Book Review:The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling

Here's a review of another classic.

This modernized version of the tale of King Midas concerns a little boy named John Midas who likes to eat chocolate-and only chocolate. These eating habits are ruining his appetite, but his parents are unable to convince him otherwise. One day, John comes across a mysterious candy store and buys a piece of their best chocolate. Upon eating it, he gains the ability to turn whatever he puts in his mouth into chocolate. John really enjoys this at first, but his sweet dreams soon turn sour. (Apparently, the song was wrong...too much of a good thing isn't a good thing!)

My thoughts:This is a good and very interesting, albeit slightly dated book. The story is well-written and the characters' goofy names(Dr. Cranium, Ms. Plimsole, Susan Buttercup et al.) add to the overall appeal. The story does, of course, also have the same implicit moral of the original story:people shouldn't be greedy, and being greedy will get them in trouble. Overall, an enjoyable book that's worth a re-read or two.

Buy it on Amazon! 

Book Review:The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl

Here's a review of one of the late, great Roald Dahl's lesser-known books.

The story is told from the POV of a little boy named Billy, who, while passing by an old, abandoned building labeled, "The Grubber"(old British slang for a candy store)...

 No, not one of those!

...finds that it's been bought by the "Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company", which is comprised of a trio of (very cute!) talking(and singing!) animals:

A giraffe with an extending neck, who serves as the ladder, a pelican(occasionally called "The Pelly") with a retractable upper beak, who seves as the bucket, and a dancing monkey who washes the windows. (On an interesting note, BTW, the words Giraffe, Pelican, and Monkey are always capitalized in the book, as if they're the animals' proper names.) Billy becomes fast friends with these critters; they soon get a call from the Duke of Hampshire who needs all 677 of his mansion's window's washed.

They regrettably don't hit it off with the Duke right away, but they fortunately are eventually able to get on his good side, and end up befriending him, too.

My thoughts:This is definetly Roald Dahl's cutest, most lighthearted book, bereft of the magic, dark overtones, and occasional Downer Endings (George's Marvelous Medicine, anyone?) that are usually present in his books. The animals are cute, lovable, and appealing; they, Billy(and even the Duke!) are good, interesting characters with plenty of personality. An underappreciated book which is more than worth a read.(There's even a reference to Willy Wonka!)

Buy it on Amazon!