Ian Fleming’s story of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! the Magical Car
adapted by Al Perkins; ill. B Tobey (Collins and Harvill, 1969)
Lurking irresponsibly in the otherwise excellent Beginner Readers series, this gobsmacking tripe features a domestically lobotomised housewife and Fleming-modelled gung-ho husband. “Let’s blow up all this stuff,” said Jeremy. “That’s a fine idea,” said Mrs. Pott. “Then we can have our picnic.”