Monday, August 23, 2004

Enid Blyton wins in UK

The BBC reports that adults between the ages of 25 and 54 were asked to name their "favourite" book as a child in a survey by the Cartoon Network. They picked Enid Blyton's series, The Famous Five as their favorite. Another series by Blyton, The Secret Seven, was fourth on the list.
The top five were:
1. The Famous Five
2. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
3. Treasure Island
4. The Secret Seven
5. Black Beauty
I read these Blyton's series when I was as a child living overseas . I always loved them. A young patron at my school library spent time in England only a few years ago and came back a devoted Famous Five fan so I know they still have enormous appeal. My family also loved her Noddy books. Tthe illustrations by Dutch artist, Harmsen van der Beek were very appealing. The Enid Blyton Society has information about her life and works.

Enid Blyton's daughter Gillian Baverstock, who lives in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, welcomed the results of the poll.
She said: "It is wonderful that my mother's books are remembered so fondly.

"The secret of their success is that they centre squarely on children, with adults only ever playing a minor role.

"The injection of adventure and excitement on to every page stimulates a child's desire to continue to read not just one book but the whole series."
I bet all those readers of her series books are readers today. Kids who get hooked on a series usually end up as life long readers.

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