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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Audiobook
1 of 2 copies available
1 of 2 copies available
“Roald Dahl sometimes shared a tonal kinship with Ogden Nash, and he could demonstrate a verbal inventiveness nearly Seussian…[His] stories work better in audio than in print.” –The New York Times
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!
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  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from November 11, 2002
      In a sublime bit of casting, comedic actor Idle delivers an inspired rendition of Dahl's classic novel, available for the first time as an unabridged recording (an abridged Caedmon edition, read by Dahl, was released in the 1970s). Using expert timing and a seemingly strong familiarity with the material, Idle wrings every note of humor from the author's colorful behind-the-scenes look at Willy Wonka's world-famous chocolate factory. During the course of a factory tour (whose participants were determined by a contest), honest, humble Charlie Bucket beats out four bratty, selfish children to become the heir to Wonka's wonderland. Readers new to Dahl, as well as longstanding admirers of the book or even the feature film starring Gene Wilder, will not want to miss Idle's interpretation of Wonka's whirlwind energy and "high and flutey" voice. Ages 6-up.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Charlie Bucket's weird and wonderful adventures after finding a Golden Ticket in his Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgmallow Delight have entertained generations of children (and inspired two big screen adaptations). Eric Idle, of the Monty Python comedy troupe, fits like chocolate in a mold as he reads Roald Dahl's classic tale of a poor boy's visit to a fantastical candy factory. Idle becomes the munchie mogul Willy Wonka as he brings his nimble vocal talents to this novel. There are times when Idle is perhaps too nimble, particularly when he modulates his volume, rising from a quiet whisper to an ear-piercing yell. Haven't the directors heard of volume normalization or a stage whisper? The CD version is labeled as an enhanced CD, but the only enhancements are links to a Roald Dahl Web site and Harper Audio's own home page. Quibbles aside, listeners of all ages will find Charlie to be a delicious treat. S.E.S. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
    • School Library Journal

      October 1, 2013

      Gr 3-6-Who doesn't know Dahl's story of poverty-stricken little Charlie Bucket who finds one of Willie Wonka's golden tickets and, along with four other children, gets a tour of his amazing chocolate factory? Each of the other children demonstrates a common childhood failing, to extreme-gluttony, greediness, excessive gum-chewing, and TV addiction. As, one by one, they fall prey to the factory's enticements, soon only Charlie is left and he gets the ultimate prize. What's not to love in a story that circles around niceness and chocolate? Listeners will find themselves once again rooting for Charlie as Douglas Hodge performs the book with vim, vigor, tons of expression, and the occasional sound effect. This is a joyous leap into a childhood classic that both children and adults will enjoy.-Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA

      Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      [Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH.]--Keep these readings by Roald Dahl of these favorite tales alongside E.B. White's reading of CHARLOTTE'S WEB. This is not a performance but the author sharing his books with the listener. His distinctive voice, with a slight lisp, reflects his thorough understanding and delight in the characters. With the current film, James is now a movie star, but the incentive to read or listen to these stories is only increased by this attention. More of Dahl's stories, THE WITCHES, DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD and MATILDA are also available from Harper Children's--though we miss Dahl's narrative. R.F.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      October 1, 2004
      On the occasion of its 40th anniversary, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, illus. by Quentin Blake, presents the famous story interspersed with Blake's characteristically frenetic line drawings, with clusters of candy sprinkled across the pages. Pink, lavender, baby blue and yellow backgrounds of the pages make a sugary new wrapper for this favorite tale. .

    • Publisher's Weekly

      November 1, 2002
      In a sublime bit of casting, comedic actor Idle delivers an inspired rendition of Dahl's classic novel, available for the first time as an unabridged recording (an abridged Caedmon edition, read by Dahl, was released in the 1970s). Using expert timing and a seemingly strong familiarity with the material, Idle wrings every note of humor from the author's colorful behind-the-scenes look at Willy Wonka's world-famous chocolate factory. During the course of a factory tour (whose participants were determined by a contest), honest, humble Charlie Bucket beats out four bratty, selfish children to become the heir to Wonka's wonderland. Readers new to Dahl, as well as longstanding admirers of the book or even the feature film starring Gene Wilder, will not want to miss Idle's interpretation of Wonka's whirlwind energy and "high and flutey" voice. Ages 6-up.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:550
  • Text Difficulty:2-3

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