Greatest

Just read this book which includes both Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, (5 stars) and it's less popular sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (3.5 stars) out loud to the kids.

Both stories are classic Dahl, though Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is undoubtedly the stronger of the two.

I think writing to kids is much harder than most people realize and Dahl is a master. His sense of humor as well as his ability to exaggerate his characters attributes to the point of being almost ridiculous makes his stories fun and goofy. Yet, it's not just silliness that he delivers. Along with all the laughs he also manages to include some important social commentary. From offering his views on TV expressed through the character of Mike Teavee in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to his clever and kooky political satire in Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

I would recommend this book to any young reader who enjoys strong, fun characters and especially those who are already a Roald Dahl fan. There's a reason his stories are still so popular. For those who enjoy more contemporary children's authors like Kate Dicamillo and/or Lemony Snicket but who haven't read Dahl's many works, I would say give this a try. As a bonus, this combined addition features an interview with Dahl on the process of his writing that was worth a read.

A very fun read! I read it in middle school.

i want another story about how the four other children cope with their trauma and PTSD

Chocolate Factory was great, very enjoyable and light hearted. Probably didn't age perfectly well.
The Great Elevator felt like he wrote two stories, couldn't decide which one to publish and mashed them together. Didn't really enjoy the first half of book 2 but loved the second portion

No library or bookshelf is complete without Roald Dahl

The first part (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) was (for those of who saw the movie first) incredibly similar to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. So, hats off to the moviemakers. I saw the film playing and the actors speaking in my head as I read. It was kind of eerie.
The story of how Charlie wins the last Golden Ticket and his journey to the bowels of Wonka's factory is full of zany, wonky shenanigans with morals on misbehaving, petty, spoiled children who don't listen. It's nearly perfect, with not a word spent in vain or incorrectly placed. And the best, happiest, and most unexpected ending.
And then there's the second part... it's just utter nonsense. It's fun, it's super silly, it's full of suspense, it's even satirical (the portrayal of the US president and his cabinet is laugh-out-loud funny). But it doesn't really tie into any preceding or succeeding storylines (except for the fact that they're floating in space in that awesome glass elevator - and how the president comes back into the story at the last minute). So I didn't get that space intermission, though I enjoyed it (especially the fun he pokes at the US in the midst of the Cold War).
All in all, Dahl is a master storyteller. I read this in my 40th year of life and I was giggling and laughing and stopping in many places, in wonder, at the way he uses language and imagination.

It's the Charlie, Willy Wonka and and the adventures filled with fun.

Read Charlie & The Chocolate Factory to my kid for bedtime. Great to re-visit an old classic so that we can now watch the movies.

Charlie and the chocolate factory is, or at least should be, a staple in everyone’s childhood. From start to finish it’s filled with wacky scenarios and delightful characters. I’m happy I finally got around to reading the book, because the story was a huge part of my early life.

The second book, Charlie and the great glass elevator, was also really enjoyable. The only issue some people might have with it is that it feels like there are two separate stories in this book. It feels very disjointed, but to be fair, that does fit with the tone. The borderline satire in it with the inclusion of the president made me laugh out loud a few times.

This was an interesting adventure story, with a few scary-ish parts. Mr Willy Wonka accidentally brought Charlie and his whole family into orbit, and they have to find a way back to the factory - before it's too late! Lots of super long songs included! I think this was a good book, but I don't think this is one of the best stories Roald Dahl wrote.

I am embarrassed to admit but this is the first Roald Dahl book that I have read. I have seen the 1971 Gene Wilder movie but always found it a bit odd. The book was very similar. What was fun about this book was that I learned to enjoy it more after discussing it with a group of 6th graders at our school book club.

Our discussion led us to talk about the 5 children who won golden tickets and their character traits. We had someone who was gluttonous, greedy, spoiled and lazy. We discussed which trait we might have. Sadly, and somewhat naïvely, the students felt if they had a big event in their life, like the other children in the book, they would change. Unfortunately, I think changing our nature is a lifelong process. Great discussion!

Popsugar Challenge #30 A book with pictures