Charlie and the Chocolate Factory facts for kids
First US edition
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| Author | Roald Dahl |
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| Illustrator |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | None |
| Genre | Children's fantasy novel |
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Publication date
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17 January 1964 (US version) 23 November 1964 (UK version) |
| OCLC | 9318922 |
| Followed by | Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator |
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a super popular children's book written by the British author Roald Dahl in 1964. It tells the amazing story of a young boy named Charlie Bucket. He goes on an incredible adventure inside the mysterious chocolate factory of the quirky candy maker, Willy Wonka. Many people think this book is one of the most loved children's stories from the 1900s. It has even been turned into a movie two times!
Contents
The Story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The story begins with Willy Wonka, a famous and mysterious candy maker. He announces a special contest! Only five lucky children will find a Golden Ticket hidden inside his chocolate bars. These tickets will let them visit his secret chocolate factory. It's a place no one has seen from the inside for many years.
The five children who find the Golden Tickets are:
- Augustus Gloop: A very greedy boy who loves to eat.
- Veruca Salt: A spoiled girl who always wants her own way.
- Violet Beauregarde: A girl who loves chewing gum more than anything.
- Mike Teavee: A boy who spends all his time watching television.
- Charlie Bucket: A kind and poor boy who lives with his family, including his Grandpa Joe.
The children and one family member each get to tour the amazing factory. Inside, they see incredible machines and learn how Wonka makes his magical sweets. But as the tour goes on, each child (except Charlie) gets into trouble. They break Wonka's rules because of their bad habits or attitudes.
One by one, they are sent away from the tour:
- Augustus Gloop falls into a chocolate river because he can't stop himself from drinking it.
- Veruca Salt demands a special squirrel and ends up falling down a garbage chute.
- Violet Beauregarde tries an experimental chewing gum and turns into a giant blueberry.
- Mike Teavee tries to teleport himself using Wonka's television chocolate and becomes tiny.
In the end, only Charlie Bucket is left. He followed all the rules and showed good behavior. Because of this, Willy Wonka reveals a big surprise! He chooses Charlie to be the new owner of his entire chocolate factory. It's a story that shows how being kind and honest can lead to wonderful things.
Main Characters
Who is Willy Wonka?
Willy Wonka is the brilliant but unusual owner of the chocolate factory. He loves making amazing candies and sweets. He is very secretive and doesn't let anyone into his factory until the Golden Ticket contest.
Who is Charlie Bucket?
Charlie Bucket is the main character of the story. He is a very kind and thoughtful boy who comes from a poor family. He loves chocolate but rarely gets to eat it. He is one of the five children who finds a Golden Ticket.
Who is Grandpa Joe?
Grandpa Joe is Charlie's grandfather. He is very old but full of spirit. He goes with Charlie on the factory tour and is very supportive of him.
Other Children on the Tour
- Augustus Gloop: He is a very greedy boy from Germany. He loves food so much that he falls into the chocolate river.
- Veruca Salt: She is a very spoiled girl from England. She always demands new things from her rich parents. She gets into trouble in the nut room.
- Violet Beauregarde: She is a very competitive girl from the USA who loves chewing gum. She tries Wonka's special "three-course meal" chewing gum, which has unexpected side effects.
- Mike Teavee: He is a smart but rude boy from the USA who is obsessed with television and video games. He tries to use Wonka's television chocolate machine in a way it wasn't meant to be used.
Other Important Characters
- Oompa-Loompas: These are small, hardworking people who work in Wonka's factory. They are about 44 centimeters (17 inches) tall and have unique hairstyles. They are paid in cacao beans, which they love. They sing songs about the children who get into trouble.
- Mr. Slugworth: In the book, he is a rival chocolate maker. In the 1971 movie, he is actually one of Wonka's workers who is testing the children's honesty.
- Prince Pondicherry: Wonka once built a chocolate palace for this prince. But the palace melted in the hot sun!
Changes to the Book
In the first versions of the book, the Oompa-Loompas were described in a way that caused some people to be concerned. To make sure the story was respectful to everyone, the author, Roald Dahl, changed their description in later editions of the book. Now, they are described differently, and in the 1971 movie, they have orange skin and green hair. These changes were made to ensure the story remained enjoyable and fair for all readers.
Images for kids
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Golden Ticket from the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on display at a convention in Spain
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory playing at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London
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See also
In Spanish: Charlie y la fábrica de chocolate para niños
