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The Chocolate Touch
(John Midas #1)
by
In this zany twist on the legend of King Midas and his golden touch, a boy acquires a magical gift that turns everything his lips touch into chocolate! Kids will eat this up for summer reading or anytime!
Can you ever have too much of your favorite food? John Midas is about to find out….
The Chocolate Touch has remained a favorite for millions of kids, teachers, and parents ...more
Can you ever have too much of your favorite food? John Midas is about to find out….
The Chocolate Touch has remained a favorite for millions of kids, teachers, and parents ...more
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Paperback, 128 pages
Published
May 23rd 2006
by HarperCollins
(first published 1952)
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Popular Answered Questions
Julia Margaret
It totally is a good book!!!!!!!!
Isabel
its about a boy name john who loves to eat chocolate and got sick
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of The Chocolate Touch
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 ...more
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 ...more
Nov 28, 2011
Heidi
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
5-star-picture-favorites,
fiction
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.
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.
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.
...more
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.
...more
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.
F ...more
F ...more
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?!? ...more
When I finished reading the book, my niece looked at me and exclaimed, "What?! THAT'S IT?!? ...more
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
Mar 19, 2018
Andrew “The Weirdling” Glos
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-books,
2018
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, ...more
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, ...more
It was great! I loved it so much 4 star rating :]
Jul 06, 2020
Fatma
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-literature,
pdf
A cautionary retelling of the famous legend of king Midas. The story is perfect for 6 or 7 years old for it's predictable and cute telling.
...more
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 f
...more
May 29, 2008
Lisa (not getting friends updates) Vegan
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
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.
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.
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!!! ...more
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!!! ...more
I LOVE CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would not want everything that touches my mouth turn to chocolate though.
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, hum ...more
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, hum ...more
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 actual ...more
2. Someone who would like this book is someone who likes a book that actual ...more
Jun 04, 2012
Dolly
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
children starting to read chapter books
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 ...more
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 ...more
Oct 26, 2007
Kerry (The Roaming Librarian) O'Donnell
rated it
liked it
Recommends it for:
children and fans of kids lit.
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
...more
The chocolate touch is a great book. It teaches you not to be greedy. Because when a boy finds a magic coin with his initials on it he decides to start a coin collection. But when he walks past a chocolate store. CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE. The boy loves chocolate. He walks into the store and buys candy completely forgetting about his coin collection. When he opens the gigantic box he finds only one chocolate. But when he eats it it's the best chocolate he has ever eaten. The next morning h
...more
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).
...more
I read this book with my little one. She loves chocolate and got a kick out of this story. We even ate chocolate while we read it. It was quite a fun experience reading and learning a few life lessons. I liked how the story was written and enjoyed how it kept her engaged. I loved how John came full circle and my little one’s favorite part was the trumpet episode. She giggled so hard that it was sweet. It was quite the experience and we made some memories.
The Chocolate Touch is about a boy named John who loves chocolate so much that he would eat it any time a day , but there is also a lesson to learn
This was a really good and funny book john the main character ate a chocolate and now what ever he eats is chocolate!!!!
My 7-year old son’s rating and review.
“This was so cool! My favorite part is when John kissed his mom and turned her into chocolate. If you like silly books, you should read this book!”
“This was so cool! My favorite part is when John kissed his mom and turned her into chocolate. If you like silly books, you should read this book!”
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.
This was put on our battle list this year. I found it extremely boring. Here's hoping the kids like it better than I did.
...more
Read to Henry and Jonah; they loved it!
In this kid-friendly retelling of the Greek myth, the chocolate-obsessed boy John Midas finds a coin with his initials, and at a mysterious candy shop, he trades it for a chocolate box. Once he eats the chocolate, he finds that everything he eats, or even touches with his mouth, turns to chocolate. At first he's delighted, but his condition very soon reveals itself to be problematic. A chewed pencil end turns chocolate and ruins his schoolwork; his trumpet solo turns into a humiliating moment; a
...more
Feb 19, 2018
Viviana Perez
added it
John Midas was just like any young kid. Whenever he got his chance to eat candy, he would take it. But what’s special about him, is that he is more like an enhanced version of the average kid in this area. He LOVES candy!, especially chocolate, and in the book,”The Chocolate Touch”, author of Patrick Skene Catling, he shows just how much he loves it. He finds out he’s been over eating way to much chocolate. But, instead of stopping his habit, he continues to chomp. This somehow functionally caus
...more
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 ...more
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 ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary and review of the chocolate touch | 1 | 3 | Oct 24, 2018 08:18AM | |
| book report | 1 | 3 | Oct 16, 2018 07:52AM |
Readers also enjoyed
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 p ...more
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 p ...more
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