Daisy's 'Anne Kirrin's Diary' looks interesting - I've read a little of it but need time to read it properly. I also read 'The Ones That Got Away' - very interesting, Tony - and i was surprised to see a photo of my kitchen in The Journal!!!
I've often thought that the Werner Laurie Showbooks were managed very badly by the publisher. If they had been sensible they would have released the Famous Five one first! It was Enid's most popular series, and aimed at slightly older children than Rubbalong and Mary Mouse. Its amazing to me that the publishers aimed such a complicated fiddly cutting-out book at such young children...nearly all the proposed books were aimed at 4 or 5 year olds! As the owner of the sample shown in the Journal (the cut out version!) I can't imagining making this myself until I was maybe 8 or 9 - and I was very used to scissors and had used them regularly even before I went to school. If the publishers had aimed these books at older readers, with books revolving around The Famous Five, the Fatty books and the Adventure books, I'm sure they would have been much more popular!
In Enid Blyton Is So Versatile by John Henstock, I was interested to see that he has quoted roughly the same passages I quoted in my caravan Family articles - I was pleased to see that it isn't just me who finds these books particularly rich in brief but effective descriptions. Some of Enid's best descriptions of nature and weather etc appear in these underrated books.
I haven't read much more of The Journal yet - but I'm looking forward to reading all the ENid Blyton bits and pieces.
