Five children--and only five--were going to be allowed into Mr. Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. The lucky five would get to see all the mysterious machinery in the factory where the world's most wonderful candy was made. And those five children were:

Augustus Gloop--a fat pig of a boy who would eat anything he could get his hands and teeth on,
Veruca Salt--a spoiled little rich girl who screamed until she was bought her heart's latest delight,
Violet Beauregarde--the world's champion gum chewer who was destined for a sticky end,
Mike Teavee--a smart aleck who was addicted to television,
AND
Charlie Bucket--Our Hero, who was honest, obedient, loyal, trustworthy, brave, good, kind, and starving.

What happens when these five children meet the famous Mr. Willy Wonka? What happens when they pass through the big factory doors? What happens when they come upon the unknown factory workers who throw very tiny shadows on the windows and talk in rhyme? What happens when, one by one, the children disobey Mr. Wonka's orders? That, dear reader, is the substance of this uproarious morality tale by the world-renowned storyteller, Roald Dahl.
--front flap