts of The Chocolate Touch started out entertainingly, but the middle was so much of the same thing over and over again, it became a real challenge to get through it! Finally, the story picked up some tension and suspense in the second to last chapter, but then the ending just *dropped*!

When I finished reading the book, my niece looked at me and exclaimed, "What?! THAT'S IT?!?!?" I think we both felt a little bit ripped off. We had all that time invested in this story, and *that* was the pay off?! Hm. Well. We weren't impressed.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

We had a lot of fun with this as a family read-aloud. It’s delightful! A breezy read that also has surprising depth and a good "moral" yet didn't feel annoyingly didactic. I appreciate that the boy realized that his problem with chocolate was not only affecting him, but his family, as well. The ending was quite touching for me as a mother. There's a bit of a Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle aspect here with the mysterious shop owner and the magical chocolate coin. Despite being written in the '50s, I think it's aged well and would still hold a lot of appeal for today's kids. My own certainly enjoyed it.

[Himanshu Karmacharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chocolate Touch is a retelling of the myth of King Midas with some tweaks. The most important one, as the title suggests, is gold being replaced by chocolate. The book is a fun ride from beginning to end with bits of humor and emotion added in.

[Medford Children's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Midas loves chocolate more than anything in the world, including his friends and family. His greed is punished when he is given the chocolate touch. Everything John puts near his mouth turns to chocolate! It sounds great at first because everything from toothpaste to his pencil turns into delicious chocolate but it becomes disasterous. A very funny read for third grade and up. Kids will be interested to learn more about an ancient Greek myth about King Midas who was given the golden touch.

Food for thought: If you could turn anything to chocolate what would it be? AND Do you think John learned his lesson?

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun story that’s a variation on the King Midas myth, but involves the dilemma of a young boy afflicted with “chocolatitis.”

It’s a perfect book for chocolate lovers and I am a huge chocolate fan, but chocolate gloves? Yuck!

This is a good early reader and read aloud book, and has a moral lesson about not being selfish or greedy.

I think I missed this when I was young even though it’s from my era; it’s now a bit dated but still very enjoyable.

[Andrew “The Weirdling” Glos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is largely a retelling of the story of King Midas, but with something that children value far more than gold - chocolate!

As a big nerd of classical antiquity, I really liked the idea behind this book. Also, on principle, I am a big fan of trying to tell all the stories in new and different ways. So, I was excited to settle down and read this to my 8 year old.

The book did what it set out to do, but it did little more. Except for the initial concept, it was not especially clever. At times, it came off as a little preachy even, regarding the protagonist’s obsession with sweets.

My 8 year old (and kids’ options about such books should probably matter more than my own) enjoyed the book. She was excited to read through it. So, it pleases its target audience well enough. However, I’ll say this, when she talks about fun books she’s read recently or makes references to literature she’s read or has had read to her recently, this book never comes up. It’s one of those books that is enjoyed for the moment while you read it, but largely forgotten after you’re done with it.

[Vivian · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is required reading for my child going into third grade. She hasn't read it yet but I did and I absolutely hate it.

Basically this kid ends up accidentally killing his mom by turning her into chocolate. He is only able to get her back after the guy who sold him the magic chocolate that killed his mom explained to the kid that it's his fault for being selfish by eating too much candy. Obviously, the grown adult who knowingly sold a dangerous magical item to a child with no explanation or warning takes none of the fault. Clearly a 1950s book intended to scare kids into listening to their parents. And shame people who like sweets.

I guess it's a good learning opportunity to teach my child about problematic content.

[Susan ...relish every word!!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my students...it is great and my 3rd-grade students loved every word. I gave them a test over it...they all passed and I rewarded them with m&ms...yay!!!

Well...I read this book again...but to my 2nd-grade students. They LOVED it!!! And totally groaned when the story ended...one student even said...that's it...I want more!!! I love hearing that!!!

[Chastity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would not want everything that touches my mouth turn to chocolate though.

[Blair Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great! I loved it so much 4 star rating :]

[Anna Calvert]

i read this book to my class so i’m counting it 🥰

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember this distinctly from elementary school, but my 1980s edition had different, ominous illustrations, especially the one where John's mother is turning into chocolate.

John Midas (allegory!) is a boy who loves chocolate more than anything, and whose parents are upset because he eats so many sweets that he refuses his healthy, healthy bacon. The descriptions of healthy food in this book are quaint, but it's the 1950s and ultra-processed food was not the issue it is now. The allegory against candy is strong, but this book is still read in classrooms, and how do the kids who have pop at home as the standard beverage see the "candy in moderation!" didacticism? The world has gotten weirder, and John is allowed to walk all over his neighborhood cadging candy from his friends, because, along with the ultra-processed food, we had yet to fuck urban planning in 1952. The kids these days have a big hole to dig themselves out of.

Speaking of unbridled capitalism, John finds a magic store, and the proprietor (find an independently owned candy store in North America nowadays outside of a tourist town) sells John a box of chocolate, even though John has no money but the mysterious coin he has just found on the ground. A coin with a picture of a fat boy on one side and John's name on the other. This is the only actual potential fat shaming in the book, the implication being, presumably, that if John eats so much chocolate he will get fat. John takes the box home, eats the one magic chocolate, and the curse takes hold. Poor John.

I remember the water fountain scene from reading this as a kid. It was dark.

I don't think school night birthday parties were a thing in the '50s either, but the author needs to present a couple more turning-things-into-chocolate scenarios in there before John dehydrates and dies.

Patrick Skene Calling appears to be a British emigrant to Canada, so there are indicators that this book takes place on two continents, kind of subtly but at random.

Apparently there are multiple sequels that no one's ever heard of, including one where John visits the Australian dreamtime. Am ready for it.

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published in 1952, this book has a timeless element that still speaks to children today. It's based on the myth of King Midas and the plot follows the main points of that legend. We are holding our inaugural meeting of a children's book club this evening. A few members of my book club have similarly aged kids, so we are giving it a try. This is the book we are discussing (along with themed crafts, snacks, and games).

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewers don't agree, but the 2nd grader won

[Audrienn Szanyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this for an elective course and i loved every second of it lol

[Nina]

Still vividly remember the toothpaste turning into chocolate scene. Enjoyed rereading with my 4 year old and him loving the same parts.

[Coralie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread this little blast from the past this morning on a whim. It was such a quick read, but I still enjoyed it!

This beginner chapter book puts a twist on the Midas story and gears it toward children. I remember reading this an age ago as a little girl in elementary school. Then when I saw the cover in a thrift store a few years ago, I jumped at the chance to add it to my collection. It's a book I think would appeal to a young boy or girl, an easy read, and one with a nice balance of levity, humor, and seriousness. (Sidenote: I actually had not realized that the book was as old as it is! I loved a lot of the phrases and language that showed through as a result of that.)

The story is a bit of a misadventure where a very chocolate-obsessed boy finds himself magically enchanted (by his own fault and short-sightedness) with a chocolate touch that grows increasingly worse as the story goes on. I love the progression of the story and, as a writer, noticed it hit classic plot points in a really simple way.

The only thing I didn't much like about the book was the slightly abruptness of the ending. The message is all well and dandy (too much of one thing isn't good for you), but there was a bit of pointed message about John's selfishness that didn't quite feel as well threaded into the story as it could have been. In the end, he accidentally turns his mother to chocolate and panics. This rather abruptly turns his heart around. And, though we've watched him much more naturally come to the conclusion that all sweets all the time isn't so great, he didn't really even overcome the selfish bit. He just showed concern for one particular person and her well-being. He didn't even care about the others because he was in such a panic. So, it just felt like a wobbly leg to stand on thematically for that front. Like hammering in a crooked nail to try to get the point across.

That said, it's still a cute little adventure and a fun read. It made me smile and I'd read it again. This is a book I'd love to share with younger siblings or children around the second or third grade level. It's a kids book, so absolutely no inappropriate content. I think it would be fun to read to a kid at night before bed, chapter by chapter, or during reading time together as a family.

Re-read: 2.3.21

[Lord · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. I liked ''The Chocolate Touch'' for multiple reasons. For example, The Chocolate Touch was a quick and short book with an interesting plot. I also liked this book because it teaching a lot of life lessons. I say this because this book only has 128 pages and has an interesting plot which is about a greedy boy who all he eats is chocolate page 24. I also say this because this book has taught me to be considerate in life.

2. Someone who would like this book is someone who likes a book that actually means something and will teach you something in life. I say this because this book has a lot of lessons to be learned and also a lot of symbolism of items. For example, the chocolate could symbolize John's greed or the the little chocolate ball that makes him sick could symbolize a consequence.

3. One challenging aspect of this book was it being so short so it had to go in a really fast pace to finish the story. Which in some areas in the book it just felt like there wasn't enough detail.

4. One theme I learned in this book is to be appreciate in life i=even with the smallest things. Another theme is to do different things in life, to be unique. For example, all John was eating in the beginning was chocolate but then he got sick and was forced to eat different foods so that taught him his lesson in my perspective.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 'sweet' children's version of the classic King Midas and the Golden Touch story. The narrative is perfect for children who are beginning to read chapter books and the story has a cautionary message about eating too much candy and being selfish.

I love that John is eager to eat a variety of foods after his ordeal. As a parent, I am familiar with the constant effort to ensure our girls are eating healthy foods. Our girls are fairly game to eat what I cook, but sometimes they will balk at something new and unfamiliar.

The black and white illustrations are very expressive and complement the story nicely. Our youngest brought this book home from her second-grade class as homework and we enjoyed discussing the plot together.

It appears that there are more books featuring John Midas by Patrick Skene Catling, but our local library doesn't have them, so I don't know if we'll have chance to read them.

[Kerry (The Roaming Librarian) O'Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just came across this book again while working @ B&N (I'm in the Kid's Dept.). I remember reading it when I was younger, probably somewhere between third and fifth grade, and I found it both fun and slightly disturbing. Not that horrified disturbing, but that uncomfortable disturbing. Just like the Midas Touch, everything this kid eats turns into chocolate after eating a special candy from a store. Its crazy, but he thinks its cool until he turns his parents into chocolate statues. I remember feeling bad for the kid at the time, but I suppose he did that whole "learn a valuable lesson" thing. Too much of a good thing and all that. But I remember being very satisfied by the story in the end. Pick it up if you're so inclined!

[Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah. I bought this for one of my nephews who is an absolute chocolate fiend. He loves it more than just about anything. It's his little sister's birthday soon and I thought this would be something fun to give him so he doesn't have to sit there watching her unwrap parcels with nothing of his own.



Unfortunately, it turned out to be a rather predictable tale based on the story of King Midas in which a boy named John learns that too much of a nice thing isn't nice at all. Possibly a good book for a child who has been allowed to eat far too much junk, but not a particularly fun story. It'll be going back to the charity shop.