You may be thinking: is this blog turning into a children’s book review site? I mean, this is “Grown Up” Book Reports, right?

Here’s the truth, folks. I’m in crunch time here. I set a goal for myself to read 100 books in 2013 and I am well short of that goal. And the end of the year is closing in quickly. So I am using my go-to strategy to pad my numbers: children’s books. They’re usually short, I can read them quickly, and they’re fun to read. This is no exception.

I have read this book at least three times in my life and seen the movie that many times, if not more. And I’m not talking about the abomination of a film with Johnny Depp as the enigmatic Willy Wonka. No sir (or ma’am). This book was as magical to me as any book I read in my childhood. The vivid way in which Dahl depicts each character and each scene really brings the story to life. You can almost taste the chocolate and candy in each room of the chocolate factory.

A masterpiece appealing to the heart of a child – or the child at heart – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory should be a must-read for kids. It can engage a young reader to become lost in a world where anything is possible. It has a timeless charm and brilliance.