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Books Like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

A personal project — every book hand-picked by a London dad 🇬🇧

These books offer more inventive worlds, comic consequences, child-centred justice, and chapter-by-chapter spectacle for readers who wanted the factory tour to continue.

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12 hand-picked books

How to use this shelf

Match the next choice to the factory’s strongest appeal: impossible inventions, a decent underdog, grotesque humour, or adults losing control. Readers unsettled by the punishments may prefer wonder and adventure without the same edge.

Quick comparison

6 varied places to start. Compare the age, format, and themes, then read the notes or check current UK editions.

Danny the Champion of the World
Roald Dahl · Chapter Book · ages 8–12 · family and courage
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A Bear Called Paddington
Michael Bond · Chapter Book · ages 5–8 · kindness and family
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Anisha, Accidental Detective
Serena Patel · Chapter Book · ages 8–11 · humour and family
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Billionaire Boy
David Walliams · Chapter Book · ages 7–10 · friendship and humour
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Horrid Henry
Francesca Simon · Chapter Book · ages 6–9 · humour and family
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Mr Majeika
Humphrey Carpenter · Chapter Book · ages 6–9 · humour and wonder
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Danny the Champion of the World book cover
Danny the Champion of the World
Roald Dahl
Ages 8–12
Danny the Champion of the World
Roald Dahl · Quentin Blake
For readers interested in family, courage, loyalty and humour, compare Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl. It is illustrated by Quentin Blake. It is a chapter book for children aged 8 to 12.
Why it fits: another title by Roald Dahl, the same chapter book format and shared themes of family and humour.
Chapter Book1975
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A Bear Called Paddington book cover
A Bear Called Paddington
Michael Bond
Ages 5–8
A Bear Called Paddington
Michael Bond · Peggy Fortnum
The Brown family meet a polite bear from Peru at Paddington Station and invite him into their home.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of kindness and family and overlapping age guidance for 5–8.
Chapter Book1958
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Anisha, Accidental Detective book cover
Anisha, Accidental Detective
Serena Patel
Ages 8–11
Anisha, Accidental Detective
Serena Patel
Anisha, Accidental Detective by Serena Patel is a chapter book for children aged 8 to 11. A useful choice for reading about humour, family and friendship.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of humour and family and overlapping age guidance for 8–11.
Chapter Book2020
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Billionaire Boy book cover
Billionaire Boy
David Walliams
Ages 7–10
Billionaire Boy
David Walliams · Tony Ross
On the shelf for children aged 7 to 10: Billionaire Boy, a chapter book by David Walliams. It is illustrated by Tony Ross. It connects with friendship, humour and kindness.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of humour and kindness and overlapping age guidance for 7–10.
Chapter Book2010
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Horrid Henry book cover
Horrid Henry
Francesca Simon
Ages 6–9
Horrid Henry
Francesca Simon · Tony Ross
First published in 1994, Horrid Henry is a chapter book by Francesca Simon for children aged 6 to 9. It is illustrated by Tony Ross. Its themes include humour and family.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of humour and family and overlapping age guidance for 6–9.
Chapter Book1994
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Mr Majeika book cover
Mr Majeika
Humphrey Carpenter
Ages 6–9
Mr Majeika
Humphrey Carpenter
Choose Mr Majeika by Humphrey Carpenter for children aged 6 to 9. This chapter book is shelved with books about humour and wonder.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of humour and wonder and overlapping age guidance for 6–9.
Chapter Book1984
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My Dad's a Birdman book cover
My Dad's a Birdman
David Almond
Ages 7–10
My Dad's a Birdman
David Almond · Polly Dunbar
First published in 2007, My Dad's a Birdman is a chapter book by David Almond for children aged 7 to 10. It is illustrated by Polly Dunbar. Its themes include family, wonder and imagination.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of family and wonder and overlapping age guidance for 7–10.
Chapter Book2007
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Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet book cover
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet
Zanib Mian
Ages 7–10
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet
Zanib Mian
Choose Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian for children aged 7 to 10. This chapter book is shelved with books about humour, family and friendship.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of humour and family and overlapping age guidance for 7–10.
Chapter Book2019
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The Brilliant World of Tom Gates book cover
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates
Liz Pichon
Ages 8–11
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates
Liz Pichon
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon is a chapter book for children aged 8 to 11. A useful choice for reading about humour, family and creativity.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of humour and family and overlapping age guidance for 8–11.
Chapter Book2011
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The Diary of a Killer Cat book cover
The Diary of a Killer Cat
Anne Fine
Ages 6–9
The Diary of a Killer Cat
Anne Fine
The Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine is a chapter book for children aged 6 to 9. A useful choice for reading about humour and family.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of humour and family and overlapping age guidance for 6–9.
Chapter Book1994
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The Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Dog book cover
The Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Dog
Jeremy Strong
Ages 7–10
The Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Dog
Jeremy Strong
The Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Dog by Jeremy Strong is a chapter book for children aged 7 to 10. A useful choice for reading about humour and family.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of humour and family and overlapping age guidance for 7–10.
Chapter Book1996
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The Wombles book cover
The Wombles
Elisabeth Beresford
Ages 6–9
The Wombles
Elisabeth Beresford
For readers interested in nature, family and humour, compare The Wombles by Elisabeth Beresford. It is a chapter book for children aged 6 to 9.
Why it fits: the same chapter book format, shared themes of family and humour and overlapping age guidance for 6–9.
Chapter Book1968
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