I'm catching up on classic kid fic I never read as a kid. This one was just as familiar as I thought it would be, having read James and the Giant Peach a million times as a kid and seeing both movies multiple times. The long(er) build up to the time the kids actually entered the factory made for interesting pacing with the rush through the factory. The oompa-loompas' songs were just as creepy as I would expect. I quite enjoyed it and look forward to reading it with my nephew in a few years. ( )

Each of five children lucky enough to discover an entry ticket into Mr. Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory takes advantage of the situation his own way.

Great for kids to read! Charlie Bucket loves chocolate and Mr. Willy Wonka, the most wondrous inventor in the world, is opening the gates of his amazing chocolate factory to five lucky children. It’s the prize for a lifetime! Gobstoppers, wriggle sweets and a river of melted chocolate delight await. Charlie needs just one Golden Ticket and these delicious treats could all be his. ( )

This was read aloud to Mr Bear over a couple of week's worth of bedtimes. I'd previously read it as an adult to myself - I'd seen the movie with Gene Wilder as a child and was so scared by Violet Beauregarde blowing up into a giant blueberry I had nightmares for weeks and could never read any Roald Dahl books.

Now I wish I could turn back time and sit my younger self down with a copy of the book and skip the movie until I was several years older!

What a ripsnorter of a novel. Mr Bear hoovered it up, he loved the descriptions of the sweets, he loved the bad endings that came to all of the naughty children (who, I kept on drilling into him, just did not listen to Mr Wonka, and that was their downfall! Yes, we have having Not Listening To The Parental Units issues at the moment), he adored Charlie winning.

And, yes, I have let him see the most recent adaptation of the book. I warned him it was a bit scary at times, and then at the end, he turned around and said "that wasn't scary!" with scorn in his voice at the perceived wussiness of his Mum. (He did enjoy the movie, but it wasn't scary. Not even the melting dolls at the beginning, which I must admit, gives me the creeps.)

Of course, Miss Boo ended up cowering under her security blanket when Violet Beauregarde blew up into a giant blueberry. I wonder when I can get her started on Roald Dahl therapy? ( )

This book about five children who are lucky and get to tour the chocolate factory of Willie Wonka. The five children include: Augustus, Veruca, Violet, Mike, and Charlie. Charlie is the only boy out of the five who is not stingy and exhibits honesty. The book focuses on Charlie who is from a destitute family and lives with his mom, dad, and both sets of grandparents. Willie Wonka's chocolate factory has been closed for years to the public; however it is still running and making chocolate. Wonka is finally opening his doors to five lucky children accompanied by a guardian to tour the factory if they find a golden ticket. As the children tour the factory each of the four bad children end up stumbling into trouble when they do something Wonka has specifically asked them not to do. Charlie was the only boy to not do anything bad and Wonka announces to him that he has won the chocolate factory.