The Exterminator by Patrick Skene Catling

Indeed, anything his mouth touches – from his leather gloves to his pencil in class – turn to chocolate. He is thrilled at breakfast to discover that his bacon, eggs, and orange juice turn to chocolate the instant he eats them. In the morning, John wakes up to brush his teeth, and is amazed to discover the toothpaste he uses is chocolate-flavored. It is the most delicious piece of chocolate he has ever eaten in his life. That night, he unwraps the box to find layers of packaging, and only one small, gold-wrapped chocolate ball, which he eats. John willingly exchanges the coin for a giant box of chocolates, races home, and hides the box under his bed. The store owner explains that he only produces chocolate from the finest ingredients, and he is having a special sale that day, accepting only the kind of money that John has found on the sidewalk. He intends to start a coin collection with it, but comes across a small candy store filled to the brim with sweets. One Sunday afternoon, while strolling through town, John finds a peculiar silver coin on the sidewalk, with a picture of a fat boy on one side, and the initials JM on the other side. He spends all his lunch money on chocolate, sneaks chocolate before meals, and never shares his chocolate with anyone.

In “The Chocolate Touch”, John Midas is a boy who is selfish, dishonest, and cannot get enough chocolate. Of John Midas in the Dreamtime, School Library Journal wrote, '.children who have been dragged around tourist sights will relate to John's boredom'.“The Chocolate Touch” is a young adult novel by Patrick Skene Catling, based on the story of King Midas, who turned into gold everything he touched. Catling has since written dozens of books, and has developed the popular The Chocolate Touch character John Midas into the children's book series: John Midas in the Dreamtime (1986), John Midas and the Vampires (1994), John Midas and the Radio Touch (1994), and John Midas and the Rock Star (1995). His first publication of The Chocolate Touch in 1952 received enthusiastic responses from several reviewers. He continues writing books, and writes reviews for The Spectator, The Telegraph, and other publications.

His present home is in the Republic of Ireland.

The Exterminator by Patrick Skene Catling