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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang #2
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again
First it's a cough. Soon it splutters. Then it chugs. Next it roars. It's no ordinary car. It's a car with a mind of it's own! This is a car that can fly.
212 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
72 people are currently reading
715 people want to read
About the author
Frank Cottrell Boyce
77 books263 followersFrank Cottrell Boyce is a British screenwriter, novelist and occasional actor.
In addition to original scripts, Cottrell Boyce has also adapted novels for the screen and written children's fiction, winning the 2004 Carnegie Medal for his debut, Millions, based on his own screenplay for the film of the same name.
His novel Framed was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year as well as the Carnegie Medal.
He adapted the novel into a screenplay for a 2009 BBC television film. His 2009 novel Cosmic has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
He is married and the father of seven children.
In addition to original scripts, Cottrell Boyce has also adapted novels for the screen and written children's fiction, winning the 2004 Carnegie Medal for his debut, Millions, based on his own screenplay for the film of the same name.
His novel Framed was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year as well as the Carnegie Medal.
He adapted the novel into a screenplay for a 2009 BBC television film. His 2009 novel Cosmic has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
He is married and the father of seven children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
February 7, 2017
Having begun this series with the Ian Fleming classic, I thought it a good idea to continue on, under the guidance of Frank Cottrell Boyce. Moving the story into the present day, the young reader is introduced to the Tooting Family, with a mom and dad, as well as Lucy, Jeremy, and baby Harry. When Mr. Tooting announces that he has major news, he shares that he's been sacked from his job, which means the family is without a vehicle. Noting the crossroad in their lives, Mr. and Mrs. Tooting agree to take the family on the adventure of a lifetime, but will need a vehicle to match. After they secure a camper van, the Tootings are almost ready to go, but Mr. Tooting takes Jeremy with him to the local scrap yard to find a few items that might be useful to ensure the camper van is ready for all its adventures. There, the duo discover an old Zborowski engine, a famous racing vehicle from the 1920s. Mr. Tooting has grand ideas and turns the camper van into a speeding monstrosity, while Jeremy is unsure what to expect. When the family is ready to head out, they begin the journey towards Paris, where Mrs. Tooting has always fancied going. Their trip takes a turn when the camper van sprouts wings and begins to sail through the air. Panicked and unsure what is going on, the Tootings hold on for dear life until they find themselves atop the Eiffel Tower. The authorities and local media outlets scramble for an explanation, which leads to a mysterious phone call and the subsequent renaming of the camper van to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a name the Tootings think quite odd, but who are they to protest. From there, Chitty takes the family over to the Sphinx and more adventures. However, super villain Tiny Jack has been watching the Tootings and their vehicle, with a plot of his own and a fiendish assistant named Nanny. What will come of the Tootings and is there more to these vacation destinations than meets the eye? Cottrell Boyce pulls his readers in and does Fleming great justice with this sequel, where the adventure never seems to let up.
It was a buddy read that had me begin this series, but I am pleased that I took the time to delve in, as the adventures are wonderful. Cottrell Boyce ties the previous novel to this one in a masterful manner, offering breadcrumbs to the attentive reader, while entertaining those who may be new to the series. A new collection of characters keeps the story going and offers a wonderful new realm of adventures. With just the right amount of evil villain to keep young readers curious and yet not petrified, Cottrell Boyce delivers a jam-packed adventure that one can only hope will continue with the next in the series. Paced perfect and with a peppering of corny storylines, this is the perfect tale for a young reader with a taste for the adventurous.
Kudos, Mr. Cottrell Boyce for working along the Fleming framework and keeping children enthused as they are educated about the ins and out of motors in all their forms.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
It was a buddy read that had me begin this series, but I am pleased that I took the time to delve in, as the adventures are wonderful. Cottrell Boyce ties the previous novel to this one in a masterful manner, offering breadcrumbs to the attentive reader, while entertaining those who may be new to the series. A new collection of characters keeps the story going and offers a wonderful new realm of adventures. With just the right amount of evil villain to keep young readers curious and yet not petrified, Cottrell Boyce delivers a jam-packed adventure that one can only hope will continue with the next in the series. Paced perfect and with a peppering of corny storylines, this is the perfect tale for a young reader with a taste for the adventurous.
Kudos, Mr. Cottrell Boyce for working along the Fleming framework and keeping children enthused as they are educated about the ins and out of motors in all their forms.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
December 21, 2018
A second installment in the adventures of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but written by Frank Cottrell Boyce, many years after the original. It took me the longest time to figure out where Chitty was in all fo this, but I found it to be a fun adventure, especially with David Tennant at the helm. I enjoyed this one and look forward to the next installment! Unlike the first book, this one leaves you hanging!
May 6, 2021
I didn't have terribly high expectations for this sequel written by a different author than the original, but I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it was. It ends on a cliffhanger, but I don't mind the prospect of listening to more David Tennant as Chitty's adventures continue.
January 12, 2022
My kids and husband love these books! We listened to the audiobooks done by David Tennent and he is phenomenal. My husband insists these would make fantastic movies.
January 29, 2019
A fun filled adventure full of surprises...a great sequel and launch to new adventures.
October 29, 2024
I thought I had the original book and I thought why not to give it a try. Only after I had read the name, I realised it's a follow up and I scorned myself for not reading the title properly or the author's name. Same as when I thought I got the Chocolate book I realised the book was actually called Charlotte. It's the bloody fonts I think, or I need glasses.
The book is for kids, obviously. But why not read it as an adult if you enjoy it?
It's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang next adventure with a new family and I really really like the children, but not the irresponsible parents who left their children to go for a ride in the most desirable Aston Martin DB5.
The book is for kids, obviously. But why not read it as an adult if you enjoy it?
It's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang next adventure with a new family and I really really like the children, but not the irresponsible parents who left their children to go for a ride in the most desirable Aston Martin DB5.
dnf
August 29, 2020Dnf. I loved the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang but this sequel was a disappointment. However I probably would have continued listening to it except I found the voice characterisation in the audiobook I was listening to very annoying. This is an alternate audiobook to the one other Goodreaders have mentioned that was narrated by David Tennant.
September 11, 2019
4.5 stars
A clever, delightful sequel to the original.
I did it on audio read by David Tenant w/ background music.Absolutely brilliant!
Great for kids & adults who want an entertaining light read.
A clever, delightful sequel to the original.
I did it on audio read by David Tenant w/ background music.Absolutely brilliant!
Great for kids & adults who want an entertaining light read.
September 24, 2019
I love it because the car is flying and the child catcher wants children for the Queen and King.
December 10, 2024
David Tennant reading these is *chef’s kiss*
November 15, 2024
Listened as Audiobook, narrated by David Tennant.
December 26, 2012
By Frank Cottrell Boyce. Grade A.
Everyone’s favorite flying car shifts into another dimension as the intrepid Tooting family zooms back and forth through time.
When the Tootings return to Zobrowski Terrace at the end of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again, they find that “home” is looking a lot like Jurassic Park. But this is no theme park — a very real and very hungry T- rex is charging them! Thanks to Dad’s inadvertent yanking of Chitty’s “Chronojuster” lever, the spirited car has ushered them back to prehistoric times, where the family (and especially Baby Harry) make a narrow escape. But Chitty has a mind of her own, and the Tootings will get an unexpected tour of exciting times and places from Prohibition-era New York (where Chitty wants to compete in the famous Prix d’Esmerelda’s Birthday Cake race) to the lost city of El Dorado and back again, with misadventures and surprise stowaways along the way. Get ready for a hilarious high-flying adventure, with celebrated author Frank Cottrell Boyce behind the wheel.
The book is about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a magical car which can fly, swim, become a submarine and travel back and forth in time. We watch it journey to different time lines to meet different people, all having great significance in the car’s life.
When normal cars break down, they stop in the middle of the road. Chitty is not a normal car, so when it breaks down it takes you into ancient times to fight the dragons which are set upon eating you.
This time it is the Tooting family who are in the car when it breaks down and they land in the dinosaur era. The family bravely fights the hungry Tyrannosaurus who want to feed his hungry stomach and manages to get away. They were trying to save the world from the evil Nanny and Tiny Jack and are looking for The Potts family who were the previous owners of the car. They set the car to 1966 but they soon find out that Chitty has a mind of her own. Chitty lands them in a different place yet again, for yet another adventure. This time it is New York, only but not the time they want to be in. It turns out that Chitty wants to meet someone else, a Count Louis Zborowski , a race car driver and the man Chitty happens to be in love with.
Their adventures are far from over. They compete in a race, get tied up by evil people, run away from the police and finally land in El Dorado – a place made of gold – where the Queens try to steal their car and in the end disassemble it into small small pieces..
The adventures go on and each time all the members of The Tooting family brainstorm together and manage to get out safely and charge ahead.
The story is interesting, easy to understand and full of adventures. It also has plenty of illustrations to keep the young readers interested. The plot line is simple, with plenty of moralistic messages, including those of unity and love. Throughout the whole story, the author manages to highlight the fact that The Tooting family is trying to save the world. They are fighting evil and trying to replace it with love, affection and harmony.
An amazing job by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Leaves you wishing you had read something this good in your childhood.
Originally reviewed at http://vaultofbooks.com/
Everyone’s favorite flying car shifts into another dimension as the intrepid Tooting family zooms back and forth through time.
When the Tootings return to Zobrowski Terrace at the end of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again, they find that “home” is looking a lot like Jurassic Park. But this is no theme park — a very real and very hungry T- rex is charging them! Thanks to Dad’s inadvertent yanking of Chitty’s “Chronojuster” lever, the spirited car has ushered them back to prehistoric times, where the family (and especially Baby Harry) make a narrow escape. But Chitty has a mind of her own, and the Tootings will get an unexpected tour of exciting times and places from Prohibition-era New York (where Chitty wants to compete in the famous Prix d’Esmerelda’s Birthday Cake race) to the lost city of El Dorado and back again, with misadventures and surprise stowaways along the way. Get ready for a hilarious high-flying adventure, with celebrated author Frank Cottrell Boyce behind the wheel.
The book is about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a magical car which can fly, swim, become a submarine and travel back and forth in time. We watch it journey to different time lines to meet different people, all having great significance in the car’s life.
When normal cars break down, they stop in the middle of the road. Chitty is not a normal car, so when it breaks down it takes you into ancient times to fight the dragons which are set upon eating you.
This time it is the Tooting family who are in the car when it breaks down and they land in the dinosaur era. The family bravely fights the hungry Tyrannosaurus who want to feed his hungry stomach and manages to get away. They were trying to save the world from the evil Nanny and Tiny Jack and are looking for The Potts family who were the previous owners of the car. They set the car to 1966 but they soon find out that Chitty has a mind of her own. Chitty lands them in a different place yet again, for yet another adventure. This time it is New York, only but not the time they want to be in. It turns out that Chitty wants to meet someone else, a Count Louis Zborowski , a race car driver and the man Chitty happens to be in love with.
Their adventures are far from over. They compete in a race, get tied up by evil people, run away from the police and finally land in El Dorado – a place made of gold – where the Queens try to steal their car and in the end disassemble it into small small pieces..
The adventures go on and each time all the members of The Tooting family brainstorm together and manage to get out safely and charge ahead.
The story is interesting, easy to understand and full of adventures. It also has plenty of illustrations to keep the young readers interested. The plot line is simple, with plenty of moralistic messages, including those of unity and love. Throughout the whole story, the author manages to highlight the fact that The Tooting family is trying to save the world. They are fighting evil and trying to replace it with love, affection and harmony.
An amazing job by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Leaves you wishing you had read something this good in your childhood.
Originally reviewed at http://vaultofbooks.com/
May 19, 2015
Rereading, April 2015, as a home read aloud.
I don't usually post reviews directly on Goodreads, but I won a copy of this book, so I'll post both here and on the TMCE Guys Read Blog:
Have you ever read a book and wished there was more to the story? Some characters and stories are so fun that we wish they could last forever, that we could keep having adventures with them. I think that’s what Frank Cottrell Boyce was thinking when he wrote this book.
The original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was written by Ian Fleming in the 1960s. Mr. Fleming is most famous for creating super-spy James Bond. I read Fleming’s book last year. It reminded me a lot of Roald Dahl–a little goofy, a little wild, and definitely British. It is about a family who happen upon an amazing car, named Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, leading to danger, adventure, and mystery.
Then came a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang movie, made by Disney in 1968. The movie was not much like the book. It had the some of the same characters, but the story was very different. Maybe it could be considered just another story in the life of this crazy car.
And now we have Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again, by Frank Cottrell Boyce. It is yet another edition of the story of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the magical car.
I liked the book. I think if you are a Roald Dahl fan, you should definitely read Ian Fleming’s book, and then this one. Mr. Boyce does a great job of capturing the slightly goofy style of the original book–it has an old-fashioned feel, despite being set in the present. He also leaves some great hints and tidbits for people who know what to look for. There are several references to Mr. Fleming’s story, including a certain French chocolate shop and a criminal relation. Mr. Boyce even sneaks in a nice tribute to James Bond.
This book is absolutely set up for a sequel. The end is not really the end. I expect Mr. Boyce will write it, but I think it would be fun if a bunch of different authors–-particularly British (or American, or whatever!) authors who loved Chitty as kids–tried their hand at continuing the story of this fantastic car. That could be fun–kind of like The 39 Clues, except goofy, and with a flying car.
Mrs. B. doesn’t have the original Chitty in the library, but the public library has it. I’ve got a copy of this new one in Room 3.
Like cars? Looking for a little light humor and adventure? This book will give you plenty of both.
Keep reading!
♣
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again
By Frank Cottrell Boyce
192 pages
Genre: Adventure, fantasy, comedy, goofy
Source: NetGalley, but then I won a copy on Goodreads!
On shelves March 13, 2012.Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
I don't usually post reviews directly on Goodreads, but I won a copy of this book, so I'll post both here and on the TMCE Guys Read Blog:
Have you ever read a book and wished there was more to the story? Some characters and stories are so fun that we wish they could last forever, that we could keep having adventures with them. I think that’s what Frank Cottrell Boyce was thinking when he wrote this book.
The original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was written by Ian Fleming in the 1960s. Mr. Fleming is most famous for creating super-spy James Bond. I read Fleming’s book last year. It reminded me a lot of Roald Dahl–a little goofy, a little wild, and definitely British. It is about a family who happen upon an amazing car, named Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, leading to danger, adventure, and mystery.
Then came a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang movie, made by Disney in 1968. The movie was not much like the book. It had the some of the same characters, but the story was very different. Maybe it could be considered just another story in the life of this crazy car.
And now we have Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again, by Frank Cottrell Boyce. It is yet another edition of the story of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the magical car.
I liked the book. I think if you are a Roald Dahl fan, you should definitely read Ian Fleming’s book, and then this one. Mr. Boyce does a great job of capturing the slightly goofy style of the original book–it has an old-fashioned feel, despite being set in the present. He also leaves some great hints and tidbits for people who know what to look for. There are several references to Mr. Fleming’s story, including a certain French chocolate shop and a criminal relation. Mr. Boyce even sneaks in a nice tribute to James Bond.
This book is absolutely set up for a sequel. The end is not really the end. I expect Mr. Boyce will write it, but I think it would be fun if a bunch of different authors–-particularly British (or American, or whatever!) authors who loved Chitty as kids–tried their hand at continuing the story of this fantastic car. That could be fun–kind of like The 39 Clues, except goofy, and with a flying car.
Mrs. B. doesn’t have the original Chitty in the library, but the public library has it. I’ve got a copy of this new one in Room 3.
Like cars? Looking for a little light humor and adventure? This book will give you plenty of both.
Keep reading!
♣
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again
By Frank Cottrell Boyce
192 pages
Genre: Adventure, fantasy, comedy, goofy
Source: NetGalley, but then I won a copy on Goodreads!
On shelves March 13, 2012.Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
July 8, 2016
In 1967 one of my favorite Christmas presents was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Flemming. I loved the Potts. I loved the whistling sweets. I thought Joe the Monster and his gang were terribly wonderful crooks. And of course, I loved Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with "her first two CHITTY sneezes and the two soft BANGS, the bangs ran on and into each other so as to make a delicious purring rumble." I thought her amazing dashboard with knobs that glow and flash urgently as the need arose had just the perfect balance of efficiency and irreverence. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - a magical car with a mind of it's own. I loved everything about that book - right down to the secret recipe at the end!
Next came the movie. What a major disappointment! The car wasn't even the right color. To me, it was silly, dull and boring. Frank Cottrell Boyce had a totally different experience. He saw the movie first and loved it. Then he read the book. He writes that this was the first time he knew that "films and books - even when they're telling the same story - each had a different kind of enchantment."
Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again does indeed have its own kind of enchantment. It takes the best pieces from the original, mixes them together with new ideas and creates a wholly unique tale that has the Tooting family traveling the world, escaping the clutches of greedy crooks (Man Mountain Fink's son from the original gang) and learning all about their amazingly wonderful Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is part of the family now and is teaching the Tootings to pay attention to each other, listen carefully and have trust in the power of family.
What a terrifically satisfying sequel!
Next came the movie. What a major disappointment! The car wasn't even the right color. To me, it was silly, dull and boring. Frank Cottrell Boyce had a totally different experience. He saw the movie first and loved it. Then he read the book. He writes that this was the first time he knew that "films and books - even when they're telling the same story - each had a different kind of enchantment."
Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again does indeed have its own kind of enchantment. It takes the best pieces from the original, mixes them together with new ideas and creates a wholly unique tale that has the Tooting family traveling the world, escaping the clutches of greedy crooks (Man Mountain Fink's son from the original gang) and learning all about their amazingly wonderful Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is part of the family now and is teaching the Tootings to pay attention to each other, listen carefully and have trust in the power of family.
What a terrifically satisfying sequel!
February 19, 2015
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was one in a stack of favorite books that I read over and over while growing up. And now I need to read it again! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again brought back such fond memories! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Frank Cottrell Boyce did a wonderful job of staying true to the original yet adding some new and fresh elements of his own. Now I look forward to reading the other sequels: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Over the Moon.
This is a nominee for Arizona's 2015 Grand Canyon Reader Award.
This is a nominee for Arizona's 2015 Grand Canyon Reader Award.
October 6, 2022
I found most of the book disappointing because it didn't seem to have all that much to do with the book by Ian Fleming, other than being about a family with a flying car. The book was nearly done when I finally understood how they were connected. I also didn't think it was as good a story or as well-written as Fleming's, but then it's been a while since I reread that one, and I may be comparing reading this one as an adult with reading that one as a child some five decades ago, where nostalgia makes books seem better than they may have actually been. This didn't feel like the kind of book I would bother rereading as an adult if I had read it as a child. Still, fairly good reading, and once I finally figured out how this connected with Fleming's book I appreciated it for that (and wished that could have come a bit earlier in the book).
June 20, 2015
When Jem, Lucy and Harry’s Dad loses his job he drives his family crazy fixing and changing things around the house. They are all relieved when he finds a rusty 1966 23 window Samba Bus Campervan and decides to restore it. While looking for parts in a scrapyard, he finds an engine. Not just any engine – a Zboroski engine, meant for a plane! This is where the adventure begins. Parking on the Eiffel Tower, avoiding man eating piranhas, theft of the Sphinx and escaping a giant squid!
Fans of the classic Chitty will love this new story from the author of ‘Millions’. It still holds the classic magic of Chitty with modern characters for new fans
Fans of the classic Chitty will love this new story from the author of ‘Millions’. It still holds the classic magic of Chitty with modern characters for new fans
September 8, 2012
This is fun if you're a fan of the original. If you haven't read Chitty Chitty Bang Bang yet, get to it!
Being a little generous with my rating here because I'm a fan of the original. But either some plot loops were left unresolved, or there's another book coming in the series.
Being a little generous with my rating here because I'm a fan of the original. But either some plot loops were left unresolved, or there's another book coming in the series.
April 21, 2012
I'm a big fan of the original Chitty and a big fan of Frank Cottrell Boyce, so I went into mild raptures when I saw this at my local bookstore a few days ago.
I read it in a few sittings, and it was just as good, if not better, than I expected. I can't wait to read the original and this new sequel aloud to my kids.
I read it in a few sittings, and it was just as good, if not better, than I expected. I can't wait to read the original and this new sequel aloud to my kids.
January 18, 2019
This is a sequel written by a different author, and so, it entirely lacks the quaint charm of the original. It’s a fun story, but a bit scarier (for a 5 yo) and the attitudes from Lucy are too much. With a more cheerful Lucy I would have given it 3 or possibly even 4 stars. The kids loved it and want to listen to the next one, but we are going to hold off for awhile.
January 27, 2023
Villains were straight out of a kids 3D animation movie of the 2010s, very over the top and extravagant but ultimately boring.
Not a bad book but a bad sequel for sure would rather have read about the further adventures of the Potts family hinted at in this book
Not a bad book but a bad sequel for sure would rather have read about the further adventures of the Potts family hinted at in this book
May 24, 2016
Not quite as charmingly hilarious as the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but pretty darn close. David Tennant's narration is awesome, as usual. 4.5 stars
October 17, 2022
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang #2) by Frank Cottrell Boyce, Illustrator - Joe Berger- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book is Second Part of the book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming. The author of this book is Frank Cottrell Boyce. The Tooting Family includes a mom and dad, as well as Lucy, Jeremy, and baby Harry. One day, Mr. Tooting announces to his family that he has been sacked from his job, thus, the Tooting family is without a vehicle. For adventure they need a vehicle. They secure a camper van and are almost ready to go when Mr. Tooting takes Jeremy with him to the local scrap yard to find a few items that might be useful to ensure the camper van is ready for all its adventures. There, they discover an old Zborowski engine, a famous racing vehicle from the 1920s. Mr. Tooting has grand ideas and turns the camper van into a speeding monstrosity, while Jeremy is unsure what to expect. When the family is ready to head out, they begin the journey towards Paris, where Mrs. Tooting has always fancied going. Their trip takes a turn when the camper van sprouts wings and begins to sail through the air. Panicked and unsure what is going on, the Tootings hold on for dear life until they find themselves atop the Eiffel Tower. The authorities and local media outlets scramble for an explanation, which leads to a mysterious phone call and the subsequent renaming of the camper van to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a name the Tootings think quite odd, but who are they to protest. From there, Chitty takes the family over to the Sphinx and more adventures. However, super villain Tiny Jack has been watching the Tootings and their vehicle, with a plot of his own and his assistant named Nanny. The want to own this car. Tooting family reaches vacation destinations. The car lands on a cliff but the Tootings are able to fly back to safety. Thus, the adventure ends. Coloured illustrations help the reader in relating to the story.
January 17, 2025
Delightful, not everyone can get a sequel to a classic right but Boyce certainly did! David Tennant’s performance of the audiobook was perfection.
Also the interview at the end he remarks on how Roald Dahl wrote some of the screenplay for the 1968 movie. And suddenly everything fell into place.
I had discovered that Ian Fleming wrote the original book of Chitty’s and it was what prompted me to read it, I was curious since the movie seemed so different from James Bond. The book really felt like Fleming.
Which still left me to wonder why the film felt so different, my first thought was Disney, but I remembered they didn’t make it, so I chalked it up to just how old musicals were filmed back in the day. Until now when it all clicked because of course Dahl wrote the film! Child hunters, illegal children, a greedy tyrant who hoards toys? Classic Dahl.
So this ended up longer than I expected but, I tried to explain this to my family and they had no clue who anybody was I talked about, and I had to get it out somewhere. ;]
Also the interview at the end he remarks on how Roald Dahl wrote some of the screenplay for the 1968 movie. And suddenly everything fell into place.
I had discovered that Ian Fleming wrote the original book of Chitty’s and it was what prompted me to read it, I was curious since the movie seemed so different from James Bond. The book really felt like Fleming.
Which still left me to wonder why the film felt so different, my first thought was Disney, but I remembered they didn’t make it, so I chalked it up to just how old musicals were filmed back in the day. Until now when it all clicked because of course Dahl wrote the film! Child hunters, illegal children, a greedy tyrant who hoards toys? Classic Dahl.
So this ended up longer than I expected but, I tried to explain this to my family and they had no clue who anybody was I talked about, and I had to get it out somewhere. ;]
January 18, 2019
I was a little worried that the continuing modern day adventures of such a well-known, beloved, old car would not have the same magic for me as the original. But the author did an AMAZING job of bringing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang back to live with all-new adventures and a fantastic new family. The villains are super creepy. The twists and turns are funny and clever. And the adventures are grand. Most of all, Chitty is given a lot of love and respect and just shines in her new roles--even as a camper van! There are some fun homages to James Bond as well, as the creator of Chitty also created Bond; I know I missed some of those references, but at least one is extremely difficult to miss.
I loved these new children. I loved their parents. I loved Chitty! I also loved that David Tennant narrated the audiobook as well. What a fun read!
I loved these new children. I loved their parents. I loved Chitty! I also loved that David Tennant narrated the audiobook as well. What a fun read!
November 26, 2021
At first it surprised me that it went all present day in the story, but then I thought the original was really a present day piece when it was written also. Then I was confused about why the vehicle didn't more resemble the one in the original, but that got answered throughout the book in a really clever way.
My only complaints are:
1. It seemed to be mean toward the French which didn't fit the first book.
2. I've never been a fan of obvious cliffhangers to lead into the next book.
I'm still quite interested in the series and look forward to reading them all.
My only complaints are:
1. It seemed to be mean toward the French which didn't fit the first book.
2. I've never been a fan of obvious cliffhangers to lead into the next book.
I'm still quite interested in the series and look forward to reading them all.
July 18, 2019
After watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, we were so excited to read the book! We soon discovered that Ian Fleming's book was much different than the movie. I noticed this book on the shelf near it and the author's note shared my sentiments. We picked it up and I read it aloud to my son. We both enjoyed the adventure that a new family, the Tootings, had as they picked up the pieces of Chitty around the world. The writing was easy to read and allowed you to get into the action.
July 10, 2024
I listened to this audiobook with my kids, who thoroughly enjoyed it. Although not written by the author of the original story, it tied in elements of the original nicely. It was also more relevant to my kids, as it takes place in modern day. A lot happens in this story, and it was literally all over the place, but it was very entertaining and humorous. The narrator of the audiobook also did an amazing job of using different voices and accents for the various characters.
August 13, 2019
I listened to the audiobook of this and David Tennant did a fabulous job bring it to life. Frank Cottrell Boyce continues what Ian Fleming created in such a way that draws you into the further adventures of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Tooting family. I look forward to hearing what else they get up to.
September 10, 2021
We read this aloud and my kids ages six, nine, and 12 adored it. They want to read the others in the series as well. I had read a few negative reviews and wasn’t sure it would hold their interest in only a few pages and I almost stopped up but the kids encouraged me to keep going with it and they ended up loving it.
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