book review for charlie and the chocolate factory

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Monday 23 May 2011

Review: charlie and the chocolate factory / the bfg.

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Book Review: “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl (1964)

It’s been an interesting month for us, mixing the end of school and beginning of summer with this, our fourth Roald Dahl book in less than 30 days. I wouldn’t quite say that his magical stories have made the catalyst for making our lives super scrumdiddlyumptious, but they sure add a flavor to our days that we might otherwise not have.

The journey began with The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More that I picked up for myself, though I also read a few stories aloud to the kids. We had been in the midst of The Fellowship of the Ring at the time as a family, so when I gave them the choice of more Tolkien or more Dahl, my kids (9 and 11) both joyously asked for Dahl!

We followed Henry Sugar with James and the Giant Peach while I read the more adult-focused Someone Like You on my own time, and we’ve loved just about everything we’ve read so far. It’s a wonderful habit for our family to have a good 30 minutes reading together each night ( or in the morning , and if you haven’t started that yourself, there’s no time like the present, and there’s no author quite like Roald Dahl to get you started.

Like most Americans, my first experience with Charlie Bucket or the famous Willy Wonka came via the 1971 Gene Wilder film , which my family watched in the immediate wake of finishing this book. Man, that thing holds up! But this is supposed to be a review of the book not the film.

Still. That scene in the boat. Gene Wilder was a genius.

The book was very little changed when taken to the big screen, which made me quite happy. Lacking the intrigue of the everlasting gobstopper thievery and containing much longer (and much better) songs from the Oompa Loompas, the book otherwise formed specific images in my mind as I read—images both based on the film and not. And let me tell you, this book is made for reading aloud.

Veruca Salt was the easiest character to imitate (“I want it now!”), with Mike Teavee and Violet Beuregarde being pretty close seconds. I wasn’t confident in trying to imitate Gene Wilder (though I’m sure if “Help. Police. Murder.” were a line in the book, I’d have attempted it). The parents all got muddled in my voicing. Way too many on that initial tour!

This book is such an enjoyable trip that gleefully punishes the brats we all know (and the parents who’ve helped create them to be what they are): the screen addicts, the carelessly obese, the selfish screamers, and the greedy egoists. Only Charlie Bucket is a kind and loveable soul, and in that there exists the nut of the book’s lesson. It doesn’t matter your station in life: be kind to others and good things might very well happen.

I don’t know Roald Dahl’s religious affiliations, and there’s nothing in his writing to suggest he had any (many of his adult stories are quite dark). Still, as wildly silly as his plots might be, or as irreverent as his books can get about authority (killing James’ aunts for example, or the way Matilda reacts to her parents), there remain those nuggets of Truth that make for good discussions with the little ones. I’m happy for the wildness of it all and for how my kids respond and the conversations the stories spark. We’ll take a break from him sometime soon, I’m sure, but for now we’re truly enjoying our venture into the mind of Roald Dahl.

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Charlie and the chocolate factory.

• Parents say (27)
• Kids say (63)

Based on 63 kid reviews

Common Sense Media absolutely doesn't make sense.

This title has:

• Too much violence

Report this review

Just the right amount of humor.

• Too much swearing

Fun read with some mischief behavior

Mmmmmm, yummy story.

• Educational value
• Great messages
• Great role models

Great book!

One of my most favorite classic books, i hate this app title, a really good book, good book,not author.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

It feels highly appropriate that I am now writing a review of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, since 27 years ago, when I was roughly four years old, my dad sat down and read my brother and I the whole thing over several successive evenings.

I have heard some people say that when they reread a childhood favourite, they find it smaller and more disappointing than expected. Well not me! I've read the book many times since those initial evenings with my dad and still think it's wonderful, which either means I have the literary appreciation of a four year old, or that I was a four year old with very good taste!

One thing I can however do now, which I could not do when I was four, is say precisely what makes this book, published 50 years ago last year, such a classic.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is in many ways a modern (or at least early 20th century) fairy tale. It begins with Charlie Bucket and his large family, including four grandparents living on the edge of a small town in a state of desperate poverty. Charlie's grandpa Jo tells him stories of the wonderful Mr. Willy Wonka, the legendary chocolate maker.

Shortly thereafter the idea of five golden tickets is introduced, five chances for children across the world to tore Mr Wonka’s factory and earn a life time supply of sweets and we slowly learn of the first four finders.

One thing that struck me about this first section of the book is just how well crafted it is. Dahl uses a wonderful economy of language to contrast the poverty of the Bucket family with the stories told by Grandpa Jo to Charlie of the wonderful Mr. Wonka and his chocolate factory. Indeed, the simple motif of food for suffering, contrasting the cabbage and potatoes that Charlie's family live on with the stories of Willy Wonka's magical and improbable sweets almost reminded me of George R. R. Martin, as well as being a clear indicator to any child of just what "being poor" was really like. There is also a stark brutality to some of these sections that clearly show's Dahl's belief that children do not need to be patronised, such as the description of Charlie, on the edge of starvation after his father loses his job, having to sit inside and rest rather than go outside to play in the snow.

Charlie himself is also an extremely well crafted character in this first section of the book. One of my complaints of the 1973 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory musical (a film which Dahl himself disavowed) was that Charley was portrayed far too unrealistically sweet. He was a classic virtuous TV boy whose goodness was rammed down your throat. The book however begins by picturing Charlie through the love his parents and grandparents have for him, and what hints to the "goodness" of his character we get are wonderfully understated, like the description of him making one bar of chocolate last for months (quite a contrast to some of the less virtuous children we meet later), or the account of him refusing to accept extra food from his mother.

My favourite Charlie moment occurs when he finds some money in the street, a half crown in the original copy my dad read me in the early 80's though in more modern versions a fifty pence peace. Charlie, desperate from starvation runs into a small local shop, buys a chocolate bar and in utter desperation wolfs the whole thing in less than a minute. It's such a natural reaction and Dahl plays it so straight it definitely brings home that Charlie is a real character.

It is also in this first section of the book that we are introduced, through Mr. Bucket's reading of a newspaper, to the four other finders of Mr. Wonka’s Golden Tickets. By having the stories read from a newspaper Dahl rather cleverly lets the reactions of the Bucket family and the condemnation of the bad behaviour of the other children be quite natural in dialogue, such as Grandma Georgina's "a repulsive boy" comment upon the greedy Augustus Gloop. After all I'm pretty sure every family who has ever read a newspaper or watched TV news together pass such casual little judgements upon the people shown. While Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is indeed something of a morality tale, as with a lot of Dahl's writing, the morality comes from the story rather than the story existing just to teach a moral lesson, thus the comments by the Bucket family upon the other children are quite in character.

Before beginning my recent reread of the story, I did wonder how dated some of the bad children and their foibles might be, particularly the violent television obsessed Mike Teavee (who was transformed into a joyless computer nerd by Tim Burton in the 2005 film).

Upon rereading however, it did occur to me that in a world of ultra violent crime drama and gangster rap, Mike Teavee's love of watching television gangsters wasn't quite so out of place, particularly with how stark the divide between "children’s" and "adult" programs shown these days, indeed only his coat with the Lone Ranger picture (and perhaps some of the illustrations), suggest that he was particularly tied to westerns, a film style far more popular in the sixties than today. The only one of the four children I found less satisfactory was Violet Beauregarde, the girl obsessed with chewing gum, since fundamentally there didn't seem to really be anything that wrong with what she was doing. Though she does come across as brash, arrogant and over confident, it doesn't seem attributing this to gum chewing is reasonable, the way Mike Teavee's violent temper and disinterest is tied to his addiction to violent television. I suspect this is why Tim Burton also gave her an obsession with winning and being a stereotypical American girl.

After several notable fake outs and some quite clever playing with the reader's expectations, Dahl does have Charlie find the fifth golden ticket and attend the factory where he meets the book's other most notable character, chocolate maker and seemingly magical genius Willy Wonka.

There have been several different portrayals and ideas about Wonka over the years, from Johnny Depp's childlike maniac to Gene Wilder's manipulative (and to my mind quite dislikeable) version. Reading the book however it struck me that Mr. Wonka really doesn't need the extra layers of characterisation that have been attributed to him at all. He is purely and simply a genius, in love with his creations, proud of his factory and (as revealed at the end of the novel) in need of an apprentice. He's an eccentric artist with a sense of wonder about the world and a love of invention, and any extra additions to his character, even Johnny Depp's lost little boy angle or Gene Wilder's slightly less pleasant master manipulator streak are neither in evidence in the book, nor are they necessary. Not every character has to be convoluted in order to be well drawn, and Wonka is a perfect example.

Inside the factory is where the real fun begins, and this is one occasion where the reality definitely lives up to the prior build-up. One characteristic which Dahl shares with many great fantasy authors from Lovecraft to Tolkien is that he is able to suggest a far larger and more magical world than he actually shows. The innumerable corridors, the many doors of the factory and what Willy Wonka says of the factory's size and underground workings, not to mention some wonderful brief glimpses of magical moments (something Dahl does extremely well), suggest that the factory is far larger and stranger even than what we see. Thus, whether the full description of the meadow constructed entirely of chocolate and edible sugar, the ride down the chocolate river or the brief glimpse of "square sweets that look round" everything is built in exquisite and eye catching detail, littered with puns (butter scotch and butter jinn) and plenty of the trademark Dahl rhymes and humour. The style is masterful, neither too brief nor overly florid and (as we'd hope from a book about a chocolate factory) appeals just as much to all senses, rather than just being a described film script.

Another characteristic which Dahl has in common with the great writers of epic fantasy, is that the world of the factory is not one which is altogether safe. One of Dahl's realisations was that children are not incapable of standing disturbing situations, so long as things work out in the end, and so long as the majority of the unpleasantness happens to the bad characters. Nowhere is this more clearly in evidence than in the factory, where the various bad children each fall foul to a somewhat ironic accident, such as Augustus Gloop's ascent up the pipe after trying to drink chocolate from the chocolate river, or Violet Beauregarde being turned into a human blueberry after eating a chewing gum meal.

It is debatable to what extent Mr. Wonka wanted this to happen (indeed Gene Wilder's portrayal in the 1973 film makes it pretty clear that he was manipulating matters behind the scenes). Myself however, after reading the book it does seem Mr. Wonka's dismay at the children's accidents was entirely genuine, though to what extent his concern was for the children and to what extent it was for the misuse of his creations is debatable.

As with the Bucket family's comments upon reading about the children in the news paper, the Oompa Loompa's songs can be seen as a whimsical bit of rhyming, as much as moral statements on the flaws of the children, poetic justice in equal measure, though notably Dahl does soften the blow somewhat by showing the children all alive and well at the end of the book (albeit perhaps not the way they were before).

My one problem with the factory section of the book, is that Charlie rather falls off the map. Though many of the descriptions are from his perspective, he feels a largely passive character, simply trailing around the factory in an understandable state of wonder and watching as the four other children fall foul of their own various character flaws. It is eventually revealed that Wonka was looking for a young apprentice that he could teach, hence the need for the Golden Tickets, however having Charlie effectively win by default feels a distinct anti-climax. It's notable that in both film versions performs some act for Mr. Wonka at the end of the factory  tour which served to distinguish him as a character and also (in the Tim Burton film at least) cement his friendship with the chocolate maker. Apparently, Dahl originally had as many as 20 children enter the factory to meet unfortunate accidents, then cut the number down steadily as he wrote. The chapter detailing the sixth child, a swatty, education obsessed girl called Miranda Piker and her vanishment by magic powder was made available to the public in 2007 and can be found and read online.

I do wonder if perhaps Dahl got somewhat over focused on providing ironic punishments for bad children so that he neglected a correct ending for a good one. This lack of climax and easy resolution does make the book's ending rather flat, despite the impressive sequence of the great glass elevator flying out of the top of the factory roof. There is no risk to Charley and no obstacle he overcomes at the end to distinguish himself, indeed you almost expect Willy Wonka to turn around to Charlie and simply thank him and send him home. And the end would simply be that Charlie had a wonderful day and earned a life time supply of chocolate so isn't hungry anymore. I suspect this anti-climax is the reason that Charlie and the chocolate factory is the only one of Dahl's children's books to have a sequel. Indeed, in Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator one of the notable things is how we do see the budding teacher/pupil relationship between Charlie and Willy Wonka, and how Charlie does distinguish himself as exceptional.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has had a lot of attention over the years, and has at turns been called imperialistic, racist, patronising and disturbing. There have been countless merchandising deals (a shame the rights were bought by such a rotten chocolate maker as Nestlé), two film adaptations, various computer games, rides, and a Broadway musical. Behind all of that however is a very amazing book that was written fifty years ago, which is still just as fantastic and delightful today as it was back in the sixties. Great ideas, well crafted prose, and an understatement of its morality make Charlie and the Chocolate Factory a modern fairy tale that will likely be popular for years to come, among children and any adults who aren't entirely devoid of any sense of magic.

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Review by Dark

33 positive reader review(s) for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Roald Dahl biography

Sachin Chaurasiya from India

Super fantastic novel I like it. Loved it so much.

Brett from NZ

This is amazing and so is the book and thank you for making this.

Rohit from Pakistan

I love this book, it’s amazing

Ansharah from India

It is a great book and everything about it is so perfect. I'd recommend the book to youngsters who love fantasy.

M- - - - V. from Canada

I really loved it because it was funny, exciting and really indulging! Recommend.

Claire from Canada

Li from Singapore

Fantastic and wonderful book!

Dhruvi from India

Lovely book, children's classic and written by a fantastic author Roald Dahl. Amazing work!!! Thank you!!

Aarib from United Kingdom

The exellent work of art the best book ever I love this book!

Hriday veer arora from India

Hriday veer Arora from India

Most amazing book in the world and very funny also especially Willy Wonka

Konica from India

Zara from England

This is a fabulous book super funny I love it when Augustus falls into the chocolate river and the dad dives in but the book and movie is a little different but still really good.

Harish from India

Sayish from Srilanka

Charvi Mukesh Sheth from India

Must read. Very interesting book I loved reading it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Richar from USA

Epic novel fully filled with great imagination.

Anon from UK

Great book. I read it whenever I’m bored or tired.

Logan from United States

I love this book.

Neem from Maldives

i loved it it was the one of the best story ever!

Sudeevena aparanji from India

Epic novel filled with fun and imaginations, lovely book

Kripa from India

It was a very lovely story.book. I can read it anytime.

Sidhan from Kalba

It is the greatese book that I ever had read.

Sapna from India

Super fantasy novel!!!!! I like it!!!!!

Mohammed Azizur from London

I love this �"�.It has so much fascinating stuff in it (in my opinion).Who would never read it. SO GOOD!!!

Sambridhi from Nepal

Loved it so much.

Awesome Jesse from South Africa

FANTASTiC!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nontando from South Africa

Very lovely book

Cakiepop from America

I really liked this book because it is true and not true at the same time. It is true that children like Charlie are living with their families slowly starving, having to see others indulging themselves because they have money, but the story shows that miracles can happen!

Iman from England

It was a lovely book to read and was very fascinating too!! I really loved it and I also think that Roald Dahl is an amazing author...

Archana from India

I loved this book. I saw the flim based on it too. This book is the best book I have read till now.

Sara from USA

I luv this book and can reread it anytime. <3

Medhansh from India

This book is really wonderful for kids. It has a little bit of everything: fiction, humour, rhythm and of course feelings.

Lindelani Malunga from South Africa

Its a great book and everything about it is so perfect. I recommend the book to youngsters who love fantasy, imagination books etc . I loooooooove the book very much.

John from Santa Rosa

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an amazing book because it has a lot of imagination that Roald Dahl put into making this book. Charlie has enthusiasm in this book that is why I love this book sooooooooooooo much.

Vihaan from India

I can read it any time.

F.____M from Qatar

This is book is my all time favourite! <3

Rashmi from India

Book title: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Author: Roald Dahl Illustrator – Quentin Blake Genre - Fiction Publisher: Puffin Books; Penguin Group Place – Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York 10014, USA Publication Date – 1964 Edition – 2007 Page Count – 200 pages Price - $16.95 ISBN – 978-0-141-32271-1 Reviewed by Rashmi Sacher If I have to describe my experience with this book in Roald Dahl’s words, I would say ‘SCRUMDIDDLYUMPTIOUS’ – a word invented by R. Dahl, which means delicious and lovely. This book truly is amazing. It comes with an interesting title ‘Charlie and the Chocolate factory’ which adequately encapsulates the message of the text. It is a very pacey and eventful read. There is no way that the reader would feel bored during it’s read as there are a lot of events happening to keep up with. The core strength of the book lies in R. Dahl’s brilliant imagination and Ouentin Blake’s wonderful illustrations. If wish there were little more illustrations to make it a visual treat. The story is about a sweet, sensible, poor boy aka our hero, Charlie Bucket. Charlies lives in a small wooden house with his mother (Mrs Bucket), father (Mr. Bucket), Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina. This poverty stricken family is barely able to make both its ends meet as Mr Bucket is the only breadwinner of the family. He works on meagre wages in a toothpaste factory as toothpaste cap-screwer. The only few thing they can afford and survive on are boiled potatoes, cabbage and cabbage soup. Though they never starve but they always have a horrible empty feeling in their stomachs and Charlie feels it worst of all. On his way to school, everyday Charlie passes by Mr. Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. It is no ordinary chocolate factory and Mr. Wonka no ordinary chocolate maker. He is magician-cum-inventor of the chocolate world, who owns the biggest and most famous factory known for producing the most amazingly tasting heart melting chocolates in the whole wide world. Every time Charlie passes it he gets entrapped and enchanted by the wonderfully sweet smell of melted chocolate. And every time when he gets entrapped by this sweet chocolaty whiff, his desire to get inside the factory grows more. But sadly there is no way one can go inside it as the factory gates have never been opened since a long time. Mr. Wonka shut himself off from the public years before because his workers were selling his new ideas to rival companies. Suddenly one day Mr. Wonka makes an announcement that he is opening his factory to the five lucky people who find a golden ticket in his chocolate bars. Finally Charlie makes it to this amazing world of chocolate through a golden ticket. Besides him there are four more lucky winners of the golden ticket. Their names are Augustus Gloop (a greedy boy), Veruca Salt (a spoiled brat), Violet Beauregarde (a constant gum chewer) and Mike Teavee (a violent couch potato). Inside the factory follows a series of wonderfully exciting and adventurous events which leaves our little Charlie astonished, amazed, flabbergasted and at times even terrified and stunned. In the magical factory of chocolate, kids witness a chocolate river, minty sugar grass, television chocolate etc. but my personal favourite is the roller coaster glass lift as it elevates the pace of the book to a greater level. R. Dahl not only widens your imagination but also your vocabulary as he introduces some interesting terms to his reader, for example – snozzwangers, hornswogglers, whangdoodles, Oompa-loompas, etc. The book does cater to young reader but is not at all childish in its approach. It has got a write mix of sensibility, fun, excitement and humour. It is by no means preachy but does leave you with the following message – a) One should not be greedy for anything in life. b) Books are the best source of entertainment. c) One should always pay heed to the elders’ advice. d) Parents are sorely responsible in turning a kid into a brat. Parents should make a sensible choice as to which all wishes of their child’s they should cater to and which all they should ignore. To saviour the true essence of this book, (if I may take the liberty to make a suggestion) I would suggest you to read it in a cosy, comfy corner, sipping hot chocolate while dunking your favourite cookies in it. In all I would say it is a chocolate melting, candy popping, gum bursting, jaw sticking, bar crackling sweet adventurous story book. Happy reading folks!!

Salmag from South Africa

It's a lovely book.

9.7 /10 from 40 reviews

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• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
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Dive Bar Blues

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Book Review)

A decent book overshadowed by an excellent movie..

Published in 1964, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of many famous children’s novels written by author Roald Dahl. Quite frankly, I believe that this particular novel would not be nearly as famous as it is without the success of its 1971 film adaptation- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. 

I don’t mean to discourage anyone from reading this book- it certainly isn’t bad. But I also don’t want you to expect the book to be as good as the film- because the film is much, much better. 

This isn’t going to be a traditional book review- mainly because the movie version of the story is much more famous than the novel. First I will tell you who I think should read this book. Then we will go over the book itself, talking about what it does well, and also about which parts of the story the movie improved upon. Finally, I will give the book a rating. 

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Who Should Read This Book

I see this book being a fun read for two groups of people- children who love to read, and people who love the film version(s) of the story. 

As for children, I think that kids that love to read will enjoy it. It’s a mostly fun, breezy story with some good imagery. I don’t think that the story will suck in children who don’t love to read, however. None of the characters in the book are particularly engaging. Willy Wonka has about 20% of the charisma in the novel that he displays in the 1971 film version. 

The story is fine, but there isn’t much of a plot. And most of the sense of danger/unease present in the film is lacking here. And the book kind of just ends- with a lot less agency on the protagonist's part. 

As for people who love the 1971 Willy Wonka movie, and probably the Johnny Depp version from 2005 (I haven’t seen it), you’ll have fun reading the book. You’ll enjoy the book simply because it’s fun to spot the differences between a book and a film that you love. Personally, I really enjoyed seeing how the 1971 movie enhanced and improved upon the original story. 

This point leads us into the next section. 

What the Book Did Well / Didn’t Do Well 

I want to reiterate here- this book isn’t bad. Not bad at all. 

It’s just that the 1971 movie adaptation is so, so much better. I will compare the book and film version to highlight what the book did, and did not, do well. 

The World / Imagery

The novel did a great job of world building and giving readers a sense of wonder as the novel explores different rooms in the chocolate factory. I’d like to stress that nearly every element of the chocolate factory in the 1971 film can be found in the book version of the story. The chocolate river, Everlasting Gobstoppers, Oompa-Loompas, and the Glass Elevator are all present in the book. The world of the chocolate factory, and the imagery therein, are by far the best parts of Dahl’s novel. 

The Characters

The characters in the novel are very flat. As stated above, Willy Wonka has much less personality than in the movie. And the other characters fare even worse. All of the parents have lost their scumbag charm that they have in the movies, only being given attention in the book when their child succumbs to their particular sin. Charlie is an incredibly flat character whose main personality traits are being poor and hungry. The only characters that have more personality in the book are the Oompa-Loompas. And they come across as being much more mean-spirited in the book than they are in the movies. Their songs in the book feel like grumpy finger-wagging, particularly their song about Mike Teavee and the sin of watching too much television. 

This is the weakest aspect of the novel. It has a similar structure to the 1971 film’s plot- the first third of the book follows Charlie and the search for the golden tickets, and the last two thirds of the book take place in the Chocolate Factory. But there isn’t really any tension in the book. There isn’t really a villain either- Slugworth is mentioned in a throwaway line in the book, not the villain he is seen as in the movie. Charlie and Grandpa Joe’s adventure with Fizzy Lifting Drinks is completely absent in the book, robbing a key moment from the characters and severely detracting from the book’s ending. In both the book and movie, Willy Wonka tells Charlie “YOU’VE WON!” But only in the movie does it actually feel like Charlie won anything. 

I’ll give the book a 6/10 for adults, and 7/10 for children. I enjoyed the book, but will never read it again. I would only recommend the book to children who are big readers and adults who love one of the film versions. 

Think my rating is too high? Too low? Just Right? 

Let me know what you think in the comments. And stay tuned for my analysis of how the book and movie relate to our culture today. 

Your friend at the end of the bar ordering pudding shots,

Pictures taken by me. Affiliate Links: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory book . Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory movie .

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Paperback – August 16, 2007

• Book 1 of 2 Charlie Bucket
• Print length 192 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 3 - 7
• Lexile measure 810L
• Dimensions 5.06 x 0.52 x 7.75 inches
• Publication date August 16, 2007
• ISBN-10 0142410314
• ISBN-13 978-0142410318
• See all details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (August 16, 2007)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0142410314
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0142410318
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 - 9 years, from customers
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 810L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.06 x 0.52 x 7.75 inches
• #57 in Children's Classics
• #68 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books
• #80 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books)

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl Paperback Book

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Great book to start kids in Ronald Dahl

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About the author

The son of Norwegian parents, Roald Dahl was born in Wales in 1916 and educated at Repton. He was a fighter pilot for the RAF during World War Two, and it was while writing about his experiences during this time that he started his career as an author.

His fabulously popular children's books are read by children all over the world. Some of his better-known works include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox, Matilda, The Witches, and The BFG.

He died in November 1990.

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Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 84% 11% 3% 1% 1% 84%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 84% 11% 3% 1% 1% 11%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 84% 11% 3% 1% 1% 3%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 84% 11% 3% 1% 1% 1%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 84% 11% 3% 1% 1% 1%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the chapters short enough that they can complete one each night. They also appreciate the masterful narrating, straightforward classic, and fantastic illustrations. Readers describe the storyline as valuable for all children, with good messages about things kids should avoid doing or being. They appreciate the educational value, saying it has lessons for little kids to learn and underlying messages of morality. Customers also mention the book is very chocolaty and tasty.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the writing style masterful, simple, and beautiful. They also say the book is properly written, a great read-aloud, and detailed. Readers also mention that the characters are vividly portrayed, each with their own quirks and personalities.

"...The characters are vividly portrayed , each with their own quirks and personalities that make them both relatable and larger than life...." Read more

"...Some difficult vocabulary but not much, son is able to read aloud independently (6 years old, soon to be 7) with little correction or assistance...." Read more

"This is a great book my children read the whole book and were able to understand it all and tell me all the details" Read more

"My kiddos loved it, very nice read, great writer we read many of his books already" Read more

Customers find the storyline valuable, poignant, and magical. They say it's a good family book with good messages about things kids should avoid doing or being. Readers also mention that the ending is enjoyable and would like to read the sequel.

"...It's a book that sparks the imagination, ignites a sense of wonder , and reminds us of the magic that can be found in even the simplest things...." Read more

"...A great book and with the recent Wonka movie, a great bridge to the content ...." Read more

"...It is funny and teaches lots of life lessons for kids and parents to remember." Read more

"... I enjoyed the ending and I would like to read the sequel. The theme is about getting what one deserves...." Read more

Customers find the book has a lot of lessons for little kids to learn. They say it's good for any age, and allows them to use their imagination. They also appreciate the underlying messages of morality and the consequences of greed. Customers also mention that the story is full of humor, wholesome values, and a great addition to their bookshelf.

"...most about "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is its underlying messages of morality and the consequences of greed...." Read more

"My first grade class enjoyed this as a read aloud. It gave us opportunities for good discussions as well." Read more

"...book, however, was not only properly written, but it also was perfect in the lessons that it teaches about behaviour and being thankful...." Read more

"...the movie as a child and the book is cute and funny and full of child like wonder " Read more

Customers like the illustrations in the book. They say the characters are likable and fantastic.

"...Dahl's descriptions of the mouthwatering candies and treats are so vivid that I could almost taste them myself...." Read more

"...One thing that praise me was that it had illustrations . Some of the illustrations were hilarious...." Read more

"...This is a classic we both enjoy. The illustrations are lovely and the story is one of my favorites." Read more

"...Charlie is an extremely likable character and the illustrations are fantastic . Overall, this book rocks!" Read more

Customers find the book very chocolaty, tasty, and not too sweet. They also say the book is gently, humorously, and cleverly written.

"...The chocolate factory itself is a fantastical setting , filled with whimsy and wonder...." Read more

"...Funny children, great chocolate inventions , and some crazy singing! What is a better combo than this?" Read more

"Just read it with my 5-year old. it was just as delightful and magical as I remember from reading it as a child- and even more so seeing it..." Read more

" Not too sweet , not too tart, this book gently, humorously, and cleverly, but unmistakably messages children to be kind, not greedy, not selfish, not..." Read more

Customers find the chapters in the book short enough to complete one each night. They also say the book has a low page count, which is a reflection of Dahl's writing.

"...The chapters are short . Cute sketches are included as well...." Read more

" Short chapters , easy for my 7 year old to read. We are enjoying it!" Read more

"... A short read , but a fun one." Read more

"...It didn't take me long to finish it, a reflection of not only the low page count but Dahl's writing as well...." Read more

Customers find the book a quick read.

"...The pacing of the book is perfect , with each chapter unveiling a new and exciting adventure within the chocolate factory...." Read more

"...Enjoyable and fun. I would recommend it to anyone looking for quick and enjoyable fun ." Read more

"...Love the movie. Love the book now too. It's a fun, quick read ...." Read more

"...There wasn't. However, it was still very enjoyable, and very rapid read !" Read more

Customers are mixed about the similarities. Some mention that the book has nice differences from the movie, while others say that it's very disappointed.

"A childhood classic. The masterful Rhoald Dahl does it again. Better than either film .... though that isn't hard with the Johnny Depp one." Read more

"...editions, however, each on had the same issue: inferior binding, mediocre (interior pages) paper and printing...." Read more

"I liked the movie... loved the book. Fun read. Nice differences from the movie . Reading James and the Giant Peach next." Read more

"...However, the illustrations were a bit quirky and did not appeal to him . The sparse, black and white sketches seemed inaccessible to a younger reader." Read more

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My Favorite Reads – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Each week I am featuring one of my favorite reads from the past. If you would like to participate, please leave a link to your post in the comments. This week I chose:

I am surprised at how often I learn new things about my favorite reads, and the authors who wrote them, when I research these posts.  This week I found out more about the inspiration behind Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:

The story was originally inspired by Roald Dahl’s experience of chocolate companies during his schooldays. Cadbury would often send test packages to the schoolchildren in exchange for their opinions on the new products. At that time (around the 1920s) Cadbury and Rowntree’s were England’s two largest chocolate makers, and they each often tried to steal trade secrets by sending spies into the other’s factory, posing as employees. Because of this, both companies became highly protective of their chocolate making processes. It was a combination of this secrecy and the elaborate, often gigantic, machines in the factory that inspired Roald Dahl to write Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. ( Wikipedia )

For anyone who hasn’t read the book or seen one of the movies, here is a basic rundown of the story:

Charlie Bucket, a nice boy from a poor family, lives with his parents and both sets of elderly grandparents (Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina). From these four, especially Grandpa Joe, he hears stories about the candymaker Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory he built in Charlie’s hometown. After rival chocolate makers sent in spies, posing as workers, in order to steal his recipes Mr. Wonka had decided to send home his workers and close the factory. Years of silence passed until one day, when the factory mysteriously came back to life. The gates remain locked however; the factory has resumed operations with workers whose identity is a mystery. Nobody, including Wonka, is seen going in or out of the factory anymore. 

One evening, the headline of Mr. Bucket’s evening paper states that Wonka is holding a worldwide contest, in which five Golden Tickets are hidden under the wrappers of his candy bars; the prize for those who find them is a day-long tour of the factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate. The contest becomes a worldwide mania, with people resorting to increasingly desperate and unscrupulous measures to find the tickets, and anyone who succeeds becomes front-page headline news and a worldwide celebrity. ( Wikipedia )

Why I Chose This Book:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was one of those books that just seemed perfect to me when I was growing up.  I was a candy junkie, and the idea of getting to stuff myself with candy non-stop while touring a chocolate factory seemed like heaven.  As someone who spent all of my allowance on bags of chocolate from the local store, I could completely relate to the candy mania of the children who were buying hundreds of candy bars, and at the time I wished that I had enough money to buy so much chocolate.

I couldn’t help but be charmed by the eccentric Willy Wonka, and took great joy in looking down at the other evil little children who accompanied Charlie to the Chocolate factory. The happy ending was just icing on the top.

I love the original movie , but have never been able to sit through an entire viewing of the remake (Johnny Depp’s Wonka is way too creepy).  As adults my husband and I usually rant as we watch the old movie.  His favorite part to criticize is the beginning of the movie when the candy man is handing out free candy to all the rich kids in the story, while Charlie stands sad and alone outside.  He always says, “Look at those kids – they’re not paying for that candy.  Why can’t Charlie go in and get some free candy?  But no, he can’t – because the free candy is only for the rich kids!” 

Our other favorite part to criticize is the part where Grandpa Joe miraculously can get up and walk again after years of inactivity, in order to accompany Charlie to the factory.  The conversation goes something like this, “Oh sure, now Grandpa Joe can walk!  I didn’t see him trying to get up and find a job earlier, but when there’s a free ticket the candy factory, suddenly he’s full of energy and spry.”

I know our discussions are quite silly, and yet I’ve come to enjoy the experience of watching the movie and making fun of the characters.  It’s nice to have something to rely on, and I know that neither of us can watch this movie without launching into these same conversations each time.

© 2010, At Home With Books . All rights reserved.

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• In Arabian Nights by Tahir Shah - Review
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• September Wrap Up 2010
• October Bookshelf Cleaning - Closed
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• Mailbox Monday - August 30
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• The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing by Tarquin Hall
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• The Dead & the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer - Review
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• My Favorite Reads - July 22
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• Mailbox Monday - June 14
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• My Favorite Reads - June 10
• What is the Best Way to Reply to Comments?
• When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead - Review
• Mailbox Monday - June 7
• June Bookshelf Cleaning (Closed)
• My Favorite Reads - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
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• My Favorite Reads - To Kill a Mockingbird
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• Mailbox Monday - May 24
• The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver - Review
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• That's How I Blog Interview Tonight!
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• The Arrival by Shaun Tan - Review
• Friday Finds - May 14
• Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel - Review
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• Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey - Review
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• Higher Education by Kenneth Jedding - Giveaway
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• The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell - Review
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• The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom - Review
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• My Favorite Reads - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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• Emma, Vol 9 by Kaoru Mori - Review
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• How Many Unread Books Do You Have?
• The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli - Review
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• Going to D.C. (and New York)
• Bone: Out from Boneville (Vol. 1) - Review
• Mailbox Monday - April 5
• Guest House Winner!
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• Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld - Review
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• Mailbox Monday - March 29
• I Concede Defeat
• Sum: Forty Tales of the Afterlives by David Eagleman - Review
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• Time Travelers Never Die by Jack McDevitt - Review
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• Mailbox Monday - March 22
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• Guest House by Barbara K. Richardson - Giveaway
• My Favorite Reads - The Secret Garden
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• Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - Review
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• Mailbox Monday - March 15
• February Wrapup
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• My Favorite Reads - Hatchet
• An Extra Special Book
• Non-Fiction Five Challenge 2010
• The Dolphin People by Torsten Krol - Review
• Mailbox Monday - March 8
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• My Favorite Reads - James and the Giant Peach
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• The Harlot's Progress: Yorkshire Molly - Review
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• Mornings With Mailer by Dwayne Raymond - Review
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• Mailbox Monday - February 22
• Friday Finds - February 19
• The Hot Zone by Richard Preston - Review
• An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon - Review
• Postcards from a Dead Girl Giveaway
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• Shirley by Kaoru Mori - Review
• Clearing Up Some of the Confusion
• If You Use An Embedded Comment Box Please Read This
• My Favorite Reads - Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
• Mornings With Mailer Winners!
• How to Get Things Really Flat - Review
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• Ulysses - Impossible to Understand?
• Friday Finds - February 5
• My Favorite Reads - The Three Musketeers
• So Long and Thanks for all the Fish by Douglas Adams - Review
• You Are Here Giveaway
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• My Favorite Reads - The Ship Who Sang
• The Makedown by Gitty Daneshvari - Review
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• January Bookshelf Cleaning Winners!
• Immoveable Feast by John Baxter - Review
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• Friday Finds - January 22
• My Favorite Reads - Yeager
• Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott - Review
• Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky - Review
• Mailbox Monday - January 18
• My Favorite Reads - Little Women
• Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams - Review
• Anne Frank: Her Life in Words and Pictures - Review
• The Survivors Club Winners!
• The Motion of the Ocean by Janna Cawrse Esarey - Review
• My Favorite Reads - Reading Lolita in Tehran
• Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton - Review
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• Mailbox Monday - January 4
• January Bookshelf Cleaning Giveaway
• Happy New Year & December Wrap Up
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• Awesome Author Challenge Reviews - Jan/Feb
• My Favorite Reads - Swing!
• Challenge Wrap Up 2009
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• December Bookshelf Cleaning Winners!
• Gang Leader For a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh - Review
• The Survivors Club Giveaway
• My Favorite Reads - Twas the Night Before Christmas
• Laika by Nick Abadzis - Review
• The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness - Review
• Mailbox Monday - December 21
• Blogroll Update
• 451 Challenge
• Graphic Novels Challenge
• My Favorite Reads - Roots
• Audio Book Challenge 2010
• Touching the Void by Joe Simpson - Review
• Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding - Review
• The Terror by Dan Simmons - Review
• The Chunkster Challenge 2010
• Take Another Chance Challenge 2010
• Friday Finds - December 11
• My Favorite Reads - Wild Swans
• Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle - Review
• The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - Review
• The Dolphin People Winners!
• Mennonite in a Little Black Dress - Review
• Secret Santa Present!
• ARC Reading Challenge 2010
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• Lots of Challenge Posts Today
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• My Favorite Reads - Anne of Green Gables
• November Wrap Up
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• Mailbox Monday - November 30
• TBR 2010 Challenge
• Reading From My Shelves Challenge
• Traveling With Pomegranates - Review
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Review
• Dracula is Dead - Review
• The Dolphin People Giveaway
• Friday Finds - November 20
• My Favorite Reads - Diana
• Emma, Volume 8 - Review
• Wicked Will by Bailey MacDonald
• The Gate House Winners!
• After by Amy Efaw - Review
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Lower Key Stage 2. Reading Comprehension. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

6 August 2024

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Lower Key Stage 2. Reading comprehension questions based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

Roughly 10 reading comprehension questions for each chapter.

All National Curriculum Content Domains are covered throughout all letters with the headings: Word Meaning, Inference, Summarising, Analysis and Evaluation, Evaluation of Content, Structure and Quality, Retrieval, Predicting, Explaining and Exploring, Comparison and Synthesis.

They could be used in several ways: as part of reading lessons with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as the scheme of work; as a morning activity; as an early finisher activity or as a meaningful filler activity. Every question is supplied with a comprehensive answer which could be used for peer assessment for more able students.

They were written with Lower Key Stage 2 in mind.

Every sheet is written using Word so can be edited and adapted as needed. All are also uniform and ready to be stuck in books if required and ready to go straight away.

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• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

★★★★☆     Appetising treat

Edinburgh Academy (Venue 70): Fri 2 – Sat 17 Aug: 17:45 Review by Sophie Good

Community group Captivate Theatre present a new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Edinburgh Academy which fills the mind with wonder.

This version of the well known children’s favourite is written by David Greig, based on Roald Dahl’s book about the boy who wins a Golden Ticket to visit Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. There, his fellow winners suffer various not-so-happy ends. This contemporary version is well rendered by an enthusiastic and energetic team at Captivate Theatre.

Charlie Bucket. Pic Captivate

Calum Caulfield makes a loveable and generous Charlie (rotating the role with Oliver Thomson) and is a capable lead, enthusiastically sharing his love affair with chocolate. John Knox as Willy Wonka perhaps lacks some of the exuberance and charisma expected in the role, but his sure-footed approach gives all the ensemble a chance to show what they’re made of.

Charlie’s bed-bound grandparents do a great comic turn, appearing on their balcony in their bed clothes. It is Grandpa Joe’s relationship with Charlie that really counts and Peter Tomassi brings an affable charm to the role. His comic turns on getting out of bed after forty years are as enjoyable as his vocals.

highly entertaining

There is a race for the golden ticket, led by comic newscasters Cherry and Jerry played by April Beattie and Flora Thomasson. Both make the most of the roles and are highly entertaining – although at times they inadvertently overshadow the ticket winners with their enthusiasm.

Mrs Gloop (Andrew Gardiner) and Augustus Gloop (Joshua Brown) are a great comic pairing, bringing us some Bavarian sausage and a passion for the gastronomic. Mrs Salt (Christine Mills) and Veruca Salt (Alice McAslan) have great chemistry and McAslan’s Russian-accented cries of ‘more’ are incredibly funny.

Jerry (Flora Thomasson) and the Gloops (Joshua Brown and Andrew Gardiner). Pic Captivate

Daniella Logan has three key roles, all of which she does justice to in different ways: notably the downtrodden Mrs Bucket and as the aspiring mom-agent Mrs Beauregarde. Logan’s song ‘The Queen of Pop’ which she shares with Elyssa Tait is a real highlight for the young audience who enjoyed this updated version which features a great ensemble dance number – also well choreographed by Logan.

The final pairing of Lucy Pedersen and Muir Tait as the screen addicted Teavees are equally entertaining and watchable.

It’s a long show for a young audience of 2hrs and 10 minutes and Captivate have adopted their usual minimalist set design well for the most part. At times, Wonka’s chocolate factory does miss the visual stimulus of the candy land you imagine they are exploring. Imagination is a key theme, however, so perhaps we are encouraged to exercise that.

Wonka and company. Pic Captivate

The ensemble cast are the Oompas, who are the moral glue that holds the show together; with their cautionary tales based on each child’s downfall. They work together well and are an entertaining interlude within the story.

A lot of work goes into these large cast shows and Captivate show no lack of ambition in bringing this piece to life. Director Sally Lyall keeps it flowing like the chocolate river all the way through and the live orchestra, directed by Maddy Barron, give a lively account of the score.

Fans of Willy Wonka (in it’s many different guises), lovers of chocolate or a right good story will all enjoy this musical and taste extravaganza.

Running time: Two hours and 10 minutes (including one interval) Edinburgh Academy , 42 Henderson Row, EH3 5BL (Venue 70) Fri 2 – Sat 17 August 2024 Daily at 5.45pm Tickets and details: Book here .

Captivate Theatre links

Website: http://www.captivatetheatre.com/ Instagram: @captivatetheatre Facebook: @captivatetheatre X: @Captivate_LTD

Charlie and his Grandpa (Peter Tomassi). Pic: Captivate.

Tags: #EdFringe , #MadeInEdinburgh , Alice McAslan , Amateurs , Andrew Gardiner , April Beattie , Calum Caulfield , Captivate Theatre , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , Christine Mills , Daniella Logan , David Greig , EdFringe 2024 , Edinburgh Academy , Elyssa Tait , Flora Thomasson , John Knox , Joshua Brown , Lucy Pedersen , Maddy Barron , Made In Edinburgh , Muir Tait , Musicals , Oliver Thomson , Peter Tomassi , Review , Roald Dahl , Sally Lyall , Sophie Good

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An excellent performance by all cast and band. Thoroughly enjoyed by me, my wife and 13 year old daughter. It made for a great trip to the festival. We tend to take in some street performers then a show; and this one didn’t disappoint. Excellent venue too.

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PS Play 2024: Charlie and The Chocolate Factory

Tue Sep 17, 18:00 - Thu Sep 19, 20:00

Cannons Creek Independent School

Cannons Creek Primary School is proud to present 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' performed by their pupils. This very popular Roald Dahl book has been adapted by Terri Theys, with musical arrangement by Gail Levitt. The story follows a poor young boy, Charlie Bucket, who finds a golden ticket to visit the world-famous Chocolate Factory of Willy Wonka. What happens inside the factory is quite extraordinary! It promises to entertain audiences, featuring all Grade 1-6 pupils!

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Lincoln park performing arts center announces eight-show subscription series.

MIDLAND — Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center has announced its eight-show 2024-2025 Subscription Series, sponsored by Clearview Federal Credit Union.

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory – Oct. 4-6, 11-13 (MainStage) – Welcome to the world of pure imagination. Featuring an original score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Catch Me If You Can), and iconic songs such as “Candy Man,” “(I’ve Got A) Golden Ticket,” and the “Oompa Loompa Song,” Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an outrageous and thoroughly entertaining musical experience.

Oliver Jr. – Nov. 15-17, 22-24 (MainStage) – Oliver Jr. is the ninth installment in the Jr. Musical Series. This 60-minute Junior adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens novel and award-winning musical springs to life with some of the most memorable characters and songs to ever grace the stage.

The Gift of the Magi – Dec. 6-8, 12-15, 19-22 (BlackBox) – The holiday season is welcomed in the BlackBox Theater with an intimate and beautiful adaptation of the O. Henry classic short story, The Gift of the Magi, with this classic holiday story running three weekends.

Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker – Dec. 13-15, 20-22 (MainStage) – Lincoln Park’s longest-running holiday tradition – The Nutcracker – returns to the MainStage Theater and, for the first time ever, will run two weekends.

Tom Sawyer: A Ballet – Feb. 20-23, 2025 (BlackBox) – With a score by critically acclaimed composer Maury Yeston (Titanic), this stirring and symphonic ballet is an inventive combination of ballet, folk dance, comedy, and compelling storytelling. Tom Sawyer: A Ballet is a don’t miss American tale come to life on the Lincoln Park MainStage, running one weekend only.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – March 14-16, 21-23, 2025 (BlackBox) – Step through the wardrobe and into the magical kingdom of Narnia for the most mystical of adventures in a faraway land. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is an adventurous play adaptation which faithfully recreates the magic and mystery of the C.S. Lewis children’s classic story of love, faith, courage, giving, and the triumph of good over evil.

Anastasia – May 2-4, 9-11, 2025 (MainStage) – From the TONY Award-winning creative team of Lynn Ahrens and Pittsburgh’s own Stephen Flaherty, Anastasia boasts a gorgeous score featuring songs such as “Once Upon a December” and the show-stopping “Journey to the Past.” This is a dazzling musical spectacular about discovering who you are and defining who you’re meant to be.

Sister Act – June 20-22, 27-29, 2025 (MainStage) – The feel-good musical comedy smash Sister Act is based on the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg. This uplifting musical was nominated for five TONY Awards, including Best Musical. Filled with powerful gospel music, outrageous dancing, and a truly moving story, Sister Act is a sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship that will leave audiences breathless.

“This upcoming season is packed with unforgettable shows for the entire family,” said Justin Fortunato, producing artistic director of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center. “We look forward to seeing everyone at the theater to share memories which can only be experienced here at Lincoln Park. Raise your heart, raise your soul, RAISE YOUR VOICE.”

Single tickets starting at $18 are available beginning Monday at 9 a.m. by calling the JR Advertising Specialties Box Office at 724-576-4644 or visiting LincolnParkArts.org. Premium Subscription Packages and Flex Packages are also available right now.

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