Mix “chocolate” and “adventure” and you get a fantastic book for boys!
I read “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” one evening when I sat with Lucas as he watched his favourite cartoon or DVD. Boy, I couldn’t stop and also, I can’t wait till he’s old enough to read the book too 
The book is about a very, very poor boy named Charlie Bucket who lives with his parents, his maternal and his paternal grandparents.
Poor skinny Charlie lives next to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and smells the wonderful scents of fantastic chocolates and sweets like:
- rich caramels that change colour every ten seconds you suck them;
- chewing gum that never loses its taste!
- an entire palace made of CHOCOLATE for an eccentric prince from India
One day, Charlie’s father, a labourer at the toothpaste factory, brings everyone the exciting news about 5 GOLDEN TICKETS hidden in Wonka’s chocolate bars sold around the world:
FIVE lucky children bearing the golden ticket will visit the Chocolate Factory and also have a lifetime supply of Wonka’s chocolates and sweets!!!
Charlie’s paternal grandfather, Grandpa Joe, is very excited about this because NOBODY has ever been into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
Lucky for Charlie, his birthday is coming soon – he gets a chocolate bar each year as a special present. I was just as excited as all the Buckets when Charlie ripped open his chocolate bar LOL
Sadly, the birthday chocolate didn’t hold the golden ticket but another chocolate bar did.
Then again, how could Charlie afford another chocolate bar? Hehehe…you have to read the book to find out
A fabulously written book which was so entertaining, funny and fascinating, I’d definitely buy this book for any pre-teen boy’s birthday or special present.
Boys who are very close to their grandparents (e.g. Lucas) will have fond memories of time spent with Grandpa because Grandpa Joe accompanies Charlie during his visit to the chocolate factory.
I also loved the adventures that helped the ‘naughty’ children (and their parents!) turn over a new leaf e.g.
- Augustus Gloop, a fat and greedy boy;
- Veruca Salt, a girl who is spoiled by her parents;
- Violet Beauregarde, a girl who chews gum all day long;
- Mike Teavee, a boy who does nothing but watch television.
Willy Wonka’s ’special workers’, the Oompa-Loompas also had insightful poems for each of the children when they met their surprise endings…
I think young Chinese children will be able to identify with Charlie Bucket because he lives with 4 of his grandparents. Other than that, they will also LOVE the AMAZING sweets and confectionery he comes up with in his factory!
All in all, I felt so happy for Charlie Bucket and his entire family at the end of the story A real feel-good read, this one.
Gonna read “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Rating: 
Grab a copy of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”:
A superconscious shopper, I tend to be selective about what I buy, especially when it comes to toys.
