Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

by John Frederick Burke

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Story of the Film

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Fantasy, Classics

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

John Frederick Burke (8 March 1922 – 20 September 2011) was an English writer of novels and short stories.
He had written under the pen names J. F. Burke, Jonathan Burke, Jonathan George, Robert Miall, Martin Sands, Owen Burke, Sara Morris, Russ Ames, Roger Rougiere, Joanna Jones and co-written with his wife Jean Burke under the pen name Harriet Esmond.

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable tale full of English cheek.

First review
I'm betting people who loved the original book did not care for the musical movie adaptation, because they are basically nothing alike except for the names of Caractacus Potts, Jeremy, Jemima, and, of course, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang herself. Myself, growing up with the musical, I love it, but I can't deny the original book is charming, even if I did sorely miss Miss Truly Scrumptious and even if all the car talk did go over my head.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the movie, I read the children's book (with my kid) and now I read this book.
Its probably intended for 8-10 year olds, but it's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, so who cares?
This is definitely written well for kids. The writing style would catch me at 9 or so! The pictures are a good addition...my 6 year old doesn't like books without pictures thrown in every other page or so.
The story is obviously different from the movie, it is similar for about 70pgs. Then they catch bad guys-with an explosion and a chocolate store! There's even a recipe for chocolate fudge at the end.
What's better than that?

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun read with the boys! I grew up loving the movie, but never read the book. Some similarities and a lot of differences! Ian Fleming has a great sense of humor, like including a scene when the “bad guys” take the children to wash their hands after a meal before locking them back in their cell. Just odd and made me giggle. He also uses intelligent language and writes his story in a way not to talk down to children, making random explanations of things in a practical way like reasons for being careful when shopping secondhand. You can tell some similarities to his James Bond stories in various adventures scenes and a love of cars. Overall a delight!

[Yunhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caractacus Pott, an inventor and explorer, has invented a lot of stuff, including square potatoes, collapsible coat hangers, and edible phonograph records, which haven't fetched a lot of money. But one day, he invents something really good: a type of candy that you can whistle with! Caractacus gets money for his invention, and then the Pott family has enough money for a car! But they don't want something boring and everyday, they want a SPECIAL car. After looking for a day, they find an old car that's going to be melted for metal and decide that it's perfect. Soon, they discover something unusual about the car; it can think! Not only that, it can fly! Then, the family decides to go to France, where they discover the hideout of an infamous gangster, Joe the Monster. Can the family, along with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, outwit him and his gang? I liked how it seemed like the author was talking directly to you, and the book was also very exciting, though it was a bit short.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4

Very readable, very enjoyable adaptation of the movie.
I am well outside the target age for this book, but saw a copy in local charity shop and wanted some nostalgic reading especially on a week when work is very busy.
At least in memory the 1960’s and 1970’s has a plethora of well written, or at least readable, movie and tv adaptations. This novel is very good if shortened for it’s assumed readership.
My copy even has photo pages from the movie, well worth the money.

Overall solid recommendation for lovers of the movie or perhaps as bed time reading for kids before they see the movie.

[Danielle Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 - I managed to read this book within just over an hour, not only because it is so short but also because I could not put it down from the moment I picked it up. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was, and still is, such an important film to me and one that I will always regard highly of and so reading the book of the film bought me back to my childhood and served to remind me just how much I love the story.

[Melinda Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids loooooved this book!!! So silly and fun.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the nostalgias.

> Maroon: A firework designed to make a single loud report like the noise of a cannon (often with a bright flash of light), used esp. as a warning or signal.

[Karen Yoder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crazy.

[Stacy Atherton Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a silly, but fun, read-aloud with the kids. We watched the movie afterwards and compared it to the book (it was WAY different).

[The_5ft_reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this movie (I'm a sucker for a musical), and reading the story was just as fun!

[Tyler Esch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a vague memory of the movie, enjoyed the book! Then watched the movie again, only loosely tied to the book, but both entertaining!

[Savannah Stripling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about a dad and his two kids and the dad made a car that can fly, float across water, and more. Then one day they went on an adventure in the sky and ended up by a castle with mean guards and a king and queen who hated children. When they got there they heard the guards coming so a man hid them in his house. Then there was a banquet where all the kids, who had been hiding in shelter in a cave, all came out and rebelled against the king and queen. By the end, it was just a fun adventure and it brought the family close tougher and they returned to their house safely riding in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the car that took them on a daring adventure.

I would recommend this book in a classroom for older kids because its more "scary" i guess you could say. This is a fun family book.

[Christina Seng · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story about the Pott family and their amazing car. After watching the movie with my daughter more time than I can count, it was interesting to read the book. The book is quite different than the movie, but still has the same fun, adventurous feel.

[Daniel Behn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about respect.
An ode to creativity and the abnormal.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read this book to my young children they are all ears. Captures imagination with sweet and subtle comedy.

[putri hasquita · Rating 2 out of 5]

wew

[Mikelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute Cute!!!!