Patrick Skene Catling

"Mrs. Plimsole distributed word lists for her pupils to take home...John noticed: avarice, indigestion, acidity, unhealthiness, moderation, digestibility...it seemed they all had a special bearing on his present uncomfortable condition." (p. 55)
John Midas loves to eat as much candy (especially chocolate). His mother and father were always trying to get him to eat sensible food. This is an entertaining retelling of "King Midas". John develops the Midas touch, not for gold, but for chocolate!

The chocolate touch is a good modern fantasy book. Teaching children about fiction vs reality. The mixture of both concepts helps children gain expression and creativity through their own activities. This book is a lot of fun and most students will be very entertained by the illustration and story.

I liked it ok, but Houston loved it. LOVED it. The whole way through, he begged for me to read just one more chapter...until we got to the end. Then, just before the last chapter, he wanted me to stop reading so that we wouldn't actually be finished with the book.

So i'm giving it 4 stars. Not for me so much as for my 5-year-old son.

Preachy and pedantic, but since it was originally published in 1952, I will let that slide due to period context. This is a King Midas retelling with a boy and chocolate teaching a lesson about selfishness and greed*. *Which is part of the moral of the original fable/tale.

Overall I didn't enjoy this, but I think many kids might, as will some parents. I read this as part of a reading challenge.