The Chocolate Touch

51 pages • 1 hour read

The Chocolate Touch

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1952

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Introduction

Before Reading

During Reading

After Reading

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

CHAPTERS 1-3

Reading Check

1. What is the only thing John likes to eat?

2. Who is the doctor John’s parents take him to?

3. What does John find?

4. After he eats the chocolate from his visit to a mysterious candy store, what ability does John discover?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What tonic does the doctor give John and why?

2. When John’s father asks him to consider his mother’s feelings, what is John’s response? What does this illustrate regarding John’s character?

3. When John discovers a new candy store, what happens? What does this reveal about John?

4. How does John react to his new ability?

Paired Resources

“Should the Voting Age Be Lowered?”

In this Time for Kids article, two young people argue for and against this topic. The resource includes a written and audio version.
This article connects to the theme Personal Choice and Responsibility.
How does John exhibit personal responsibility so far in the novel? What do you think he might say to this question about the voting age?

“Children and Too Much Screen Time”

The Mayo Clinic examines some effects of excessive screen time and ways to reduce it.
This information connects to the themes Personal Choice and Responsibility and The Dangers of Excess.
How does John’s excessive focus on candy affect himself and others?

CHAPTERS 4-7

Reading Check

1. What happens to John’s glove when he chews on it?

2. When Spider chews on the glove, what happens?

3. Why does John try to get Susan’s jump rope?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Susan get angry at John?

2. What shows that John’s chocolate touch is increasing in power?

3. How are John’s feelings about his ability shifting and why?

Paired Resource

“Most of Us Are Still Worried about AI—But Will Corporate America Listen?”

NPR offers an exploration of artificial intelligence (AI), possible effects, and reflections on responsibility.
This article connects to the themes Personal Choice and Responsibility and The Effects of Greed and Selfishness on Others.
How much responsibility does John have for his powers? Is he more or less responsible than those developing AI are for the new technology?

CHAPTERS 8-10

Reading Check

1. What instrument does John play?

2. Whose birthday party does John attend?

3. What is Dr. Cranium’s reaction to John’s ability?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does orchestra practice affect John?

2. Why does John leave the birthday party early?

3. When John and his father go back to the candy store, what do they find? What does this suggest?

Paired Resource

“Their Day in Court”

Time for Kids presents a court case in which young people stand up for climate change. The resource offers written, audio, and Spanish versions.

This article connects to the themes Personal Choice and Responsibility, The Effects of Greed and Selfishness on Others, and The Dangers of Excess.
What parallels and contrasts can you find between the article and John’s conflict?

CHAPTERS 11-12

Reading Check

1. What happens when John kisses his mother?

2. When John finds the store for a second time, what items does he see in the window?

3. How does John feel about the milk at the end of the story?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What choice does John ultimately make in the candy story and what does this reveal about him?

2. Why does John run back to the store again at the end of the story? What does this show about him?

Recommended Next Reads

Bad Sister written by Charise Mericle Harper and illustrated by Rory Lucey

After an accident, Cherise realizes she wants to be a better sister to her younger brother.
Shared themes include Personal Choice and Responsibility and The Effects of Greed and Selfishness on Others.
Shared topics include family, greed, choices, growing up, identity, emotions, and self-realization.

Medusa by Katherine Marsh

When Ava accidentally freezes a classmate, she discovers her place in mythology; at her new boarding school, she uncovers a truth that changes her life and the lives of others.
Shared themes include Personal Choice and Responsibility and The Effects of Greed and Selfishness on Others.
Shared topics include growing up, secrets, magic, mythology, family, friends, powers, and identity.

Reading Questions Answer Key

CHAPTERS 1-3

Reading Check

1. Candy (chocolate) (Chapter 1)

2. Dr. Cranium (Chapter 1)

3. A coin with his initials on it and a candy store (Chapter 2)

4. Everything he puts in his mouth turns to chocolate. (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. The doctor prescribes John a tonic to supply him with nutrients. The prescription is meant to help replace what he should get from food but doesn’t receive since he eats mostly chocolate candy. This tonic signifies John’s excessive focus on chocolate instead of moderation. (Chapters 1-2)

2. John does not answer his father's question. He does not seem to understand the concept of empathy; he cannot see the way his eating habits affect his mother. Rather than continue to ponder the idea, he leaves the room. (Chapter 1)

3. John really wants candy from the new store, but he has no money. When the shopkeeper suggests he use the coin he found, John does so eagerly, thinking he is receiving a great deal. This interaction reveals John’s greed, selfishness, and recklessness. The strangeness of the coin and store do not stop him as he barrels forward to get chocolate. (Chapter 2)

4. John is thrilled; he hides his power from others and relishes eating so much chocolate. He finishes his whole breakfast, hiding from his mother that his orange juice and food have turned to chocolate. (Chapter 3)

CHAPTERS 4-7

Reading Check

1. The glove turns to chocolate. (Chapter 4)

2. The glove remains a glove. (Chapter 4)

3. John thinks he could turn it into chocolate to prove his ability to Susan, but the bell rings for the students to return to class before he has the chance. (Chapter 6)

Short Answer

1. John bites Susan’s new coin that she is very proud of, and part of it breaks off, now chocolate, in his mouth. Susan treasured this coin, and now it is destroyed. She does not realize that the coin became chocolate; she only sees that John broke her coin, which angers her. (Chapter 4)

2. John begins to understand that items he touches only part of his mouth to now continue to turn to chocolate. For example, when he stops chewing on his pencil, the chocolate expands down to the part of the pencil he did not touch with his mouth. At lunch, his glass turns to chocolate along with its contents, which leads him to realize his power is increasing. (Chapters 4-7)

3. John begins to see the downside to his chocolate touch. For example, he is getting thirsty, but water turns to chocolate. Also, his pencil turns to chocolate, and he cannot finish his quiz. In addition, his friend Susan is angry at him for unintentionally breaking her treasured coin. (Chapters 4-7)

CHAPTERS 8-10

Reading Check

1. Trumpet (Chapter 8)

2. Susan’s (Chapter 9)

3. Fascination and a desire to study him (Chapter 10)

Short Answer

1. Excited about his solo in orchestra, John is devastated when his trumpet turns to chocolate. This occurrence shows his frustration as his solo is ruined. He runs away when people laugh at him. (Chapter 8)

2. John tries to participate in bobbing for apples, but his ability turns the bucket of water to chocolate. This chocolate then splashes on Susan, who is upset. The events bring John turmoil, so he leaves. He is unable to control his abilities, and they are ruining moments for himself and others. He is also keeping this experience to himself, and without an outlet, he is isolated. No one can understand him. (Chapter 9)

3. John and his father find that the store is no longer there; the land is for sale. This absence of the store suggests that John has not yet learned his lesson. (Chapter 10)

CHAPTERS 11-12

Reading Check

1. His mother turns to chocolate. (Chapter 11)

2. The items he turned to chocolate (Chapter 11)

3. The milk is glorious; he relishes the taste. (Chapter 12)

Short Answer

1. John chooses to give up his chocolate touch to return the objects he touched to normal (including his mother). His decision demonstrates growth in maturity, kindness, and compassion. He realizes that his greed brought heartache; he sacrifices his power for his mother. (Chapter 11)

2. John runs back to thank the shopkeeper, which reveals his gratitude. This grateful action seems to support his growth. He finds the empty lot again and this time a “Sold” sign. This shift in signs suggests John has learned the lesson he needed. (Chapter 12)