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jessvogt's review against another edition
4.0
I read this out loud to my 3-just-turned-4 year old who LOVES and pretend plays Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the movie all the time. He was rapt and absolutely loved it. I thought it was quite well done also. We even stayed up late much last his bedtime to finish the ending one night.
hartstrings's review against another edition
4.0
I started this book knowing I would like it. I've never read something by Boyce that I didn't like, plus who doesn't remember and love "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (and you can thank me later for getting that song stuck in your head). I'll admit I have never read the original book, just watched the movie.
But, this is a great, clean, fun family adventure! The family travels around the world, become celebrities in Paris, visit the Sphinx in Egypt, meet a great/silly villain, and end up with a beautiful, magical, classic car.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book.
But, this is a great, clean, fun family adventure! The family travels around the world, become celebrities in Paris, visit the Sphinx in Egypt, meet a great/silly villain, and end up with a beautiful, magical, classic car.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book.
hermesthecat's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful and entertaining follow up to the Ian Fleming original story. The audiobook is read by David Tennent and that only makes it better! What a talented voice actor!
mudder17's review against another edition
4.0
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!
whatthedeuce's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
hapgood's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
kim_j_dare's review against another edition
4.0
Who better than Frank Cottrell Boyce to write the continuing story of Ian Fleming's 1964 [b:Chitty Chitty Bang Bang|576335|Chitty Chitty Bang Bang|Ian Fleming|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175950916s/576335.jpg|2245507]? This time, a contemporary family of five called the Tootings are on the receiving end of Chitty's love of adventure. Dad, recently laid off from the Very Small Parts for Very Big Machines Company, is at loose ends. After his efforts at home improvement are a flop, Mom brings home an old 1966 camper for him to restore. Together, he and Jem get it running again, but things really start happening when the two discover an old super-charged engine at a junkyard and replace the original engine with this one. As the Tooting family takes off on a roadtrip, it quickly becomes apparent that Chitty is calling the shots on where they go and how they get there. The souped-up car flies them to Paris, where they create quite a buzz by landing on the Eiffel Tower. From there, it's off to Egypt, a run-in with some bank robbers, an undersea adventure with a colossal squid, and more. The family interactions are a hoot, and the spot art by Joe Berger adds to the zany fun. A terrific read-aloud for grades 3-5.
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Not exactly a continuation of the Chitty saga, but it is meant to be the same car. Though Cottrell Boyce isn't trying to emulate Fleming's story or characters, he's creating a new thread to the car's story.
It's not the time of Caractacus Potts anymore - it's contemporary England. A family need a new car, and their out-of-work fix-it Dad decides to put an old car engine inside a camper van, you know the sort of story you are in for.
The Tooting family plan to see the world in their new motor, with emo/goth teenage daughter and younger son and baby, they set off for Paris... ANd discover their car is rather special. And that someone is after her (yes, it's a her).
With scenes set around the world, the story moves quickly from one Mini-adventure to another (joke intended), but keeps the children safe enough to keep this light. The children are the stars, especially the teenager with hidden depths (a celebration of all things educational), with Dad a bit of a stereotype and Mum (certainly the narrated version) a really annoying voice of calm (the only badly voiced character by David Tennant, in my opinion).
Apart from Mum's voice (so smooth and bland it could have been used in an M&S advert), David Tennant does a fine job in providing the voices on the audio-version I listened too, and it's not a long read to keep attention. A lot happens, a lot of places are visited, bad guys come and go, and of course we have a car that can fly.
Enjoyable, and a good start to a revamped series. Recommended for ages 9-12.
It's not the time of Caractacus Potts anymore - it's contemporary England. A family need a new car, and their out-of-work fix-it Dad decides to put an old car engine inside a camper van, you know the sort of story you are in for.
The Tooting family plan to see the world in their new motor, with emo/goth teenage daughter and younger son and baby, they set off for Paris... ANd discover their car is rather special. And that someone is after her (yes, it's a her).
With scenes set around the world, the story moves quickly from one Mini-adventure to another (joke intended), but keeps the children safe enough to keep this light. The children are the stars, especially the teenager with hidden depths (a celebration of all things educational), with Dad a bit of a stereotype and Mum (certainly the narrated version) a really annoying voice of calm (the only badly voiced character by David Tennant, in my opinion).
Apart from Mum's voice (so smooth and bland it could have been used in an M&S advert), David Tennant does a fine job in providing the voices on the audio-version I listened too, and it's not a long read to keep attention. A lot happens, a lot of places are visited, bad guys come and go, and of course we have a car that can fly.
Enjoyable, and a good start to a revamped series. Recommended for ages 9-12.
meredith_gayle's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lobeliaparides's review against another edition
3.0
I thought that this was a pretty neat book, the characters were kinda weird, but still a pretty good little book :)