From the Bookshelf of UEL Primary PGCE 2012-13…

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket, #1)

Roald Dahl,

Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

Why we're reading this: this is an amazing novel by roald dahl in which he portrays how a small boy with many good attributes enc…more
[close] this is an amazing novel by roald dahl in which he portrays how a small boy with many good attributes encounters a great achievement for himself and his family. charlie a poor boy from a less fortunate family is very lucky to have found the last golden ticket for a chance to go into mr wonka's chocolate factory. he takes his grandpa joe, who on charlies discovery of the golden ticket emerges with a new sense of energy and excitement. mr wonka is a larger then life character,he is fun and loud, but also insensitive. charlie alongside other children with golden tickets discover many remarkable things at the factory including chocolate rivers and oompa loompas, however the other children fail to follow simple rules that leads to unfortunate consequences. charlie is the only character whom mr wonka see's a worthy person in to leave his chocolate factory to.

roald dahl uses the theme of the story to symbolize the greatness of good people and how luck can change. i liked the way he used other characters to help us identify who is bad, really bad, good and extremely good amongst adults and even children. he used classic distinction between poverty against wealth to show how money does not mean everything.

i would say this is a good book for children for children aged 9-12 though i have to say i can never get bored of this novel and put in more expression each time i read it. if this is a book read in a classroom it can be read by a teacher to the class chapter a day or so or even as guided reading whereby the children can take part reading and even delegate specific character roles to the children.

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Sep 15, 2012 Bilal Chowdhury rated it it was amazing

This book is an absolute Roald Dahl classic, which has been so popular with children and adults that it has been adapted into two films. The story is about an impoverished boy called Charlie Bucket who lives with his parents and his four grandparents (who stay in bed all day) – they all live in a small wooden house on the edge of a great town.

Charlie and his family live in dire conditions, as they are very hungry, cold and are in desperate need of money. What is more, Charlie only receives one This book is an absolute Roald Dahl classic, which has been so popular with children and adults that it has been adapted into two films. The story is about an impoverished boy called Charlie Bucket who lives with his parents and his four grandparents (who stay in bed all day) – they all live in a small wooden house on the edge of a great town.

Charlie and his family live in dire conditions, as they are very hungry, cold and are in desperate need of money. What is more, Charlie only receives one chocolate bar a year on his birthday – as this is what his parents can afford for him - once a year. The only thing that illuminates Charlie’s life is the chocolate factory, owned by the great Willy Wonka which is located in the vicinity of his neighbourhood. Moreover, Mr. Wonka who lives his life as a recluse has shut himself off from the public for years due to his workers stealing his innovative ideas to rival companies. As a consequence, Willy Wonka made sure that no human enters his great chocolate factory as an attempt to uphold his trade secret. So, what happens inside the factory is unknown to everybody in the town – thus, quite naturally; there is a huge amount of curiosity to discover what actually goes inside the factory.

One day, Mr. Willy Wonka announces that he will be opening his amazing chocolate factory to five lucky children who can find a golden ticket in his Wonka chocolate bars – and Mr. Wonka himself will give them a guided tour of the factory. Above all, they will be given a supply of chocolates which will last for a lifetime. By a fortunate stroke of serendipity, Charlie finds his golden ticket along with other four lucky winners who are: Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Mike Teavee , Violet Beauregarde.

As they enter Mr. Wonka’s chocolate factory, they are confronted with full of exciting surprises – such as a room constructed entirely of edible things (with a chocolate river), and diminutive people called Oompa-Loompas who run the factory – including other amazing spectacle in the factory. However, one by one, the other four children on the tour get into some major trouble due to their antics. Augustus Gloop falls into a chocolate river while trying to drink from it, Violet Beauregarde, is addicted to chewing gum and turns into a bluebery with Wonka's new chewing gum; Veruca Salt tries to steal a worker squirrel and ends up down a garbage chute, ready to be incinerated, and Mike Teavee – who is a TV addict is shrunken down to TV size when he tries to send himself through television.

On the other hand, Charlie, our last remaining hero, is the only child who does not cause any trouble and eventually wins the prize. Mr. Wonka chooses the very well deserved Charlie to take over his factory when he gets old, and also wants Charlie and his family to live with him in the factory. In the end, they shoot through the roof on the glass elevator, and are on their way to get Charlie's family to live with Mr. Wonka in the factory. The story ends with optimism, as Charlie becomes the winner and lives a happy life - and will never go hungry again...

I truly loved reading this book as a young boy and still do as an adult; as I believe that the whole book is like a fantasy store house. There are a number of amazing things in the chocolate factory such as the Chocolate Rooms, Chocolate Water Falls, Oompa-Loompas, Chocolate Rivers, Everlasting Gobstoppers amongst numerous other things which will make every child (and adult) desire to be in the factory instead of Charlie. Dahl’s use of inventive words in this book such as whangdoodles, hornswogglers, snoozwangers easily adds the humour and a magical quotient to the book - it also captures and draws the reader into the fantasy world he creates – which is a common feature in his fabulous books. The book compels the reader to root for poor Charlie and enables the reader to feel contented when the other nasty children receive their comeuppance.

The book can be read aloud to children in Key Stages 1 and 2, it is also an excellent book to read during independent reading for children above 8 years of age. It can also be utilised to inspire creative writing, and children can also be educated about the importance of discipline, respecting elders and obeying them, as this book has tacitly tried to deliver these messages in a very subtle way – and children can have a few insights into proper behaviour whilst they are enjoying reading this book. Overall the book makes a very good read and it is an absolute must-have on the classroom bookshelf.

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Sep 26, 2012 Kirran rated it it was amazing

This book is about a boy called Charlie Bucket and his family.Charlie lives with his parents and both sets of grandparents in a small house.They are a poor family who are barely able to make ends meet. The one thing that cheers Charlie up and brightens his life is Willy Wonka's Chocolate factory and the one Wonka chocolate bar he gets every year for his birthday.Charlie's Grandpa Joe tells Charlie lots of stories about Mr Wonka and how he once built a chocolate palace and how he had to close his This book is about a boy called Charlie Bucket and his family.Charlie lives with his parents and both sets of grandparents in a small house.They are a poor family who are barely able to make ends meet. The one thing that cheers Charlie up and brightens his life is Willy Wonka's Chocolate factory and the one Wonka chocolate bar he gets every year for his birthday.Charlie's Grandpa Joe tells Charlie lots of stories about Mr Wonka and how he once built a chocolate palace and how he had to close his factory due to spies stealing his recipes. One day whilst Grandpa Joe is telling one of his stories,Charlies dad comes home with the news that Mr Wonka will be opening his factory to five lucky children who find a Golden ticket which has been hidden inside 5 Wonka chocolate bars.
On his birthday,Charlie's family buy him a Wonka bar and they all wait excitedly with the hope that it will contain a Golden ticket however it doesn't. Grandpa Joe even gives Charlie some money he has saved up so he can buy another Wonka bar however that bar doesn't contain a golden ticket either.
One afternoon, whilst walking home from school, a hungry and cold Charlie stumbles across some money on the ground.He picks it up and runs to the local shop to buy a Wonka bar.He unwraps it and is amazed by the fact that it contains a golden ticket.
On the day of the tour,Charlie decides to take Grandpa Joe with him,they are both extremely excited.There are also four other children on the tour,Augustus Gloop,Violet Beauregarde,Mike Teavve and Veruca Salt. Charlie is amazed by the factory,there is a room made out of edible items and it also contains a chocolate river.There are also little people called Oompa-Loompas who run the factory.
Throughout the day,the other four children get carried away and end up causing trouble. Augustus Gloop falls into the chocolate river while trying to drink for it and Violet Beauregarde eats some magic gum that turns her into a blueberry.Veruca Salt tries to steal a worker squirrel and ends up down a garbage chute and when Mike tries to send himself through a television and ends up being shrunken in size.Charlie is the only child who is on his best behaviour throughout the whole day and is the only one remaining right at the end.
When Mr Wonka realises this he congratulates Charlie, and tells him that he has won the entire factory when he gets old. They then shoot out the factory roof in a glass elevator to go collect the rest of Charlie's family.
This book is great for introducing creative writing into literacy. It can be enjoyed my boys and girls.Roald Dahl has a powerful imagination and is able to understand children's need for humour and a magical escape.This book is aimed at children aged between 8-11.
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Jul 31, 2012 Jim Leech rated it it was amazing

Charlie Bucket lives with his parents and both branches of grandparents in a small wooden house on the edge of a great town. His father is an unemployed factory worker and his mother is a full time carer for his bedridden grandparents. Charlie is malnourished, has no friends and lives on cabbage soup 364 days of the year. The only things he seems to have in the world are a family that love him very much and his brilliant sense of optimism.

Like most children (and quite a few adults) Charlie loves Charlie Bucket lives with his parents and both branches of grandparents in a small wooden house on the edge of a great town. His father is an unemployed factory worker and his mother is a full time carer for his bedridden grandparents. Charlie is malnourished, has no friends and lives on cabbage soup 364 days of the year. The only things he seems to have in the world are a family that love him very much and his brilliant sense of optimism.

Like most children (and quite a few adults) Charlie loves chocolate, and luckily for him he wins a ticket to tour the factory of the greatest chocolate maker ever - Mr Willy Wonka. Also winning tickets are four other children that have undesirable habits and personality traits in contrast to the happy, polite and shy Charlie. As Willy Wonka takes the children around his factory the other children each fall victim to both their own bad habits and Wonka's bizarre and quite brilliant chocolate making techniques until only Charlie is left. This is when Willy Wonka reveals to Charlie that has had a much grander scheme in mind rather than a simple factory tour...

Who has not heard of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? The book has not been out of print since its debut in 1964 and has been adapted into two films, numerous plays, a video game, a theme park ride and will soon be a West End musical. Children have always loved the book but the reception amongst parents has been more tepid. Like most of Roald Dahl's work the story is a morality tale, but with a much darker twist than usual; the other children are punished quite severely for interfering with Wonka's chocolate - he might not be the cause of their accidents, but he does very little to help them. Parents are sometimes hesitant to show their children that they will not always be able to protect them from the strange grown-ups of this world.

Dahl's use of language is always a favourite with children, especially when being read to them as a group. "Snozzberries", "Slugworth" and "Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight" never fail to get a reaction from a seven year old. And who wouldn't like to have an everlasting gobstopper, fizzy lemonade swimming pools or lickable wallpaper? This book entertains children and engages their imaginations, it is a perfect tool for getting children to think and discuss what they would do in their own factories or fantastic situations, and that can only be something a great book can do.
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Sep 08, 2012 Nosheen rated it really liked it

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an extraordinary and remarkable story of a young boy named Charlie Bucket and his family, who although live in poverty really care and love one another. Charlie wins a competition in which he and a member of his family can meet the highly mysterious Mr Wonka and have a tour of his Chocolate Factory. The factory contains numerous rooms which create the most unbelievable and delicious sweets and chocolates imaginable. The story centres on all the different chil ...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Helena Spiteri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Penniless Charlie Bucket wins a Golden Ticket for a trip of a lifetime to go inside the mysterious chocolate factory owned by the eccentric Mr Willy Wonka, an experience which will change his life forever. While the other four children who are chosen, including greedy Augustus Gloop, spoilt Veruca Salt, gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde and TV-mad Mike Teevee, do everything wrong and come to sticky ends, Charlie on the other hand, does everything right. This leads to Willy Wonka giving Charlie owne ...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Papia Sultana rated it really liked it

The book 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by Roald Dahl is about a young boy called Charlie. Charlie lives with his parents and two sets of grandparents. They live in a tiny house and they are very poor. Charlie is fascinated by the Willa Wonka chocolate factory located near his house. It is soon revealed that Willy Wonka has hidden a Golden Ticket in five chocolate bars being distributed worldwide. The discovery of the Golden Ticket would grant the five winners entry to the chocolate factory The book 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by Roald Dahl is about a young boy called Charlie. Charlie lives with his parents and two sets of grandparents. They live in a tiny house and they are very poor. Charlie is fascinated by the Willa Wonka chocolate factory located near his house. It is soon revealed that Willy Wonka has hidden a Golden Ticket in five chocolate bars being distributed worldwide. The discovery of the Golden Ticket would grant the five winners entry to the chocolate factory and a life time supply of chocolate. Charlie is desperate for a Golden Ticket but knows his chances are slim. The discovery of the ticket winners keep appearing on television and newspaper articles. The tickets that have been won so far are by children with interesting characteristics but namely, who appear to be spoilt, greedy and selfish. The first winner Augustus Gloop, is an obese greedy child. The second winner Veruca Salt, is a very spoilt young girl. The third winner Violet Beauregarde, who is addicted to chewing gum. The fourth winner Mike Teavee, is a young boy obsessed with television. The last ticket is won by Charlie himself, who uses the money given by his grandfather to buy two Wonka bars.

The following day, all the ticket winners gather in the entrance of the chocolate factory where they meet the great Willy Wonka himself. The children have an interesting journey which ends with Charlie being the last child left. Willy Wonka then tells Charlie his real intentions with regards to the Golden Tickets and offers Charlie to be the new heir of the chocolate factory. The reason why I really enjoyed this book is because Roald Dahl deliberately selects children with particular characteristics and the readers anticipate immediately that this is likely to lead to a conflict later in the story. The readers can also relate to the character of Charlie. This is a great book to read to Key Stage 2 pupils and can also be used as a role play/drama production. There have also been two ‘Charlie and Chocolate Factory’ films produced the latter where Willy Wonka is acted by Johnny Depp, which you might also like to share with the pupils.
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Jan 08, 2013 Farhan Rahman rated it really liked it

The story focuses on Charlie Bucket whose favourite thing in this world is ‘Chocolate’. He lives with his parents and grandparents in a small, worn down house on the edge of a great town. Although the family are poor, they are happy in their own existence. One day, the town hosts the ‘The Great Chocolate Factory’ by Willy Wonka, producing the most delectable chocolates, which are distributed all over the world. What happens inside the factory is not known to anybody in the town. Willy Wonka, in The story focuses on Charlie Bucket whose favourite thing in this world is ‘Chocolate’. He lives with his parents and grandparents in a small, worn down house on the edge of a great town. Although the family are poor, they are happy in their own existence. One day, the town hosts the ‘The Great Chocolate Factory’ by Willy Wonka, producing the most delectable chocolates, which are distributed all over the world. What happens inside the factory is not known to anybody in the town. Willy Wonka, in an attempt to uphold his secret, has made sure that no human enters the big factory. Naturally, there is a huge amount of curiosity to know what actually goes inside that factory. Willy Wonka announces that he has hidden five golden tickets in five chocolates. The kids who find those tickets will be given an entry into the chocolate factory and Mr. Wonka himself will give them a guided tour of the factory. Most of all, they will be given a supply of chocolates which will last for a lifetime. This news spreads rapidly across the town, and a series of hyserical events soon follow. The extent to which people are ready to go to procure one golden ticket, how Charlie finds his golden ticket, the activities inside the factory and the final decision by Willy Wonka shapes the rest of the story. There are “Chocolate Water Falls, Oompa – Loompas, and eatable marshmallow pillows” that capture your imagination, and make you wish you were in the factory instead of Charlie. Another interesting feature of the book is the type of words Roald Dahl uses to describe various things (I believe this is a common feature across all his books) – Scrumdiddlyumptious, whangdoodles, hornswogglers, snoozwangers – they add to the humour of the book. In between all the chocolate, fun and magic in Willy Wonka’s world, the author tries to educate the children about the importance of discipline, respecting your elders, and adhering to them.

I have a great deal of time for Roald Dahl books (that is probably why I’ve chosen to read two, and review them on goodreads!) He had a wonderful style of writing that was full of imagination and creativity. Above all, his books can be read by a diverse age range, which is why I would recommend this particular edition for 6-11 years. ...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Jacintameehanhotmail.com rated it really liked it

This story revolves around the life of a poor young boy who lives in a run down old house in a little town. Charlie has a huge fascination with the local chocolate factory within his town. Charlie soon discovers that Willy wonka the factory owner has distributed five chocolate bars worldwide with a golden ticket and the person who receives this golden ticket is entitled to a tour around the chocolate factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate, Charlie longs for a ticket. Although his chances are ...more

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Apr 29, 2013 Edel Mc rated it really liked it

Charlie and the chocolate factory

This is an amazing book for children to read. They will it enjoy it as it is a humorous story. It also has a hidden message that spoilt children do not do well and there are consequences to their actions. This is such a colourful and descriptive book where they make “eatable marshmallow pillows” and “fizzy lifting drinks”. This book would attract children of all ages. Teachers could address many issues that arise in this book for e.g. how do you think Charlie fel ...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Ciaran rated it really liked it

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was written by Roald Dahl and was first published in 1964. This novel is probably one of Roald Dahl’s most recognised piece of work as it has been adapted into a motion picture twice (1971 and 2005). Both films were a success at the box office and attracted Hollywood stars such as Johnny Depp and Gene Wilder to star as Willy Wonka, the owner of the factory. This novel remains a classic because of its imaginative and humorous story.
The story centres around a youn Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was written by Roald Dahl and was first published in 1964. This novel is probably one of Roald Dahl’s most recognised piece of work as it has been adapted into a motion picture twice (1971 and 2005). Both films were a success at the box office and attracted Hollywood stars such as Johnny Depp and Gene Wilder to star as Willy Wonka, the owner of the factory. This novel remains a classic because of its imaginative and humorous story.
The story centres around a young boy called Charlie Bucket who lives in poverty. When Charlie receives a golden ticket for a tour of the factory, Charlie and his grandfather decide to go. The rest of the story centres on the adventures that happen on their tour of the factory, from meeting a group of small people called Oompa-Loompas to the funny elimination of the other attendees on the tour.
Dahl’s delightful adventure of a young boy in a chocolate factory is well written. The book describes different sections of the factory with great detail so the reader can visualise these sections with ease. An important educational aspect of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is that the novel details the harsh conditions that Charlie lives in because of poverty and the novels also insinuates that greed doesn’t get people anywhere (the elimination of the other attendees). Dahl was able to write about topics that are able to educate the reader but in a fun and enjoyable way. Throughout the story the reader would never think that he/she is learning something. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of Roald Dahl’s longer novels and would be suited for readers of a key stage two level.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was one of my own personal favourites as a child. The themes in this novel would entice any child into reading it. What child doesn’t like chocolate? I feel that the book could be used in the classroom because of what I said earlier of the hidden messages that are displayed within the book. These messages, such as people living in poverty, could be highlighted to the children as to how different people live. The book also holds a huge imaginative theme to it. An exercise carried on from this could be about what the children think happens in other factories. When looking back over the novel I truly think that it can be used in the classroom to benefit the educational need of students.
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Jul 17, 2012 Jusna Begum rated it liked it

this is an amazing novel by roald dahl in which he portrays how a small boy with many good attributes encounters a great achievement for himself and his family. charlie a poor boy from a less fortunate family is very lucky to have found the last golden ticket for a chance to go into mr wonka's chocolate factory. he takes his grandpa joe, who on charlies discovery of the golden ticket emerges with a new sense of energy and excitement. mr wonka is a larger then life character,he is fun and loud, b ...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Shahina Khan rated it it was amazing

Willy Wonka decides to allow five lucky children to enter his chocolate factory, but this causes extensive commotion as it results in major competition. The tickets are found one by one until the final one is left to be found. A poor child Charlie manages to find the fifth ticket. This makes his Grandpa really happy, but he is left indecisive of who to take with him. Grandpa is excited to go with him even though he is rather fragile.

Nothing seems to go to plan at the factory, everything which i ...more

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