Considerably meaner than the movie, this is not a great book for young children, unless someone is going to take the time to explain. ( )

Lexile 810L (Grades 3-6)
New York Times Bestseller; ALA Notable Book

Independent Reading Level: grades 3-7
Awards: New England Round Table of Children's Librarians Award: 1972, Surrey School Award: 1973, Read Aloud BILBY Award: 1992, Millennium Children's Book Award: 2000, The Big Read: Ranked 35th in a BBC survey of the British public in 2003, National Education Association: Listed as one of "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children" in 2007, and School Library Journal: Ranked 61st among all-time children's novels in 2012.

Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

Love this awesome edition... it's the original, but in a larger trim size and with color illustrations. Perfect read-aloud! Ruby LOVED it! Rob and Ruby read it together, but I was lucky enough to sit in on many nights. ( )