Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Race Against Time

Name: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Race Against Time
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, illustrated by Joe Berger

Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 7+

Published by Macmillan Children's Books, 2012

Adventure
Fantasy
Funny
Historical

About this book

In this follow-up to the popular Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again, the car that can fly and sail can now also time travel! Taking the Tooting children on a wild adventure that plunges from the cretaceous swamp to 1920s New York to the Amazon rainforest, this is an exciting and funny story that takes itself lightly. The plot is fantastical and absurd, and the quirky cast - including the villains - are brilliantly characterised. Frank Cottrell Boyce has created another pacy read in the spirit of Ian Fleming's original stories, with contemporary humour and colourful descriptions that bring to life historical times and places. But as well as an energetic story, there is some beautiful writing here, that raises thought-provoking questions and incorporates social commentary and historical facts.

About the author

Frank Cottrell-Boyce is a multi award-winning children’s book author and screenwriter. Millions, his debut children's novel, won the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal.

His other books include Cosmic, Framed, The Astounding Broccoli Boy, Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth, Runaway Robot, Noah’s Gold and The Wonder Brothers. He has enjoyed a long-time collaboration with award-winning illustrator Steven Lenton. His books have been shortlisted for a multitude of prizes, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children’s Fiction Award, The Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award.

Frank is also a highly successful screenwriter. He has written for the hit TV series Dr Who and his script for Michael Morpurgo’s Kensuke’s Kingdom won a British Animation Award. Along with Danny Boyle, he devised the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics. Frank has been the judge for the 500 Words competition and the BBC's One Show As You Write It competition.

Frank is a lifelong champion of children’s books. In 2023 he launched a successful podcast with Nadia Shireen, The Island of Brilliant!, celebrating writing and illustration for children of all ages.

He lives in Merseyside with his family.

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