Title Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Author Roald Dahl Illustrated By Joseph Schindelman Publisher Bantam Books - 1983 First Printing Knopf - 1964
	Title Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator Author Roald Dahl Illustrated By Joseph Schindelman Publisher Bantam Books - 1984 First Printing Knopf - 1972
	Category Children Warnings None Main Characters Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket, Granpa Joe Main Elements

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Roald Dahl has a way of writing the most wonderfully bizarre and somewhat disturbing tales, and these two books are no different. Though for what it is worth, the books are nowhere near as creepy as the movies based on them.

My cousin gave me these books in 1986 and I've read them both several times since them. The first is a classic and no one should grow up without having read the tale of the poor boy who wins a tour of the magical chocolate factory. On the other hand, while all of Dahl's books are a little strange, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator gave me nightmares. The description of the Vernicious Knids terrified me. There was something so subtly "wrong" about those creatures that even now I have mixed feelings about the book. Rereading it as an adult I realize it wasn't all that scary, but that creepy, disturbing feeling is still there. Upon researching Dahl's other writings a bit I discovered he'd contributed to many horror short story collections, and a little of that came through a bit too strongly in this sequel. Or maybe it was just me.

Anyway, most of Roald Dahl's books are must reads, and at least the first of these should definitely be on top of any reading list. I'll let you decide if you are brave enough for the second. It is just one small scene, but it was enough for me!