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Quick answer: If your child loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, try Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Matilda, The Phantom Tollbooth, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, The Candy Shop War and Chocolate Fever. They share sweets, odd inventors and wild imaginations.
Roald Dahl's 1964 classic follows Charlie Bucket, who wins a golden ticket to Willy Wonka's factory with four spoiled children. It is funny, strange and sweet. Kids who love it want more imaginative tales with eccentric characters and sweets. These 15 books suit ages 6 to 12 and make fun read-alouds.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | the sequel |
| Matilda | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | Dahl fans |
| James and the Giant Peach | Roald Dahl | 6-10 | readers who like fantasy |
| The BFG | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | readers who like invented words |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | Norton Juster | 8-12 | readers who like wordplay |
| Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library | Chris Grabenstein | 8-12 | puzzle fans |
| The Candy Shop War | Brandon Mull | 9-13 | readers who like adventure |
| Chocolate Fever | Robert Kimmel Smith | 6-10 | readers who love chocolate |
| The Chocolate Touch | Patrick Skene Catling | 6-10 | early readers |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9-13 | puzzle fans |
| Fortunately, the Milk | Neil Gaiman | 6-10 | younger readers |
| The Wizard of Oz | L. Frank Baum | 7-12 | readers who want the original |
| Mr. Popper's Penguins | Richard and Florence Atwater | 7-10 | readers who like humor |
| The Twits | Roald Dahl | 6-10 | reluctant readers |
| George's Marvellous Medicine | Roald Dahl | 7-10 | readers who like chaos |
1. Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl
The direct sequel, in which Charlie and Wonka fly into space. Silly and wild.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda, a girl with telekinetic powers, outsmarts cruel adults. A short, funny classic.
Best for: Dahl fans.
3. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
James escapes his cruel aunts in a giant peach with oversized insects. Funny and weird.
Best for: readers who like fantasy.
4. The BFG by Roald Dahl
Sophie befriends a Big Friendly Giant who blows dreams into children's rooms. Funny and warm.
Best for: readers who like invented words.
5. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Milo drives through a magic tollbooth and visits lands of words and numbers. Witty and full of puns.
Best for: readers who like wordplay.
6. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
Kids solve puzzles to escape a game-themed library. Fast and fun.
Best for: puzzle fans.
7. The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull
Kids discover a magical candy shop and its secrets. Fun and fast.
Best for: readers who like adventure.
8. Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith
Henry Green eats so much chocolate that he breaks out in brown spots. Silly and short.
Best for: readers who love chocolate.
9. The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
John Midas turns everything he touches into chocolate. A funny twist on King Midas.
Best for: early readers.
10. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four gifted kids go on a secret mission. Puzzles and teamwork.
Best for: puzzle fans.
11. Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
A dad explains his lateness with a wild tale of aliens and pirates. Short, silly and illustrated.
Best for: younger readers.
12. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Dorothy is swept away to Oz and seeks the Wizard. A classic of friendship and courage.
Best for: readers who want the original.
13. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
A house painter receives a penguin and then a flock. Gentle and funny.
Best for: readers who like humor.
14. The Twits by Roald Dahl
Two disgusting people get their comeuppance. Short, gross and funny.
Best for: reluctant readers.
15. George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl
George mixes a potion for his grumpy grandma. Silly and quick.
Best for: readers who like chaos.
How to Choose
For more Dahl, start with the sequel, then Matilda. For sweets, read The Candy Shop War or Chocolate Fever. For puzzles, try Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. For wordplay, pick The Phantom Tollbooth. A simple plan is to read one chapter a night and let your child design a candy of their own. Some Dahl books have dark humor, so preview them. For a creative extra, design your own candy and write a short ad for it. The factory chapters also pair well with a family baking day, using simple recipes. Audiobook versions are widely available. Candy-themed activities are a natural fit: read a chapter, then taste-test a few sweets and write a review. Keep small kids safe by avoiding choking hazards.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for?
It is recommended for ages 6 to 10.
Is the book different from the movies?
Yes. The book has more detail, and the 1971 and 2005 films each change parts.
Is it okay for sensitive kids?
The children who misbehave face funny punishments, which may seem harsh to some.
What should we read after it?
Matilda and James and the Giant Peach are popular next steps.
Is Willy Wonka a hero?
He is a strange and sometimes cruel inventor, which is part of why the book is fun to discuss.
Which Dahl book is best for read-alouds?
Matilda and The BFG are great choices.
How long does it take to read?
About two to three hours, so it fits a week of bedtime chapters.