This collection of Enid Blyton's stories have been
selected by famous fans such as Jacqueline Wilson, Andy Griffiths, Michael
Morpurgo and other well-known people, who share the joy derived from reading Blyton's
work and openly reveal which story they loved the best and why.
Some focus on specific stories that influenced their lives and continue to live on in their memory. Within these testimonies lies the value of this collection.The contents are taken from the most popular books, and come under five titles: adventure, fantasy, funny, school, and true stories.
The excerpts come from another era and style of children’s writing that inspired many modern writers. The old and the new blend together. The older text is juxtaposed with the quirky, full colour illustrations by Mark Beech which offers new life and a resurgence of interest to Blyton’s ageless texts. The stories took me on a journey through my childhood where I relived the excitement,freedom and imagination those children lived through their adventures.
Some focus on specific stories that influenced their lives and continue to live on in their memory. Within these testimonies lies the value of this collection.The contents are taken from the most popular books, and come under five titles: adventure, fantasy, funny, school, and true stories.
The excerpts come from another era and style of children’s writing that inspired many modern writers. The old and the new blend together. The older text is juxtaposed with the quirky, full colour illustrations by Mark Beech which offers new life and a resurgence of interest to Blyton’s ageless texts. The stories took me on a journey through my childhood where I relived the excitement,freedom and imagination those children lived through their adventures.
I was particularly impressed with Michael Morpurgo’s moving testimony. His life was a world of words that frightened him until his friends suggested he try reading Blyton’s books. Then there is Jacqueline Wilson’s stirring confessions on the role that these fabulous stories played in her life and writing.
The book winds up with an excellent insight into
Enid Blyton’s inner world from her autobiography, The Story of My Life. She commends her father’s encouragement and
constant company which helped shape her world. There are interesting
revelations about how she never planned her stories but had dreams about what
she wrote.
Highly readable, this marvellous collection is a
wealth of information about the presenters as well as the stories they chose.
Author: Enid Blyton
Illustrator: Mark Beech
Publisher: Hachette, $39.99
Publication Date: October 2018
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781444934540
For ages: 8+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction
