Roald Dahl/Charlie Boxed Set: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Charlie Bucket #1-2

by Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

Tells the story of Charlie's visit, with four other children, to Mr. Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, and of Charlie's adventure through space with his parents, grandfather, and Mr. Wonka, in the chocolate factory's glass elevator.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Classics, Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Novels

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Roald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.

Reviews

[Jade Lopert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think one of my favorite parts of motherhood is revisiting favorite books and sharing them with my kids. This is definitely one of those cases. We're reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for a bed time story for two reasons. One, I find it incredibly sad when my children think of the movie before the book in cases like this. Two, it's the best door into the universe of whimsy and fun that is Ronald Dahl.

[Leon Enciso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie y la fábrica de chocolate 4/5
Charlie y el gran ascensor de cristal 2/5

[Madhurima ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roald Dahl really has a way of writing serious issues in a humorously way

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read with your kids! We only did the first half (Chocolate Factory) not the Great Glass Elevator. We will read the rest at a later date. My kids loved it, they range in age from 11-4. They loved the ending

[Bionic Jean]

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator". Good bold text in a large hardback book, with humorous illustrations by Quentin Blake.

[Talitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

4* voor het (geweldige) eerste boek en 2* voor het tweede boek dat helaas nogal tegen viel.

[Emma Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roald Dahl is just THAT good — he approaches tough subjects and lessons with a slapstick sort of humor that I did not get as a 9 year old but appreciate so much now. Definitely worth the read again now that I’m older, and definitely one I’m excited to pass down to my kids one day !!

[Δημήτριος Καραγιάννης · Rating 3 out of 5]

A highly enjoyable read which carries great messages and insight.

[Samuel West]

I think both the stories were very good, but I think the reader could have made a little more difference between the characters' voices.

[Bethsheba Meliala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory :

"But there was one other thing that the grown-ups also knew, and it was this: that however small the chance might be of striking lucky, the chance is there. The chance had to be there."

I love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with all my heart, so when I first got this book back in 2014, I was as happy as Charlie when he got his Golden Ticket.

Re-reading this book as an older audience, it felt different. I still got those happy feelings of a child throughout this whole book, but there were some little details that I paid more attention to. For example, I never see the moral values of any books that I read as a child, but now, I noticed those values and I will keep it noted. This book taught me a lot about accepting all we have, because there are a lot of people who are in need. But now, I see more things like, how every tiny act that we do can affect our whole life just like what happened to the other kids affected theirs. It's just mind-blowing.

I also understand a lot more of the characters and why they are so annoying-ly annoying. Veruca Salt, a girl who is spoiled by her parents, and Mike Teavee, a boy who does nothing but watch television, still remain as my least favorite characters, epecially our young Miss Salt. Violet Beauregarde, a girl who chews gum all day long, and Augustus Gloop, a greedy boy, are still pretty acceptable, for me at least. But, they're all nasty brats. Except for our dearest Charlie Bucket, The Hero, IS SO PRECIOUS OMG HE DESERVES ALL HAPPINESS!! Mr. Willy Wonka, our super weird yet funny chocolatier, love him always!

Overall, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was such a wonderful re-read. It's definitely one of my favorite books of all time! I can't wait to give it another re-read!!

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator :

"You'll never get anywhere if you go about what-iffing like that."

I never actually finish this book (SHAME). But, I've read like 9 of 20 chapters so, I can say that I've read a good amount of the book (NO SHAME).

The plot-line of this book was a little bit confusing for me. It was good, it was fun, but it was confusing. I thought I would hate it but, no I was wrong! Roald Dahl 's touches to the story were phenomenal! He added those unique-ly weird and funny extra touches that brought the story to live! Fantastic!

Mr. Wonka was even more peculiar in this book, and I love that! We also got a lot more of the grandparents in this one, it was a little unexpected for me, but I really enjoyed it. They were really funny and they managed to brought the story to a different level.

Overall, this book was great, but not as great as the first one. I still really enjoyed the expansion of Mr. Wonka's magically weird world.

Conclusion :

Such a splendid book, or should I say series? I love meeting these characters again and get those nostalgic feels, my poor heart just can't.

4.5 stars

[Holly Forthmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory was worth the read, but Charlie & the Great Glass Elevator was not.

[Taru Luojola · Rating 2 out of 5]

Koostuu romaaneista Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ja Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. Ainakin ensin mainittu tunnetaan myös elokuvasovituksista, ja minulla on hämäriä muistikuvia jostain 80-luvulla näkemästäni elokuvasta, mutta kokonaiskuvan juonesta sain vasta nyt. Eksentrinen kapitalisti ja kolonialisti Willy Wonka kutsuu viisi onnekasta lasta kiertokäynnille suklaatehtaaseensa. Kiertokäynnin aikana ahneille käy juuri niin kuin ahneille käy. Köyhän kodin Charlie ei lankea houkutuksiin, ja lopussa hän saakin yllätyksekseen koko tehtaan perintönä Willy Wonkalta.

Jälkimmäisessä romaanissa lennetään ensin lasihissillä avaruuteen aiheuttamaan kansainvälinen selkkaus ja taistelemaan avaruusolioita vastaan, ja sen jälkeen palataan suklaatehtaaseen, jossa vanhuksia ensin nuorennetaan ja sitten vanhennetaan takaisin lääkkeellisesti. Minun oli vaikea löytää tästä jälkimmäisestä kohelluspätkästä varsinaista juonta.

[Lisa Konet · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
3 stars for Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

I finally read both of these stories in progression. The first book has been a favorite of mine for a long time. In the second book, the Bucket family moves into the Wonka Chocolate Factory and readjust to a new life. I really enjoy reading more about his grandparents, they made this story,...

However, the pacing of the second book did not keep me as interested. I was underwhelmed. Also reading this as an adult and realizing the strong themes.

Still a recommended duo of Roald Dahl books.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 😊

[Harlyn Rengel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I’m also in this play! So like I double love this book🤪( my favorite character is Violet Beauregard, she was awesome in the play- everyone in my family loved her!) everyone- READ THIS BOOK! Or else🫵

Just kidding🤗

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun and silly series. I really enjoyed it.

[Bekah S · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Graders might be the best possible audience for this book. Especially if you have a group of them who love to make up accents for each of the characters! Loved it.

[Olaya Diaz Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Charlie and the chocolate factory 3/5
Charlie and the great glass elevator 1/5

I really couldn't be bother with the second part.

Plus, nothing compares to Matilda.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first part of the book was great. The second part, I lost interest. Did not finish.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, this one wasn’t for me. The chocolate factory was okay but the glass elevator was just a bunch of nonsense. Quite unusually, I prefer the movie. Glad to know where the phrase “vermicious knid” comes from though.

[Biondy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judul: The Complete Adventures of Charlie and Mr. Willy Wonka
Penulis: Roald Dahl
Penerbit: Puffin Books
Halaman: 384 halaman
Terbitan: 2001

Introducing the amazing Willy Wonka, chocolate-maker extraordinary! Now in one volume are the complete works of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, two Willy Wonka classics from beloved author Roald Dahl.

In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willy Wonka's famous, mysterious chocolate factory is opening its doors at last. But only five lucky children will be allowed inside: Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee, 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. But even Charlie never expects to fly through the chocolate factory in a giant glass elevator! In the uproarious sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Willy Wonka whisks Charlie and the entire Bucket family right into space on an intergalactic elevator joyride and another wild fantasy adventure.

Review

Berturut-turut baca karyanya Roald Dahl. Beruntung buku ini ada di perpustakaan. Lebih murah sewanya ketimbang minjam Charlie and the Chocolate Factory dan Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator secara terpisah :)).

Jujur saya lebih dulu mengenal Charlie dan Willy Wonka lewat adaptasi filmnya di tahun 2005. Itu loh, yang Johny Depp jadi Willy Wonka-nya. Saya suka banget sama filmnya dan pengin baca bukunya sejak lama.

Di antara kedua cerita yang ada di buku ini, saya rasa Charlie and the Chocolate Factory lebih menarik ketimbang Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. Yang pertama ceritanya terasa lebih berarah, sementara yang kedua agak lebih... hmm, random gitu kali ya.

Cuma akhir ceritanya Charlie and the Chocolate Factory terasa kurang nendang buat saya. Saya baru ngeh kalau akhir di filmnya itu tambahan pembuat filmnya sendiri. Tidak mengikuti novelnya. Saya berharap ada sedikit tambahan di akhir novelnya, tapi sayang ceritanya berakhir begitu saja.

Secara keseluruhan tetap seru lah. Di sini juga saya makin yakin kalau Roald Dahl memang tidak suka televisi. Kelihatan banget dari penggambarannya tentang TV, baik di Matilda, maupun di Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

*The version I read doesn't include "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" part

The book, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" used to be one of my favorite stories that I had read when I was about the age of 8. This Winter break, I decided to read this fabulous book. The purpose was to feel the difference of reading this book on 8 and 16. The main character; Charlie Bucket
is a boy from poor family who really wants to explore Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. One day he gets the chance to explore the factory. Charlie and other kids head to factory with Willy Wonka. Every kid except for Charlie got left out during the trip since they had high curiosity or selfishness. However Charlie didn't do any mistakes and made through all courses of the trip in factory. Later in the book, Willy Wonka helps Charlie's family to live in better life.

When I was 8, I just thought the story was interesting, because of the strangeness in the factory and Willy Wonka's peculiar personality. This time, I wasn't feeling the same thing as I felt in 8. I was interested by Charlie's patience and the result for that patience. Kids that had similar age as Charlie all got kicked out, because of the lack of patience. However Charlie was different. When I relate this to my life, I thought that I need more patience in process of being successful.

[Georgene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains 2 novellas about Charlie's adventures with Mr. Wonka. The first one, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", is probably familiar by book or film to most readers. The second one, "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator", was unfamiliar to me and to perhaps many other readers.

The first book, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", is a great story. The movie version I saw of it, with Gene Wilder as Mr. Wonka, has stayed with me for many years. The book and that film version are more or less the same. I cannot speak of the version made by Johnny Depp, as I have not seen that one.

The second, lesser known story, was in my opinion, not as good. In that book, Charlie, all his grandparents and his parents go with Mr. Wonka into outer space and end up at the new and yet to be staffed Space Hotel. There they all run into the horrible Knids, a shaped shifting alien race who have taken over the Space Hotel.

The second story is just not as good as the first one. I therefore gave this book 4 stars because the first book was great and the second one was only o.k. Had the second book been better, this would have definitely been a 5 star book for me.

[Sweet Sacrifice Forbidden Moonlight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard this story from my friend many years ago[ movie ] . But I never have it. Cause I very busy,but when I came to USA. The kid in my host family show the movie for me. I like very much.It's colorfull, some time we had a dream look like this story. And I want to learn English from this story. My host family borrow from library for me.It's like turn to a child agian.Have a wonderful world in a while time.Can got something from this story for still a life. And happy when know some word and can do,"enough"

[Thomas Cicatiello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine going to a chocolate factory all day long with a very "interesting" owner that has one or two tricks up his sleeve. Of course I am talking about "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". One of the best books in the world. This book is about a young poor boy named Charlie, duuuuuuuuuuuh, and his journey through Willy Wonkas Choclate Factory with a bunch of really spoiled kids that end up disappearing one by one. Follow Charlie through this tasty journey full of magic, singing Oompa Loompas, and Choclate waterfalls to the surprising reward at the end. Read to find out.

[Scott Sheaffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two well known stories by Dahl. I've seen the movie and thought that perhaps the books might be a bit darker and more adult. That would have been cool, but they weren't. They're okay children’s stories, the writing is mediocre and the stories are fun in a chocolate cake with frosting kinda way, mouthwatering to look at, good while you're eating it but in the end not memorable.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the only times I'll say this but the movie was better than the book. This was one of Rhod Dhal's first books. I think the director of Charlie and the Chocolate factory was better than the book. I wouldn't read it.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" to my two girls (7/5 yrs old) and we all loved it. Ronald Dahl had an extraordinary imagination--seriously love him!

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

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