Charlie Bucket was a young boy who lived in a small two-room house with his parents and grandparents from both sides - Grandpa Joe and Grandma Josephine, and Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina. Charlie's father was the only breadwinner in the family. He worked as a cap-screwer in a toothpaste factory.
Charlie's family was so poor that they lived without many comforts. In fact, they were so poor that all they got to eat were bread and margarine for breakfast, boiled potatoes and cabbage for lunch, and cabbage soup for supper. But on Sundays, everyone was allowed a second helping. Although they were poor and lived in a crowded house, their home was always cozy from the warmth of their love for each other.
Charlie would often get up on his grandparents' big bed to listen to their stories. Charlie loved to hear Grandpa Joe's story about Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory, which produced great many types of chocolates and candies. Charlie was enamored because that's the chocolate factory that produced the chocolate bar that he received from his family every year on his birthday. Charlie loved to eat the chocolate. He'd take a small bite each day to make the bar last a whole month.
Charlie passed Willy Wonka's chocolate factory on the way to school every day. Charlie would try to 'eat' the sweet smell that comes from the factory. But then the factory closed for a long, long time. According to Grandpa Joe, this was because Mr. Wonka, the owner of the chocolate factory, had fired all his workers because he found some spies among them who stole his secret chocolate recipes. Because he didn't trust them anymore, Mr. Wonka let all the workers go and shut the factory.
However, after some time, Mr. Wonka's factory reopened. But nobody knew who his workers were 'cos nobody saw them come in or leave the factory. Some time later, Mr. Wonka announced a contest. He put 5 golden tickets among the many chocolate bars that his factory produced and the 5 lucky people with the golden ticket would get a personal tour of the factory with Mr. Wonka as the guide! Not only that, they would each receive a lifetime's supply of sweets and chocolates from the factory.
Charlie was hoping that he would be one of the lucky five but his chances were slim as he only got one chocolate a year. However, Grandpa Joe reminded him that his birthday was coming up and that he still had a pretty good chance. Now there was left only one more place as four children from all over the world had found the golden tickets. They were Augustus Gloop, a greedy boy; Veruca Salt, a girl spoiled by her parents; Violet Beauregarde, a girl who chews gum all day long and Mike Teavee, a boy who does nothing but watch TV.
Charlie lost all hope of being the 5th winner when the chocolate bar he received on his birthday had no sign of a golden ticket. Luckily however, the next day, Charlie found 50 pence on the street. Tired and hungry, Charlie ran to the chocolate shop in town and bought a chocolate bar. He ripped it open and quickly gorged it. Then he bought a second bar and did the same. But this time, Charlie found a golden ticket in it. He screamed with joy and ran to his home. Charlie was announced the final winner and he got ready to go for the tour with Grandpa Joe. The other four kids were accompanied by their parents.
Mr. Wonka was a strange man but he showed many wonderful things in the chocolate factory. First, they saw Mr. Wonka's workers - tiny men who are known as the Oompa Loompas. Then, they saw a creamy chocolate river. They also saw square sweets that looked round. Then they saw lickable wallpaper that had flavors of orange and banana and strawberries. It was all too exciting but the four kids got into trouble at the factory because they did not listen to Mr. Wonka's rules. One by one, they disappeared after they got into mishap due to their mischief, except for good boy Charlie who obeyed Mr. Wonka completely.
'I love this chocolate factory,' Charlie finally said to a pleased Mr. Wonka at the end of the tour. 'My dear boy,' he said, 'I have a present for you. When you are old enough to run this place, the entire factory will become yours!' Charlie and Grandpa Joe were shocked. Mr. Wonka continued, 'I am an old man and I have no children so someone has to keep the factory running and it might as well be you, Charlie Bucket!'
'So that's why you put the 5 golden tickets out - to select an heir to your factory"' Charlie asked. 'That's right, I invited five children and decided that whoever I liked the best will inherit the factory,' Mr. Wonka explained. 'And your whole family can come and live in the factory and help you run it till you're old enough to run it by yourself.
And so Charlie's whole family moved into the factory and ran it with the Oompa Loompas, just like Mr. Wonka used to. Charlie and his family were never hungry or poor again.