Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

The original and classic Dick Van Dyke movie was awesome, and some elements were maybe scary for young people, but overall I loved it growing up.

The book is entirely different from the film, and I happened on a hard cover edition in decent shape with all of the original illustrations, and an inscription dated from a woman to her son or other young male relative.

I recommend this story as it is a seminal work, an original narrative, as it reveals more about the author, and because the story is pleasant.