200,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Black Friday Sale on Now! Save up to 25% off Books, Toys, Board Games, & Puzzles! ✨

Wonka

4.08 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 29,492 ratings, 521 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Discover the origins of Willy Wonka in Wonka, a delightful prequel that explores his journey before becoming the famous chocolate maker. This enchanting tale dives into the adventures, challenges, and whimsical events that shape the character and inventiveness of a young Wonka. Perfect for children and anyone seeking a magical and imaginative read.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2100
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This delightful children's book may appeal to you if you love whimsical adventures and imaginative storytelling. It's perfect for those who enjoy Roald Dahl's classic tales, filled with quirky characters and a journey through a fantastical world that sparks creativity and laughter.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The story of where Wonka began - the incredible new full-length novel set in the world of Roald Dahl, based on the upcoming December 2023 film.

Before Charlie, before the Chocolate Factory, comes a story of invention and imagination . . .

Ever since he was a child, Willy Wonka had dreamed of making chocolate and sharing it with the world.

As a young man, he arrives at the world-famous Galeries Gourmet, determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time.

But hounded by a trio of jealous chocolatiers, and tricked into a lifetime of washhouse drudgery, Wonka will need a little luck and a whole lot of magic - along with some help from a few friends - to fulfil his destiny.

Because if you're lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible.

This delicious tale of dreams, friendship and chocolate is based on the major motion picture, Wonka, directed by Paul King, who created the story and wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby. The story is brought to the page by bestselling author Sibéal Pounder.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241618134

Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 December 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Puffin

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 272g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Roald Dahl (Author) Roald Dahl was the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory one of the best selling children's books of all time. WONKA is based on the extraordinary character at the centre of Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Sibeal Pounder (Author) Sibeal Pounder is the author of the bestselling Witch Wars and Bad Mermaids series of books, Neon's Secret Universe, and the Christmas tale, Tinsel. Her debut, Witch Wars, was shortlisted for the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. The Bad Mermaids series was a World Book Day title and a Sunday Times Bestseller. Before becoming a full time author, Sibeal worked for the Financial Times. Paul King (Author) Paul King is a BAFTA-nominated writer/director who works in both film and television. His most recent feature, "Wonka," is an original prequel to the beloved Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, starring Timothee Chalamet in the title role, and will debut in theaters worldwide in December. In 2009, King wrote and directed his first feature film, "Bunny and the Bull," starring Simon Farnaby and Edward Hogg. King directed all three series of "The Mighty Boosh," earning him a BAFTA nomination for Best Director in 2004. The BBC comedy aired in the U.S. on Adult Swim. His most recent work for the small screen includes directing and executive producing episodes of the 2020 Netflix series "Space Force," starring Steve Carrell. King co-wrote and directed "Paddington" in 2014, a film which received both critical and commercial success worldwide, including BAFTA nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best British Film. King next co-wrote and directed "Paddington 2," released by Warner Bros. Pictures in 2017 to great critical acclaim. Simon Farnaby (Author) Simon Farnaby ("Paddington 2") and Paul King wrote the screenplay for " Wonka" , based on a story by King and characters created by Roald Dahl. Michael Siegel, Cate Adams, Rosie Alison and Tim Wellspring are serving as executive producers.

Also by Roald Dahl

View all
  • Roald Dahl Complete Collection (16 Copy Slipcase)
    Discover the wonderful world of Roald Dahl with the Roald Dahl Complete Collection (16 Copy Slipcase). This beautifully designed slipcase includes 16 of Roald Dahl's most beloved stories, providing endless hours of reading entertainment for children and adults alike. From the mischievous adventures of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to the magical tale of The BFG, Dahl's imaginative storytelling has...
    Paperback
    $13000
    Elsewhere:
    $16500
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    28% off
    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
    Phizzwhizzing new cover look for this iconic story by the World's NUMBER ONE Storyteller! Willy Wonka is the most extraordinary chocolate maker in the world, and he's given five children golden tickets to visit his famous chocolate factory. Augustus Gloop - a great big greedy nincompoop. Veruca Salt - a spoiled brat. Violet Beauregarde - a repulsive little gum-chewer. Mike...
    Paperback
    $1300
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    18% off
    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Colour Edition)
    Phizzwhizzing new cover look and branding for the World's NUMBER ONE Storyteller! Mr Willy Wonka is the most extraordinary chocolate maker in the world. And do you know who Charlie is? Charlie Bucket is the hero. The other children in this book are nasty little beasts, called: Augustus Gloop - a great big greedy nincompoop; Veruca Salt - a spoiled...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • tonies: Roald Dahl - The Witches Tonie Audio Character
    Meet The Grand High Witch. She thinks children smell like dog’s droppings, but that’s because she doesn’t like them, at all. In fact, she’s plotting something nasty, and if your little listeners pop her on top of their Toniebox they might hear all about it…. Don’t worry, though, because one little boy has a plan to put her in her...
    6 years or older
    $3499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    17% off
    Roald Dahl Puzzle Fantastic Mr Fox - 100pc Puzzles
    Roald Dahl Fantastic Mr. Fox 100-piece jigsaw puzzle. Packaged in a keepsake book-shaped box. Printed with vegetable-based inks. Ages 6+.
    100 Piece
    $2500
    Usually:
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Roald Dahl Charlie & Chocolate Factory - 100pc Puzzle
    On Sale
    17% off
    Roald Dahl Charlie & Chocolate Factory - 100pc Puzzle
    Enjoy the whimsical world of Roald Dahl with this 100 piece jigsaw puzzle featuring iconic scenes from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Published by Abrams & Chronicle in 2020, this puzzle is a delightful addition to any fan's collection. With dimensions of 15.0 cm in length, 13.1 cm in width, and 3.4 cm in height, this puzzle is sure to...
    100 Piece
    $2500
    Usually:
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • tonies: Roald Dahl - The Enormous Crocodile Tonie Audio Character
    The Enormous Crocodile might like to eat children, but children love listening to The Enormous Crocodile. Let them pop him on top of their Toniebox and they’re set to dive into the delicious world of Roald Dahl, with all its wonderful wordplay and memorable characters. Oh, and tell your chiddlers not to worry – greed is never good, and there...
    5 years or older / School-age children
    $3499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Fantastic Mr Fox
    The much-loved Roald Dahl story, updated for a whole new generation of readers with an exciting new interior design and cover look. Fantastic Mr Fox "On a hill above the valley there was a wood. In the wood there was a huge tree. Under the tree there was a hole. In the hole lived Mr Fox and Mrs Fox and...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • tonies: Roald Dahl - Matilda Tonie Audio Character
    There’s nothing Matilda Wormwood likes more than settling down with a story. Whatever the time, wherever the place. And whether your little bookworms are curled up on the sofa, daydreaming in the car, or snuggled up in bed, their Toniebox has the power to transport them into entirely new worlds, just like the books Matilda took out from Mrs Phelps’...
    6 years or older / School-age children / 5 years or older
    $3499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • tonies: Roald Dahl - Georges Marvellous Medicine Book Tonie
    George has had quite enough of his grumpy, demanding grandma. Instead of giving her the usual medicine, he decides to mix up a concoction of his own—using everything he can find around the house and farm. The result? A marvellous potion that’s whizz-popping, whoosh-banging and completely out of control! Packed with Roald Dahl’s signature dark humour, this classic tale will...
    6 years or older
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Enormous Crocodile
    Phizzwhizzing new cover look and branding for the World's NUMBER ONE Storyteller! The Enormous Crocodile is planning what to have for his lunch. This foul fiend—the greediest croc in the whole river—wants to eat something juicy and delicious. His teeth sparkle like knives in the sun and he's getting hungrier and hungrier. But what can the greedy grumptious brute guzzle...
    Paperback
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Matilda (Colour Edition)
    Phizzwhizzing new cover look and branding for the World's NUMBER ONE Storyteller! Matilda Wormwood's father thinks she's a little scab. Matilda's mother spends all afternoon playing bingo. And Matilda's headmistress, Miss Trunchbull? Well, she's the worst of all. She is a big bully, who thinks all her pupils are rotten and locks them in the dreaded Chokey. As for Matilda,...
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Also by Sibéal Pounder

View all
  • Bad Mermaids: On the Rocks
    Mermaids Beattie, Mimi, and Zelda, along with Steve the talking seahorse, are trapped aboard the spooky ship The Merry Mary, heading for the presumed-mythical Crocodile Kingdom – a vast, crocodile-filled metropolis where nothing is quite as it seems. It's time to swim on down to the bright green lights and explore the oldest and grandest mermaid kingdom of them all!...
    Paperback
    $1699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Neon and the Goonicorns
    Dive back into the UNIverse with Neon for another unicorn-tastic adventure from Sibéal Pounder, the bestselling author of the Witch Wars and Bad Mermaids series. Neon Gallup is a unicorn. No, not a horse thing with a horn. That's just something REAL unicorns made up to distract the humans. Until now, Neon thought she was the only person from our...
    Paperback
    $1799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Neon's Secret Universe
    Get ready to discover the real story behind unicorns in the first in a brilliant new series from Sibéal Pounder, bestselling author of the Witch Wars and Bad Mermaids series. Neon is a unicorn – but she doesn’t know it! Unicorns live in the Uni-verse: a secret, parallel world that exists alongside ours. They are the most magical and powerful...
    Paperback
    $1899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Fright Club: Let's Boo This!
    A spooky new Middle-Grade series from Sibeal Pounder, bestselling author of Witch Wars, Bad Mermaids and Wonka. The night Joe Bones spots a cloaked figure leaving his gran's house, he's sure that something is afoot. So, when he hears that his gran has passed away he's convinced the mysterious man has something to do with her death . . ....
    Paperback
    $2200
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Sprouts
    Join a fantastic, futuristic and chaos-filled adventure where Christmas has snowballed and is celebrated every day! A perfect paperback gift for fans of Sibéal Pounder’s Tinsel and Christmas-obsessed children everywhere. In the year 4024, Christmas is everywhere. Santa Claus rules the world and the Big Day happens EVERY DAY! There are holographic elves to grant your wishes, travel is by...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Beyond Platform 13
    Return to the magical world of Platform 13 and discover why the secrets are escaping in this fun, magical adventure sequel by Sibéal Pounder. Beyond Platform 13 is inspired by characters from Eva Ibbotson's classic, The Secret of Platform 13. Nine years after the events of The Secret of Platform 13, The Island of Mist is under siege and Odge...
    Paperback
    $1799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Witch Wars
    ‘Brilliantly magical’ – Tom Fletcher‘This is a witch story like no other – and it’s a blast!’ – Bookseller The first book in the hilarious Witch Wars series for kids aged 7+, perfect for fans of The Worst Witch. Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Join Tiga on her quest to win Witch Wars and become Top Witch of...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Fright Club
    Pre-order
    Fright Club
    The second book in the spooky new Middle-Grade series from Sibéal Pounder, bestselling author of Witch Wars, Bad Mermaids and Wonka. A spookily funny new series for 9-12 year olds with a fun choose-your-character twist! From Sibéal Pounder, bestselling author of Witch Wars and Bad Mermaids and perfect for fans of Jennifer Killick and Goosebumps. WARNING, SERIOUSLY SPOOKY! Joe Bones...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Pre-order
    Out 12 Jan 2027
  • Bad Mermaids
    _______________ 'You'll laugh your tail off' - Rob Biddulph _______________ The first book in the hilarious Bad Mermaids series for kids aged 7+, from the bestselling author of Witch Wars Mermaids Beattie, Mimi and Zelda are enjoying a summer on land with legs when they receive a strange CRABAGRAM ordering them to return home at once. Some seriously BAD MERMAIDS...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Neon and The Unicorn Hunters
    Dive back into the UNIverse with Neon for another goo-tastic adventure from Sibéal Pounder, the bestselling author of the Witch Wars and Bad Mermaids series. Now a fully-fledged unicorn (no, not the horse kind, the ultra-powerful human-looking kind), Neon Gallup is LOVING her secret double life in the extraordinary UNIverse, creating goo-powered magic and going on adventures with her unicorn...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Sprouts
    In the year 4024, Christmas is everywhere. Santa Claus rules the world and the Big Day happens EVERY DAY! There are holographic elves to grant your wishes, travel is by flying sleigh, and all food is served as candy canes, in any flavour you can imagine! Not everyone gets to celebrate 24/7 though. Gryla Garland is a witch banished to...
    Hardback
    Sold Out
  • Bad Mermaids: On Thin Ice
    _______________'You'll laugh your tail off' - Rob Biddulph_______________ The third book in the hilarious Bad Mermaids series for kids aged 7+, from the bestselling author of Witch Wars In the kingdom of Frostopia, mermaids Beattie, Mimi and Zelda have come to the aid of Maritza Mist, a famous water witch who supplies magic spells to the underwater kingdoms. Two notoriously...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Also by Simon Farnaby

View all
  • The Phantom of the Open
    The Phantom of the Open is soon to be a major film starring Mark Rylance. This hilarious, heartwarming and - unbelievably - true story chronicles the life of Maurice Flitcroft, the World’s Worst Golfer. 'The story of its greatest anti-hero is just what the game needs' - Spectator When 46-year-old crane driver Maurice Flitcroft chanced his way into the Open—never...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Wizard In My Shed
    Merdyn the Wild is from the Dark Ages. He's the world's greatest Warlock (don't call him a wizard), banished to the 21st century for bad behaviour, and he's about to create a whole load of trouble for Rose, aged 12.Rose is a totally ordinary girl, on a mission to mend her broken family.Bubbles is Rose's guinea pig. He just poos...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • GHOSTS: The Button House Archives
    THE NEW COMPANION BOOK GHOSTS: BROUGHT TO LIFE – THE MAKING OF A CLASSIC IS PUBLISHED ON 24.10.24 – PRE-ORDER NOW! The comic companion to the BBC sitcom GHOSTS, perfect for all the family. Everybody leaves a trace. The ghosts of Button House may have been dead a long time—some of them a very long time—but they have all left...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Ghosts: Brought to Life
    Calling all Ghosts fans! This is the ultimate celebratory gift book for all of you in desperate need of another Ghosts fix, complete with in-depth interviews with the actors, the directors, and the crew. Enjoy a behind-the-curtain peek at what happened on the film set, scenes that were left on the cutting-room floor, bloopers, episode guides, character profiles, and much,...
    Hardback
    Sold Out

Browse lists from our team

More from Children's Books

View all
  • On Sale
    12% off
    New Release
    Gruffalo Granny
    The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...
    Hardback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Sprinkle in Time: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #15)
    New Release
    A Sprinkle in Time: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #15)
    In the newest saga, our anti-hero, Grandpa, alters the fabric of time and space. Is his evil the necessary soil for Dog Man and friends to grow and bloom? Can we all step up to be the change? It's the saga of the century—Dog Man: A Sprinkle in Time!
    Hardback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Free Gift
    Fight or Flight: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (21)
    When the going gets tough, what’s a wimpy kid to do? In Fight or Flight, Greg Heffley faces his biggest challenge yet as he becomes a target for the school bully. Luckily for Greg, his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, takes karate, so at least Greg’s got someone in his corner. But an unexpected twist makes Greg realize he’s facing an uphill...
    Paperback
    $1699
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Detective Beans Colouring Club
    New Release
    Detective Beans Colouring Club
    Help Detective Beans solve the case of the missing colours! Join the Colouring Club now! Join the Detective Beans Colouring Club! Inside you'll find 40 removable colouring pages featuring scenes from all over Cat Town. Filled with all the characters you know and love from the Detective Beans graphic novels like Biscuits, Beans' mum, Mr Brickle, Bear, Detective Baby Bird...
    By Li Chen
    Paperback
    $1799
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Sixth Faction
    Beatrice Prior stands on the brink of a decision every person in her world must make: five factions, five futures, five lives. She has a plan: she's going to make the bravest choice, and leave Abnegation behind to join Dauntless, even though it means leaving her family behind. But when tragedy strikes at her Choosing Ceremony, everything changes—her world, her...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Naturals: Dangerous Impulses Book 5
    The Naturals are BACK! No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes delivers the highly anticipated new installment in her beloved Naturals Series. Cassie Hobbes joined the FBI's Naturals program at seventeen because she had an incredible ability to read people. Since then, Cassie, fellow profiler Dean, emotion‐reader Michael, lie‐detector Lia, and statistical genius Sloane have caught serial...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    All of Us
    A new heart-wrenching, well-researched historical novel for middle-grade readers. 'The weirdest thing,' continues Tove, 'is that I don't feel any different to the rest of you.' 'That's because you're not!' snaps Birgitte. 'You're Danish.' 'So why do the Nazis hate me and not you?' When twelve-year-old Viggo and his friends Finn, Tove, Birgitte and Konrad start writing rude letters to...
    Hardback
    $2599
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Star Path
    New Release
    The Star Path
    A young whale searches for the whale rider's heir and a teenager takes an epic voyage to Antarctica with a fleet of waka hourua to claim his lost inheritance, in this breathtaking return to the world of global hit The Whale Rider, over thirty years on. From the internationally acclaimed author of The Whale Rider comes a novel about the...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Wahine
    New Release
    Wahine
    From a majestic mermaid to a clay woman, the creator of glaciers to the mother of gardening, discover powerful wahine and how their stories shaped the world around us. Wahine introduces readers to twelve purakau of brave, bold, and inspiring women of Aotearoa. A beautifully illustrated collection that will delight the whole whanau, from award-winning illustrator Isobel Joy Te Aho-White....
    Hardback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas
    From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! But this time... it's not about Lottie! From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! And it's CHRISTMAS! In The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks we spent the holiday season with...
    Paperback
    $1799
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Matihe! Achoo! Matihe! Achoo!
    On Sale
    21% off
    New Release
    Matihe! Achoo!
    What happens when a grumpy tupua has to sneeze? Matihe! Achoo! is a bilingual story about the tupua Mataoho and his connection to the volcanoes of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. It comes with an action song to engage young readers! He pūrākau e pā ana ki a Mataoho me ngā puia o Takamaki Makaurau. He tupua pukukino a Mataoho e noho...
    Paperback
    $1500
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Sweet As Looky Book
    New Release
    The Sweet As Looky Book
    Can you find all the chocolate fish? Is it possible for kiwi to fly? Can you spot the difference? See Aotearoa New Zealand through the eyes of award-winning artist Donovan Bixley in The Sweet As Looky Book. Use your finest skills to seek out pirates in the Bay of Islands and birds in Rakiura Stewart Island. Get in a car...
    Hardback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 200,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.