Discover engaging novel studies with chocolate themes that are perfect for upper elementary students. These fun and educational resources combine great storytelling with valuable life lessons, helping young readers explore the magic of chocolate in literature.
Charlie Bucket lives in poverty with his family, barely getting enough to eat. His luck changes when he discovers a rare golden ticket inside a Wonka’s Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight. The ticket grants him access to Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory, where he embarks on a once-in-a-lifetime tour alongside four other children.
Inside the factory, Charlie and Grandpa Joe witness magical confections beyond their wildest dreams, including a chocolate river, Everlasting Gobstoppers, and the mischievous Oompa Loompas. As the tour progresses, one by one, the other children succumb to their own flaws—greed, gluttony, and selfishness—leaving Charlie as the last child standing. His honesty and humility win over Wonka, leading to a life-changing surprise: he is chosen as the factory’s heir.
John Midas is a boy who loves chocolate more than anything else. His appetite for sweets causes him to convince all his friends to give him their sweets. John finds a special coin which he spends at a candy store on a box of chocolates.
After eating the one chocolate in the box, everything that touches John’s mouth turns to chocolate. Spider teases John about eating his glove. John ruins his friend’s silver dollar when he bites it. John’s pencil turns to chocolate during his math test. John is getting very thirsty by lunch when everything turns to chocolate. Next, John’s trumpet turns to chocolate.
John ruins Susan’s birthday party when the water in the bobbing for apples barrel turns to chocolate. Next, John turns his mother to chocolate. He then goes back to the chocolate store where he purchased the magic chocolate. There, John proves to the storekeeper that he is not selfish by saying he will keep the chocolate touch if his mother can be returned to normal. Because of his vow, everything John turned to chocolate returns back to its original form.
Henry loves chocolate and eats it all the time. One day, while sitting in class, he suddenly develops strange brown freckles that quickly spread and grow larger. His teacher, Mrs. Kimmelfarber, rushes him to the school nurse, Molly Farthing, who then takes him to the hospital. Dr. Fargo, eager to study the mysterious rash, sees Henry as a medical breakthrough rather than a patient. Overwhelmed, Henry panics and runs away.
While on the run, Henry is teased by a group of boys in the schoolyard because of his unusual spots. A kind-hearted truck driver named Mac picks him up on the highway, shares his dinner, and talks to him about his situation. Together, they decide to call Henry’s mother.
Before they can act, Mac and Henry are kidnapped by two criminals, Louie and Lefty, who mistake Mac’s cargo for valuable furs. Their ordeal ends when a pack of dogs, lured by the scent of chocolate, invades the cabin hideout, allowing Mac and Henry to escape. Finally, they deliver the candy shipment to Sugar Cane, who provides Henry with a cure for his chocolate fever—vanilla pills.
