“Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car” by Ian Flemming, Illustrated by John Burningham
Random House, New York, 1964, 114 pages, Grades 3-5.
Some writers have the ability to excite the imaginations of children. They can do this by creating magical adventures. When youngsters begin reading a novel, they are quickly caught up in the fantasy and adventure of the plot.
While some of these books can be about weighty topics, others are written for fun and enjoyment. Ian Fleming has written such a book with “Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car.” In this light-hearted tale, the Potts family discovers that their long green roadster, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, is full of wonderful surprises.
Curiously enough, the story begins with Mr. Potts losing his longtime job at a factory. He has an inquisitive mind and is constantly trying to invent things. Frequently, these inventions burn or spill and create problems in his home. Luckily, one of his inventions, a candy wafer, is purchased by a local candy factory. For 1,000 pounds sterling and a percentage of future sales, Potts sells the invention.
He uses the money to buy an old motor car. It certainly was a beautiful classic in its day, but now really looks like a pile of rusted junk. Always up to the challenge, he has the old car towed to his home and begins repairing the vehicle. Throughout the next months, the two Potts children, Jeremy and Jemina, watch their father tinkering with the electrical system and occasionally banging on various parts of the car.
At long last, the car was ready for its first drive. It had an 8-foot-long green hood and a powerful engine. Repaired, the old car had regained its regal elegance. But something was curious about the car. Rows of buttons and levers were close to the steering wheel and had no perceivable use. But Mr. Potts has his wife and children get in the car for a trip to the ocean. When he tries to start the car for the first time, the engine makes two sounds resembling the word chit and two bangs. They decide this is an excellent name for the car. So they head down the highway to the ocean in Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang.
Then strange things begin to happen. When caught in a traffic jam the buttons on the dash board begin to light up. When Mr. Potts pushes the buttons and pulls the leavers the car’s fenders fold inward and a pair of wings emerge out of the sides. With this, Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang takes off and begins flying. The family can’t quite believe what is happening, but soon they are enjoying the experience. Then the trip gets odder when Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang begins flying over the English Channel. The family lands near a cave on the French beach. When they go into the cave, they discover all kinds of guns, explosives and burglary tools used in a bank robbery. What is going on?
What happens to the Potts family in the cave? Do the guns, explosives and burglary tools belong to a gang? How does Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang come to the rescue? What would you do? To find out the answers to these questions, go to the library and check out this delightful novel, “Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang” by Ian Fleming.
Ian Fleming worked in British Intelligence during World War II and organized a group of spies. This background allowed him to write the James Bond spy series. “Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang” is his only novel for children. Fleming does not try to create “great literature” with this book but instead gives us an enjoyable, magical story. Published in 1964, “Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang” continues to entertain readers. I hope you get a chance to check out this novel and to encourage the younger members of your family to read it as well. It is great fun. Enjoy!
