Chaos at the Chocolate Factory: World Book Day 2026

An exclusive new World Book Day story, inspired by Roald Dahl's Charlie and The Chocolate Factory from bestselling author Sibéal Pounder, and illustrated by Emily Jones. 
 
Charlie Bucket is having a magical time learning to run Mr Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory. There are so many delicious new creations to be invented! And as long as there is a Wonka chocolate factory, there will be a Willy Wonka pinging about like an excited squirrel inside it - along with his brilliant Oompa Loompas, who know just how to keep everything running smoothly. 
 
But everyone needs a holiday, even Oompa Loompas. And that’s where this story begins . . . 
 
When Mr Wonka and the Oompa Loompas decide it's time to go on an adventure to look for marvellous new recipe ingredients, Charlie is left to run the factory by himself for the first time. And it's fair to say things don't quite go to plan . . . 
 
Can Charlie use his imagination to save the chocolate factory from disaster - or will all the chaos mean closing the factory gates forever?

Sibéal Pounder (Author) 
Sibéal 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, Sibéal worked for the Financial Times. 
 
Roald Dahl (Author) 
Roald Dahl was a spy, ace fighter pilot, chocolate historian and medical inventor. He was also the author of Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG and many more brilliant stories. 
 
Emily Jones (Illustrator) 
Emily Jones wanted to illustrate children's books for a living immediately after reading 'I want my potty' by Tony Ross. It's been a little while since that pivotal moment in Jarrow library aged 7 but she has finally achieved it. 
 
She lives in Cardiff with her partner and English Bull Terrier Whippet Cross, Augustus, who despite having never entered a beauty pageant, would definitely win one.

Fright Club: Let's Boo This!

A spook-tacular Halloween read! A spooky new series for 9-12 year olds from Sibéal Pounder, bestselling author of Witch Wars, Bad Mermaids, with a fun choose-your-character twist! 
 
WARNING, SERIOUSLY SPOOKY! 
 
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 . . . 
 
Then Joe discovers that his gran was keeping a secret . . . she was part of an ancient society called Fright Club, investigators of crimes in supernatural hidden worlds ­– from Clinks, the world of skeletons, to the ghostly Veilooo and demon-filled Devilbend. So, Joe convinces his three best friends, Hal, Debbie and Rose to revive the club and track down the mysterious figure to find out what really happened to his gran. 
 
What Joe doesn’t know is that each of his friends has a supernatural secret of their own and starting their own Fright Club could unleash a whole heap of trouble . . .

Sibéal 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, Sibéal worked for the Financial Times.

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 . . . 
 
Then Joe discovers that his gran was keeping a secret . . . she was part of an ancient society called Fright Club, investigators of crimes in supernatural hidden worlds ­– from Clinks, the world of skeletons, to the ghostly Veilooo and demon-filled Devilbend. So, Joe convinces his three best friends, Hal, Debbie and Rose to revive the club and track down the mysterious figure to find out what really happened to his gran. 
 
What Joe doesn’t know is that each of his friends has a supernatural secret of their own and starting their own Fright Club could unleash a whole heap of trouble . . . 
 
A spooky new Middle-Grade series from Sibéal Pounder, bestselling author of Witch Wars, Bad Mermaids, with a fun choose-your-character twist!

Ready, Set, Ghoul!

Fright Club

Grave Club Forever. Spooky Sleuths Together. Secrets Spilled . . . Never! 
 
Joe Bones and his friends, Hal, Rose and Debbie are back for another Grave Club spooky adventure! This time Debbie's in charge of leading the case . . . But will her friends discover the truth about the supernatural identity? 
 
The second book in the spooky new Middle-Grade series from Sibéal Pounder, bestselling author of Witch Wars, Bad Mermaids and Wonka.

Roald Dahl

Sibéal Pounder

Paul King

Simon Farnaby

Emily Jones

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. This edition of Wonka is brought to life with brand-new illustrations by Emily Jones.

Sibéal Pounder

Books by Sibéal Pounder

Series by Sibéal Pounder

Fright Club

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