Kid Konnection: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka has decided to open his factory to the five lucky children who find a “golden ticket” in one of his chocolate bars. Things become crazy because everyone wants one of those magical tickets. The winners are:
- Augustus Gloop, a boy who loves to eat more than anything else
- Veruca Salt, a spoiled girl who gets whatever she wants
- Viloet Beauregarde, a girl who is obsessed with chewing gum
- Mike Teavee, a boy who watches TV all the time
- Charlie Bucket, a sweet, kind boy from a poor family
The tour of the chocolate factory brings out the worst in most of the children and, one by one, they’re removed from the group until only one remains. He learns that Willy Wonka has a huge surprise for him.
I’m very familiar with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, since I read it as a child, read it with Vance when he was younger, and watched the classic movie countless times. It’s a story I know and love, so it was fun to revisit it on audio. Willy Wonka is larger than life and he and the other characters are basically caricatures of their best and worst traits. That’s okay, though, because this book is for middle grade readers who can relate to that and it all translates to a lot of fun! I think I enjoyed this book every bit as much this time as I did the first time I read it decades ago.
The audio version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is terrific and a fun way for the whole family to enjoy the book together. Douglas Hodge does a great job narrating this three and a half hour audio book. There are some sound effects which I found somewhat distracting but children will probably enjoy.
For more children’s books reviews, go to Booking Mama’s feature, Kid Konnection. If you’d like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children’s books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, leave a comment as well as a link on her site.
Your review makes me want to see the movie again!
Great memories here!
Like many others, I love this story, in book and movie form. It sounds like a great audiobook, too, for the most part.
This was one of my favorite books as a child! My kids and I watched the movie several times too.
I can’t wait to explore Dahl with my kiddo some day.
My kids loved this movie and the author!
I should definitely pick this one up for the little monkey ~ he will love it in another couple of years! and I will certainly enjoy listening to it with him
This was a favorite for me too. It’s one of those stories you never get tired of!
I’m going to have to listen to this one. I loved this movie… both versions.
OOH I bet that is amazing on audio!
Always loved this book and movie. The audio sounds like a treat!
Love Charlie & The Chocolate Factory!!
My daughter and I loved this book, too. I think it would be neat to hear the audio version.
I loved the movie, still need to read the book, which I will because I do like Roald Dahl!
I truly wish that Roald Dahl had been a part of my childhood, but sadly he wasn’t. At least I’ve come to know and appreciate his brilliance as an adult.
I think it’s about time to introduce the Charlie story to Booking Son.
I’ll have to read this to my little one.
We just watch some of this on tv with Gage. He loved the oompa loompas of course. I have the book but have never read it. How is that possible when I saw and loved the movie so many times growing up?