Bringing new life to old things is always wonderful! And I am realizing that it also helps when I am playing catch up!!! Today’s post features a book review I wrote eons ago – about travels in a flying car; and if you have read the book or maybe watched the movie, you will know I am talking about that crazy cool car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

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Travel Thursday: App

In my original 2012 post, I talked about an app that would help send a postcard to loved ones anywhere in the world while you are traveling. I worded it as below:

Traveling? And want to send a postcard to your loved ones elsewhere in the world? If you have your iPhone/Android with you, then here is the app for you. For as low as 99 cents, you can send a postcard to anyone anywhere by uploading the photo you took and get it printed and snail-mailed…

But since it is after eight years from the original post date, I decided to look up the app; and to my surprise(not), that app with a cool name (Postcard On the Run) no longer exists.

This is what I discovered: Postcard on the Run allowed users to take a photograph from their mobile phone, personalize it with a message and their own signature, and send it as a physical postcard anywhere in the world. It was originally pitched on Shark Tank in 2013; the business got a deal with Robert Herjavec. But they shut down in October 2015. And in September 2017, another app called MyPostcard acquired their website (now redirects to mypostcard.com).

And if you are traveling sometime soon (I know, I know, but maybe by road or you could have travels in a flying car!), then you can use this. I also discovered this promo code as a result and thought I would share it with you (just in case).

The Book Review

And if you are lucky enough, you might just enjoy your own travels in a flying car(just like the Tootings)!!! Here is my review of the book below.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again 

aka Travels in a Flying Car

Book Info

Description

Buckle your seatbelt for the first-ever follow up to Ian Fleming’s only children’s story.

When the Tooting family finds an old engine and fits it to their camper van, they have no idea what kind of adventure lies ahead. The engine used to belong to an extraordinary car . . . and it wants its bodywork back! But as the Tootings hurtle across the world rebuilding the original Chitty, a sinister baddie is on their trail — one who will stop at nothing to get the magnificent car for himself.

Fueled by wry humor, this much-anticipated sequel to the children’s classic by Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond — featuring a contemporary family and a camper van with a mind of its own — is driven by best-selling, award-winning author Frank Cottrell Boyce and revved up by Joe Berger’s black-and-white illustrations. 

My Thoughts

First Thoughts

I loved this book. Until I found this on NetGalley as a digital ARC, I did not realize that the first Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was written by Ian Fleming – his only children’s book. I have seen the movie and hope to read that book as well.

And Then More

In this story, Chitty begins her life with the Tootings as just her engine. The Tootings are a charming, energetic, modern family – a mix of wonderful characters – cheerful and optimistic dad, calm mom, the Goth, genius daughter Lucy, the practical, smart son Jem and the super observant, happy baby Harry.   When dad loses his job, he announces that this is the chance to do anything, go anywhere.

As the family plans a trip, mom buys an old camper van for dad to restore for use on the trip. The Tooting family fits an old engine (Chitty’s) they find into their van without realizing that they are looking for the adventure of their lives by doing so. Soon, the Tooting family is zooming across the world as Chitty reassembles herself while Bond style criminals chase them.  

What I Loved

The concept of adventurous, zany travels in a flying car (well, van in this case)!

I read the book with a smile on my face throughout and lots of chuckles at the wacky, quirky sense of humor.

The illustrations are wonderful and complement the story perfectly.

There are references to Ian Flemings James Bond thrown in at various points. The original Count Zborowski also gets a salute with Chitty in this book based on his car.  

As a final note, the book manages to teach a little of geography, cultures, languages, automobiles, as well as the values of humor, optimism, ingenuity, family as the Tootings travel around the world together and help each other through the adventures.  

Quotes

Some of my favorite lines from the book (was hard to choose as enjoyed each and every word in the book):

“Children,” he said, “and, wife — my Excellent Big News is that”— he looked around the table, enjoying their expectant faces — “I never have to work again! What do you think of that!?”

“El Dorado. Camelot. Troy. Xanadu. Atlantis. They were all big cities once, and now no one knows where they are. They got lost. I bet it was because of out-of-date maps.”

In Summary

Award-winning-author Frank Cottrell Boyce and illustrator Joe Berger have teamed up to create this wonderful book; sure to be a favorite and hopefully made into a movie.

Plus, it is the first in a planned series of three; I am looking forward to reading the next ones already. (and while I haven’t read those yet, I have since added them to my TBR and added them below)

Rating: A Reading Level: Ages 9–12

Get It Here

 Book Depository || Target ||Barnes and Noble || IndieBound

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Disclaimer:Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a digital review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist. They are my personal opinions formed when I read this book.

The others in the series

Thursday Memes

So I included this section here as it was part of my original post. I also do miss participating in these memes. Both of these are no longer active, unfortunately.

But seeing this old post did make me think I could work on restarting one of them.

Dear reader, What do you think? Would you participate in one or the other? Do let me know your thoughts on them.

And as an experiment, you can get started with either one or both of these prompts using the examples below. You can add your entries to the comments.

Theme Thursday: Write a short paragraph about this past week or current happenings. Ensure it is below 50 words and has the word ‘season’ in it somewhere.

Theme Thursdays: Pick any lines from your current or recent read that reflect the theme ‘food.’ They do not need to have the exact word(s).

Theme Thursday – Season

Note that the below was from my 2012 post..

This season is seasoned with lots of activities!So many things going on, at work, the kids’ school and among family and friends with birthdays, baby showers, school and scout events and more that I feel someone has seasoned this season with a special seasoning of activities!

Theme Thursdays (food)

 “He opens the newspaper wrapping and within, on a banana leaf, lies the masala dosa he ordered for  breakfast. A blob of red chilli chutney smears an edge of the dosa.” From the e-ARC of ‘Lilac House’ by Anita Nair

Would You Rather

Today’s WYR

Would you rather time travel only to the past or only to the future?

A tough one but most likely the past. And if I can make those travels in a flying car, then that would be the icing on the cake

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, have you read the Ian Fleming book or watched the original movie? What about other similar books? (Of course, there is the Harry Potter series!!)

Linking up to the Ultimate Blog Challenge 

For previous posts, click on the links below:

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