Another fortnight gone by, and time to open the next EB Magazine!
Its summer, and the magazine reflects this in its cover story -
'A Couple of Fatheads'
Its a good story - typical 'lesson-to-be-learned' plot - but it works really well. The strength of the story is Enid's descriptions, and the way she really makes her readers feel the sense of isolation the boys must have felt out on the sea in their peddle-boat. A very entertaining story - but for me its the atmosphere Enid creates that is the real strength. You can see for yourself, by following the link. Thanks Tony!
http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/maga ... ?magid=915
This 'Summer Holiday' issue of the magazine finds Enid on holiday herself, as she describes in her
Editorial Letter. Although she's not writing her letter from Dorset, she tells us that this is where she will be - or rather, she doesn't tell us it was Dorset, but I'm presuming it was, as she mentions being by the sea and 'up on the windy hills'.
Enid tells us about the silk worms which children sent for earlier in the year, when they could send off for eggs through the post. Many of the silk worms will now have made silk cocoons which can be unravelled to collect the fine silken thread. She also tells us how the 'silk-worm man' has sent Enid Five guineas for the Famous Five Club Ward at the children's home in Beaconsfield.
As always, we learn about Enid's help with various charities - this time a charity which sends poor children 'away from town or slums' for a holiday by the sea or in the country. Enid writes -
To send one child away for two weeks costs £4 - so, children, if your school has any money to spare in your 'school charities' fund, or from a school fete or Sale, please do ask your teacher if a little could be spared for a child who has never paddled, and never walked through a field. What a great idea! Of course, you can read Enid's full editorial letter by following the link.
After the cover story we have the very first chapter of the next Famous Five serial -
Five Get Into A Fix - an unusual story to serialise in the summer, but I know that many people (Including Chrissie on this website!) enjoy reading books set in the winter when its hot outside. I must admit I probably wouldn't have enjoyed reading a snowy story in July - I like to read my winter stories in the winter! Though I don't mind reading summer stories when its cold and gloomy!
After the first chapter of this Famous Five story - and I bet the older children were heaving a sigh of relief after a few magazines that had very little on offer for anyone over the age of 7 - we come to the next short story - which again can be read by following the link.
What A Thing To Do, Brer Rabbit - a typical Brer Rabbit story in which the rabbit tricks Brer Bear. Again - an amusing and enjoyable story...but I can't help thinking that Brer Rabbit stories are all the same after the first twenty or so! I do enjoy them though - particularly because of the wonderful illustrations by Grace Lodge.
Next, we have the centre-spread comic-strip story
Rumble and Chuff. Another instalment of that thrilling tale, with the two main characters stopping to have tea with the little girl they rescued last time. This leads to Rumble and Chuff deciding they might 'hunt around for other children' in need of help.
Next we have yet another short story which Tony has kindly scanned into The Cave. Tony had a busy time this weekend, as none of the stories were ever collected anywhere else, so again, many thanks.
What's Happened? is, unfortunately, not the greatest of stories. It might as well be a Noddy story...and has a very similar plot to the Noddy story that appeared in the last issue. Its starts off well, its well written, but its very predictable, and makes me wonder how old the lead character 'Bridget' is meant to be. She is certainly an air-head. Read the story and see for yourself!
Our Letter Page has some great letters as always. One from Carolyn Mitchell of Woodfield, Dursley, Glos - who writes -
Dear ENid Blyton, Recently I had my plaits cut off and the other day I sent them away to an advertisement which was in the paper. When I had sent it away, I had to wait a few days, and then yesterday I received a five shilling postal order for my hair. I am enclosing this postal order for the spastics. Yours truly, Carolyn Mitchell
Just shows that there's no end to the lengths children went to in order to raise money for Enid's causes!
Another letter reads -
Dear Miss Blyton, My mother went to Hereford recently and brought back a present for my brother and me, a Muscovy duck with seven little fluffy ducklings. They were hatched secretly somewhere out in the open where nobody knew. Guess what we called them? the Secret Seven! I think it is a very good name for them, do you? Love from Margaret Martin.
Next follows chapter 6 of
The Birthday Kitten - more great Grace Lodge illustrations. She's one of my top EB illustrators, so I'm not complaining! She could always make a book look like a classic.
Following on from this is a picture puzzle -
Find seven hidden ducks in this picture - and I couldn't help wondering whether Enid had been inspired by Margaret Martin's letter above! Quite a coincidence!
Following on is
Our Puzzle Page - with the usual club puzzles -
SUNBEAMS Prize Puzzle -
Take the first letter of each of the birds shown below, rearrange them and make the name of another bird -
OSTRICH ROBIN PENGUIN
VULTURE LARK EAGLE
The FAMOUS FIVE puzzle -
What am I?
Half of me rhymes with tar,
The rest of me rhymes with hot,
You wash me, scrape me, slice me,
Then cook me in a pot.
BUSY BEES puzzle -
Can you change the word FOWL into someone who likes to eat a fowl?
If you change the letters round you will find him!
in
Our News-sheet Enid plugs a few of her books, and the books of other authors -
THE NEW 'FIVE' BOOK - Many of you have written in saying "WHEN is 'Five Go to Billycock Hill' going to be in book form, Miss Blyton? We haven't seen it yet!" Well, you can see it now, if you go to your bookshop. I really think we have printed enough for all the FF Club members in the world!
THE SIX COUSINS BOOKS - These two books of mine "Six Cousins at Mistletoe Farm" and "Six Cousins Again" have again been reprinted. I think you will like them.
SEASIDE STORIES - Are you going to the seaside? Then read page 39 where you will see a nice book to take with you - SEASIDE STORIES - by Margaret Kent.
and so ends this fortnight's issue of the EB Magazine. Hope you enjoy the three uncollected stories.