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Barney says: Golly, you could talk the hind legs off a donkey - or even a dog, Zaidi! ;-) If you like chatting and getting to know fellow Blyton fans, why not join our discussion forums? People have to register in order to post on the forums, but it's free of charge.

Barney says: Belonging to the Society involves subscribing to the Journal which is published three times a year. I'm afraid we have to charge for that in order to cover printing and postage costs. However, it's free to join the discussion forums on this website.

Barney says: Hi, Zaidi. At least you can be thankful that it was only the car that was hurt. I see you have faith in God but not in this dog! ;-) My New Year's resolutions are to take my master on longer walks (good for him as well as me!) and to sniff as many exciting smells as possible.

Barney says: Cheers, Nigel.

Barney says: You can see book covers and early internal illustrations in the Cave of Books, Mehar - just click on the "Malory Towers" button and then on the individual titles. It's not always clear which characters are being represented, though! The pictures are only artists' interpretations and the best images may well be the ones in your own imagination!

Barney says: Funny that the message page was set up so that it was accessible by all, if the school held that opinion!

Barney says: I hope someone reading this will be able to help.

Barney says: I'm glad your love of Enid Blyton is helping you both at school and during the hols, Zaidi!

Barney says: If I were you, I'd bone up on the subject beforehand!

Barney says: Not that I know of, perhaps you will be the first, Katharine!

Barney says: I will let you into a 'secret', get some more!

Barney says: Hi Sue, thanks for the cuddle, if I had known about your birthday I would have sent you a birthday lick (I don't suppose you would want a bone, and I am not sure that I could spare one anyway!). I am so pleased to hear that Blue Peter have named a dog after me. I will say Hi to Tony for you.

Barney says: We have a fresh quiz every month Zaidi, but I think that is all we can manage. New things are added to the website every day, so there is plenty for you to see in the Cave of Books. I log on every day as well!

Barney says: Hai Hiba, the crew of the good ship Blyton thank you for removing your hat. I wouldn't even get as many as you on the quiz, but my master says I am 'bone idle' - boom, boom!

Barney says: Dearest Saswati, I am sure you are right that Enid Blyton was adorable when she was 12. Don't be embarrassed, I adore bones and I am quite happy to gnaw them in public.

Barney says: Thanks Hephzibah, tail wags to you too. Enid does indeed have a special Christmas website and you are on it. It is also special for the other 364 days as well!

Barney says: Well said, Nigel!

Barney says: Merry Christmas, Hiba. Some teenagers do feel under pressure from their parents or peers to stop reading Enid Blyton. However, it seems a pity to have to give up reading the books if you still enjoy them. What would your parents prefer you to read? Perhaps you could talk to them about it and agree to try some of the authors they suggest, while explaining that Enid Blyton is still important to you too.

Barney says: Our Monthly Quiz has a mixure of Blyton-related questions, but there are also question-and-answer type games on the forums (in the "Games" section) if you're interested, including one on the Secret Seven.

Barney says: Merry Christmas, Wayne. Thanks - that bone is mega!

Barney says: Ashamed? No, of course not! You should rejoice in the fact that you've avoided becoming cynical and jaded over the years, and that the stories you loved when the world was fresh to you still have the power to bring you joy. I hope that's still the case when you're a hundred years old!

Barney says: Thanks, Francis. The Cave is a cheery place to be on this cold winter's day!

Barney says: Thank you, Lucky Star - the same to you. Let's hope the website continues to go from strength to strength in 2011!

Barney says: Hope you have a lovely Christmas too, Julie. However busy I may be, I always make time for snoozing, feasting, playing games and going for walks!

Barney says: Thanks, Nigel. Wishing you plenty of turkey and treats as well!

Barney says: I'd like to add a hearty "Woof" of thanks too.

Barney says: I can't give you a complete list, Genette, but this thread on the forums lists a number of Christmas and New Year themed stories by Enid Blyton and other authors.

Barney says: Cheers, Nepolean. My tinsel-bedecked tail is wagging nineteen to the dozen!

Barney says: A Woofy Woof Woof to you too, Lucky!

Barney says: Hi, Sue! I've combined your two messages into one. If Ana has registered on the forums and tried to contact you, I expect she'd have sent you a PM (private message). I hope your computer is all right now. Nadolig Llawen!

Barney says: Enid Blyton contributed to so many periodicals (a few thousand!), as well as annuals, books of plays, etc, that I'm afraid it's hard to say. If you check out these two links, especially the book covers in the second link, perhaps you'll recognise something. Good luck with your search!

Barney says: You need to have an email address in order to register on the forums, Hephzibah. If you haven't got one, perhaps you could set one up? Or if not, maybe a member of your family would let you register using his/her email address? Joining the forums is free of charge, but if you want to join the Society that involves subscribing to the thrice-yearly Journal (details are to be found under "Fireside Journal"). A "general dogsbody" is a drudge - someone who does all the lowly jobs no one else wants to do! I was only joking about being one!

Barney says: I think only a few are abridged - though practically all of them have had the language updated. Where chapters are cut out, I suppose it's usually a case of publishers wanting the story to fill no more than a certain number of pages, without reducing the size of the type. If my guess is correct, it's terrible to think of the coherence and integrity of a story being sacrificed in order to keep printing costs down!

Barney says: Enid Blyton wrote The Naughtiest Girl in the School (and two sequels) if that's what you mean. As for being like a "protocol officer", that sounds rather more grand than "general dogsbody"!

Barney says: Thanks very much indeed for the information, Lucky. Much appreciated. What a pity that such lovely chapters were taken out of Mr. Galliano's Circus. I wonder whether the other two books in the series were also abridged by Hinkler?

Barney says: Enid Blyton wrote her own material for Sunny Stories and Enid Blyton's Magazine but The Lost Noreen might possibly have appeared in a thin book or periodical to which a number of different writers (including Enid Blyton) had contributed.

Barney says: Yes, I do have friends apart from books - I'm quite a sociable dog and my bark is worse than my bite! If you want to know about series of novels, Hephzibah, have a look in the Cave under 'Novels/Novelettes'. There are also character-based series, such as the Mr. Meddle and Amelia Jane series (look under 'Character Books').

Barney says: Some of my best friends are books, Hephzibah! Being a canine, I'm particularly fond of dog-eared books! It's almost impossible to say exactly how many books Enid Blyton wrote, I'm afraid. As well as writing novels, short stories, plays, poems, nature books and educational books, she wrote magazines, provided the text for picture books for younger children and contributed articles and stories to encyclopaedias, annuals, etc. Some short stories appeared in more than one collection and new compilations of previous work continued to be published after her death. We know that she wrote over 180 novels though, and about 4000 - 5000 short stories, which is a remarkable achievement. To find out more about Enid Blyton's amazing output, have a wander through our Cave of Books.

Barney says: I don't think Enid Blyton wrote that play, Nikki. There's no record of it in the Cave of Books. But perhaps someone reading this will know who did.

Barney says: That is sad news, Red Tower.

Barney says: There is a book that was published by Book and Magazine Collector which attempts to put prices on Children's books, but really it is up to you on how much you think a book is worth. If you are looking for first editions of these series though, you are going to need a very deep pocket and a lot of patience if you want some of the early ones - the only copies I have seen of Five on a Treasure Island for sale in recent years have been over £3000!

Barney says: Gosh, it looks as though three chapters have been removed from your edition, Bec. My copy also ends with 'Jimmy and Lotta get their Reward' - but it's Chapter 26!

Barney says: I believe C. S. Lewis's books are regarded as "classics", whereas Enid Blyton's are "popular fiction". For some reason it seems to be all right for old-fashioned elements to be retained in "classics", whereas "popular fiction" must be constantly updated! An Enid Blyton film done well, in period and without irony, could have just as much appeal as C. S. Lewis in my opinion. I don't think the Galliano's Circus books were edited until very recently, but they disappeared from bookshops long ago except for some Hinkler editions (Australian, I think?) which popped up in remainder bookshops two or three years ago. I was wondering whether the books Bec is reading are the Hinkler ones.

Barney says: How jolly queer, Bec. It does look as though Lulu has been edited out of your copy, though goodness knows why! Fancy removing a perfectly good dog! I'd be interested to know which edition you've got, Bec, and the date of publication. Lulu is introduced in Chapter 24 of Mr. Galliano's Circus - 'The Two Marvellous Brothers' (there are 26 chapters in all). The Marvel Brothers Jan and Yol perform wonderfully on the trapeze but they are cruel to their black spaniel, Lulu. Mr. Galliano orders them to leave the circus, saying, "I will not have anyone with me who treats a dog as you treat yours." From then on Jimmy and Lotta take care of Lulu. The dog also gets a brief mention at the end of Chapter 26, when Jimmy and Lotta sit on the steps of the Browns' caravan, "cuddling a black spaniel". By the way, in Chapter 2 - 'Jimmy Makes Friends with the Circus Folk' - Jimmy meets Lal and Laddo's dogs and Lotta says, "That's Darky and that's Nigger and that's Boy and that's Judy and that's Punch and that's..." I was wondering whether any of the dogs' names have been altered in your edition, especially the first two.

Barney says: That book always makes me chuckle!

Barney says: An interesting thought, Charlotte. I wonder what Enid Blyton's characters would make of the internet, mobile phones, i-pods, digital cameras, DVDs, microwave ovens, The X Factor, Big Brother, the fashions and music of today, celebrities, foods and all kinds of other things? I imagine they'd be overwhelmed and bewildered at first!

Barney says: Sometimes when people register on the forums, Ana, the email saying they've been approved doesn't reach them. Sorry if that has happened to you, but it means it's possible that you've been approved without knowing it. You could try posting on the forums and see. If you're not able to post, why not try registering again? Sue is from the UK, by the way.

Barney says: Well done for influencing your bookstore, Famous Five! My tinsel-bedecked tail is wagging furiously! Happy reading, and I wish you and your family a cheery Christmas too.

Barney says: If the book is still in print you ought to be able to order it from a bookshop or from Amazon, Carole. If not, try Abebooks or eBay. Buying second-hand might be better anyway as you'll be able to track down the edition you remember. The Children of Cherry Tree Farm and More Adventures on Willow Farm are about the same children - Rory, Sheila, Benjy and Penny.

Barney says: The current editions have been edited, Ragav, with updating of language and sometimes of characters' names too, though the plots remain unaltered. If buying second-hand, you can be pretty sure of having the original text if you buy copies dating from before about 1965. And books up to around 1987, or even slightly later, usually still have the original text or at least only minor alterations such as changes to currency and clothing.

Barney says: I don't think Enid Blyton wrote about "green" issues as such, though her characters are careful to adhere to the Countryside Code and make sure they close gates, leave birds' eggs alone, bury tins, don't drop litter, etc. Many of her stories also illustrate the principle of "waste not, want not". Enid said in a letter to her friend, Dorothy Richards, that she believed in God but found it hard to have a personal relationship with her Creator. As a child she had thought of God as a God of vengeance. She didn't attend any place of worship as an adult, but she valued Christian ethics and these appear in some of her books, especially those written for Lutterworth Press (they were a religious publisher and specifically asked for stories with a religious or strongly moral element).

Barney says: I'm afraid I don't remember that story, Cara, but I hope someone reading this will be able to help.

Barney says: Enid's younger daughter Imogen Smallwood wrote about her childhood with Enid Blyton in A Childhood at Green Hedges (1989), which is now out of print but may be available second-hand. Other than that, I'm not aware of any biographies of Enid's husbands and children. Barbara Stoney's Enid Blyton - the Biography contains information about family members, as does Enid's own The Story of My Life (again, out of print). Ida Pollock's Starlight contains quite a lot of information about Hugh Pollock, Enid's first husband and father of Gillian and Imogen, though the book is mainly about Ida herself and it doesn't give details of the whole of Hugh's life. I hope that helps, Ifeoluwa.

Barney says: There is an "Enid Blyton" Twitter account (see link on the left) but personally I don't tweet or twitter - I only bark!

Barney says: I'm not sure quite what Enid Blyton would have made of the "new generation" Famous Five cartoon (!), but on the whole she was happy for her stories to be filmed or performed. During her lifetime she wrote a Noddy play (which also incorporated characters like Mr. Pink-Whistle and the Faraway Tree folk) and a Famous Five play. Both were performed in London and elsewhere for several years. She also took an interest in the two Children's Film Foundation Famous Five films which were shown in cinemas in the 1950s/60s, and in a Noddy TV show.

Barney says: It's possible that Lossie Laxton was based on glamorous actresses of the day like Judy Garland or Deanna Durbin. If Zerelda was inspired by a real person, Enid Blyton kept quiet about it!

Barney says: They're not the same place, Narnia_Horse. Red-Roofs in The Family at Red-Roofs is a family house - not a school. Have you considered joining our forums, where fans discuss numerous Blyton-related topics including favourite books and characters? You have to register in order to post, but registration is free of charge.

Barney says: You're welcome, Narnia_Horse. Happy reading!

Barney says: Nice to meet you, Narnia_Horse! The Barney Mysteries (also known as the "R" Mysteries), Adventure Series, Secret Series and Find-Outers Mysteries are all very popular with Enid Blyton fans. And for something slightly different, why not try some of the stand-alone novels like The Six Bad Boys, The Family at Red-Roofs or The Boy Next Door? You can find out more in our Cave of Books, but remember to take a torch and a length of rope!

Barney says: It's good to see your enthusiasm, Neha! Your mother may be happy to know that the Famous Five books have some scientific content. ;-) Crooks are always trying to steal Uncle Quentin's papers, which give details of the experiments he is working on in the hope of discovering a cheap and efficient source of energy!

Barney says: I don't know where you heard that Enid Blyton Ltd had a problem with fan sites, Genette. Enid Blyton Ltd only existed for about a year, from early 1995 until Chorion bought the Blyton copyright in 1996, so it was before the days of Blyton-related websites! It's possible that copyright holders were a bit more wary in the early days of the internet, but now that fan sites and fanfic are well-established there's usually no trouble unless, for example, fans try to make money from writing fanfic.

Barney says: Tails and whiskers, what a lot of questions! Regarding The Naughtiest Girl in the School, if you mean Joan Lesley and Joan Townsend they're the same person - Enid Blyton simply made a slip-up. Radio features in a number of stories, for example The River of Adventure and Five Go to Billycock Hill, but it's usually referred to as wireless. A few text changes were made when the books started to be issued as paperbacks in the 1960s and currency updates were common in the 1970s, but major editing started in 1987 with the removal of the golliwogs from the Noddy stories. Since then, the various series and one-off titles have been updated at different rates. I'm not sure about the audiobooks but I suggest you try Amazon, WHSmith, Waterstones and eBay. Whew - I'm off to flop down in front of the fire!

Barney says: There are a lot of good ones but Shadow the Sheep-Dog is a favourite of mine because the main character is one of Enid's most admirable and intelligent creations!

Barney says: Given Ana's age, she'd need to check with her parents first, Sue. And postage and packing costs would also need to be taken into account, of course.

Barney says: I don't recall Enid Blyton setting any of her stories in the North East, but as most of the locations are left deliberately vague it's possible for readers to imagine that some of the stories are set there - though large towns and cities rarely feature in Blyton books. In a letter to librarian Mr. S. C. Dedman in 1949, Enid Blyton said that she was aware that her writing gave children "a feeling of security as well as pleasure - they know that they will never find anything wrong, hideous, horrible, murderous or vulgar in my books, although there is plenty of excitement, mystery and fun... I'm not out only to tell stories, much as I love this - I am out to inculcate decent thinking, loyalty, honesty, kindliness, and all the things that children should be taught." She was aware of her responsibility as a children's writer and therefore avoided certain subjects that she felt were unsuitable. Her most "gritty" novel is probably The Six Bad Boys, which deals with family problems and juvenile delinquency.

Barney says: Someone else asked about that tape/CD not long ago but I'm afraid I'm not familiar with it. Perhaps someone reading this will be able to help.

Barney says: Yes, I can type!

Barney says: It's always nice to have an intelligent question to work on, Kate Mary!

Barney says: Gosh, now there's a challenging question for a dog on a cold frosty morning! The Cave is right on this one, but not as complete as it should be. The two non-fiction stories in Enid Blyton's Sunshine Book are both taken from Enid Blyton's Gay Street Book (illustrated by Grace Lodge) as the Cave states, but you are right in saying that they are missing from the contents of the latter book. The reason for that is that they are non-fiction and as a general rule the Cave was set up to deal with stories and poems and non fiction wasn't accounted for. A great many of the short story anthologies have non-fiction bits on 'How to Make Things' etc., but none of these are included - perhaps they should be! On the second part of your question I can't lay my paws on the Odham's book with the Tunnicliffe illustrations, but if my memory serves right (and I am an old dog!) the text is exactly the same, but all four seasons are done in one episode and they are not divided up as they are in the other two books - phew!

Barney says: From her stories it appears that Enid Blyton didn't think much of girls who were obsessed with their looks and spent hours preening themselves. In Third Year at Malory Towers Zerelda gradually learns that some of the things she had considered important and devoted a lot of time to - dyeing her hair, using make-up, aping film stars and trying to grow up too quickly - were stopping her enjoying a full and carefree girlhood. Ironically, many of today's magazines for teens and pre-teens encourage such behaviour! Nevertheless, Enid Blyton saw no need for young girls to look slovenly either. Jane in the Six Cousins books is criticised for being untidy, biting her nails and failing to make the most of her thick mop of hair, which is always tangled but could be shiny and silky if only she looked after it better. She and her cousin Melisande often dress in a similar style, yet Melisande looks fresh and neat while Jane's clothes are crumpled and stained. Kathleen Peters in the The Naughtiest Girl Again is told that she is pasty-faced and unattractive because she eats too many sweets, doesn't take enough exercise outside in the fresh air and scowls instead of smiling! Rather harsh, perhaps, but the overall message seems to be that it's a good thing to respect yourself but not to worry constantly about your image. The emphasis is on being glowing rather than glamorous, and making the most of what you have got rather than striving for what you haven't. And a smile and a generous spirit are worth far more than a pretty face or figure anyway!

Barney says: I'm glad you've enjoyed looking at the vintage illustrations, Green Meadow. The PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals) is still active but animals are now treated in clinics/pet hospitals rather than in mobile "animal vans". Also, treatment is only available these days to the pets of those who receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. There is still a club for young supporters but it's called Pet Protectors, not Busy Bees.

Barney says: People have asked that before in the discussion forums, Glenn, but so far no one has identified any textual changes to the 1970s Dean printings (of course, first editions of the Faraway Tree books are far from plentiful so most readers don't have the opportunity to compare). Sometimes, publishers label a new edition as 'revised' when nothing has been changed except the illustrations! I can only speculate that if there were any textual alterations in the early 1970s, they were minor.

Barney says: I was only joking, as the ;-) symbol shows! I just couldn't resist asking, since you asked me! We dogs don't tend to keep our birthdays as a rule, but cake is welcome any time - thanks, Ana!

Barney says: Imogen's book (A Childhood at Green Hedges) was published in 1989, MJ. It was her daughter Sophie who wrote a Noddy book last year. But yes, Imogen is alive and well. It's no secret that she was born on 27th October 1935, so you can work out her age for yourself!

Barney says: If you're only 8 you'll have to ask for books as birthday presents etc, Ana! I just got someone to pinch me to see if it would hurt and it did (like billyoh!), so that proves I'm real! Scooby Doo is quite different - he's just a cartoon! Are you real?! ;-) To join the discussion forums, click on the forums link (top right) and register (registration is free). It may take a few hours for your registration to be approved, but after that you can post. Alternatively, you can read the forums without registering but you won't be able to post. Seven bones? Golly - I'll have to get Timmy, Buster, Scamper, Loony, Lucky and Bumpy Dog to come and help me out!

Barney says: Enid Blyton's daughters, Gillian Baverstock and Imogen Smallwood, each wrote a book or two about their mother but they haven't had anything else published as far as I know. Gillian died about three and a half years ago. Imogen's daughter Sophie Smallwood wrote a Noddy book last year - Noddy and the Farmyard Muddle - to celebrate 60 years of Noddy.

Barney says: Have you thought of registering on our forums, Dick Kirrin (actually, we already have a "Dick Kirrin" there so you'd need to choose a different username)? If you read the various discussion topics you'll see that you're far from alone in returning to Enid Blyton at an age considerably above that of the intended readership! Some adults are out and proud about their "Blyton habit" and read the books quite openly in public places.

Barney says: We don't sell Blyton books but the Noddy series is available from Amazon, or you could look on eBay for vintage copies.

Barney says: Thanks for the 'pat', Susie, you have just woken me up. A fellow has to have forty winks sometimes and whilst I was having mine, some interfering person read MY message and I believe that he sent you a copy of the letter. I feel quite redundant, so I am off to chew a bone!

Barney says: Hello, Anne. You'll see from this link that 'The Wizard's Magic Necklace' appeared in two Enid Blyton books, with The Enid Blyton Book of Fairies having been reprinted frequently over the years. If it's not in print at the moment, you ought to be able to find a second-hand copy without too much trouble.

Barney says: I've read a few bits and pieces of fanfic over the years, but I'm afraid I can't often remember exactly where I saw things! If Moira is reading this, perhaps she could provide a link!

Barney says: I see you're now registered, MJ!

Barney says: Hello, Susie! Yes, Hilda Rice did do some illustrations for Enid Blyton. In The Enid Blyton Society Journal Number 41, Spring 2010, we published a letter sent by Enid Blyton to Hilda Rice on April 23rd 1928. It was about some drawings that Hilda did for the Nature and Needlework sections of Modern Teaching, a four-volume publication that was used in classrooms. Copies of that letter and five others were kindly sent to the Society by Hilda's sister and cousin.

Barney says: Golly, I'm amassing quite a store of bones and biscuits in the Cave now! Thanks, Moira. I think it's fun for fans to play around combining elements of different authors' works but, like you, I'd feel more at home in the Enchanted Wood (or, to be honest, running through an ordinary wood with Timmy or Shadow!) than at Hogwarts. After all, I don't have three heads!

Barney says: It's free to register on the forums, MJ, and you don't have to be a Society member. You can join by clicking on "Forums" and then registering. It may take a few hours for your registration application to be approved, but after that you can post. If you're thinking of starting a new topic, please check (using "Search") whether there is already an existing discussion on that topic, to which you could add your thoughts.

Barney says: Enid had two daughters, Gillian and Imogen, but Gillian died about three and a half years ago. For more information on Enid Blyton's life, click on our "Author of Adventure" button.

Barney says: Bones and biscuits, I don't know which wags the most - your tongue or my tail! ;-) Have you ever considered joining our discussion forums, MJ?

Barney says: You may be thinking of The Adventures of Pip, which contains lots of short stories including a tale about a fly ('Go Away, Dirty-Feet!'). You could check on Amazon to see whether the book is still in print. If not, there should be second-hand copies available on sites like eBay.

Barney says: I don't know whether it's available to download, George, but copies of the record sometimes turn up on eBay.

Barney says: I'm not sure of your age, Ana, but once you're eighteen you should be able to purchase books and other items from websites all over the world using a credit or debit card, Paypal or electronic transfer from your bank. I'm sorry if you feel excluded, but there are many things you can see and do on this website. Why not join our forums, for instance, and enjoy discussing your favourite books and characters with other Blyton fans from around the globe?

Barney says: Happy to help, Jayne! The book you're looking for is Six Cousins at Mistletoe Farm. There's also a sequel - Six Cousins Again. Compelling family stories, both of them.

Barney says: I've condensed your three messages into one, MJ, as a dog can feel quite overwhelmed by so many questions - and snacks! Our shed is a virtual one and I'm not a puppy, but I don't consider myself a dinosaur! I have no idea about Peg Kehret!

Barney says: Ah - Lossie Laxton, she with the huge roll of hair on top of her head! The book you're thinking of is Fifth Formers of St. Clare's featuring the mischievous Antoinette. Thanks for the bone - it's just what I needed!

Barney says: I'm afraid I haven't had time to look at your blog properly, MJ, but I wish you luck with your story-writing. We don't have a fanfic section on the website but you could look out for writing competitions in magazines etc. And of course I'm Barney! Who else involved with this website has four paws and a tail?!

Barney says: Enid Blyton included a number of princes in her books - Prince Paul of Baronia (Secret series), Prince Aloysius Gramondie Racemolie Torquinel of Tauri-Hessia (Gussy from The Circus of Adventure), Prince Bongawah of Tetarua State (The Mystery of the Vanished Prince) and the Zulu prince Boobanti who goes to Fatty's school (The Mystery of the Strange Bundle). Lady Candling appears in more than one Find-Outers book. The short stories often feature royalty, and one of Enid Blyton's non-fiction books was The Story of Our Queen. As for Enid, she herself was Queen Bee and Queen of Storytellers!

Barney says: Hello, MJ! Talented as my paws are, I've never used them to write a book! Perhaps you're thinking of the continuation books in our "Secret Passage" (for Society members only), written by Trevor Bolton and Robert Houghton? Regarding tips on writing, in her autobiography The Story of My Life Enid Blyton says that she developed her writing and story-telling skills by relating stories to her brothers, making up her own rhymes based on the rhythm and rhyme-scheme of popular nursery-rhymes, keeping a diary, writing letters to real and imaginary recipients, entering literary competitions and paying great attention in English lessons at school. She also read widely. As well as fiction and poetry, she read biographies of famous authors and borrowed books from the library on the Art of Writing. The advice Enid Blyton gives in The Story of My Life to would-be writers is: "Fill your mind with all kinds of interesting things—the more you have in it, the more will come out of it. Nothing ever comes out of your mind that hasn't already been put into it in some form or other. It may come out changed, re-arranged, polished, shining, almost unrecognizable—but nevertheless it was you who put it there first of all. Your thoughts, your actions, your reading, your sense of humour, everything gets packed into your mind, and if you have an imagination, what a wonderful assortment it will have to choose from!"

Barney says: I'm pleased to hear that the sections of the website devoted to the Famous Five and Secret Seven have brought back happy memories, Nicola. I think Viv Endecott sells a selection of greetings cards featuring illustrations from Enid Blyton books in her Ginger Pop Shop, but I'm not sure whether she does a Christmas range.

Barney says: Chorion own the rights to the texts, but not to the illustrations. However, they might be able to point you in the right direction. If the publishers still exist, you could try contacting them.

Barney says: Cheers, Rob! You've certainly put a wag in my tail. I think I might settle down for a re-read of The Mystery of the Disappearing Tramp while enjoying my bone and biscuits. A juicy bone goes well with a juicy mystery!

Barney says: Wuff wuff! In dog language that means, "Yes, you're quite right!" As Nigel says, The Adventurous Four to the Rescue! is a fantastic book and well worth a read, as are all Trevor Bolton's continuation books (and Robert Houghton's too!)

Barney says: I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that cassette/CD, Naomi, but I hope someone reading this will be able to help you.

Barney says: If you mean the Adventurous Four books, Poppy, the only one you haven't got is The Adventurous Four - Trapped!, which started off as a short story but was expanded into a full-length book by Clive Dickinson. The Adventurous Four - Shipwrecked! is the same as The Adventurous Four, and The Adventurous Four - Stranded! is the same as The Adventurous Four Again! You could look in charity shops and you might be lucky, but I think you'd probably find the book more quickly if you tried eBay.

Barney says: I believe that all 21 books were brought out as Centenary editions, though it's possible that the rest might only be available individually rather than as a boxed set. Chorion own the copyright to Enid Blyton's works, so when publishers suggest alterations to the texts it's up to Chorion whether or not to approve them. By setting up and maintaining this website, the Society provides somewhere for Blyton fans to make their views known. Visitors to the site frequently comment (on the Message Board and the Forums) on the editing of Blyton books, so let's hope publishers are taking note!

Barney says: I hadn't realised that the names were switched in the second book, Catherine! There's nothing wrong with being called Zoe or Pippa, but those names do sound out of place in a book set during the Second World War. To update details here and there while leaving the basic plot unchanged is to create a surreal mish-mash of a world, spoiling the ambience of the story and making parts of it seem like nonsense.

Barney says: Yes, it was a BBC TV series made in the 1990s - a cartoon series called Enid Blyton's Enchanted Lands, which had episodes based around the Faraway Tree and Wishing Chair books. However, Blyton's original storylines were altered quite considerably.

Barney says: Hi Poppy! Enid Blyton wrote two full-length Adventurous Four books, plus a shortish story of four chapters which was published in Enid Blyton's Omnibus! in 1952 with the title 'Off With the Adventurous Four Again!' In 1998 Clive Dickinson added more chapters of his own to turn that story into a third full-length novel called The Adventurous Four - Trapped! Also in 1998, The Adventurous Four was retitled The Adventurous Four - Shipwrecked! and The Adventurous Four Again! was retitled The Adventurous Four - Stranded! Some alterations were made to the texts, including name changes.

Barney says: I hope you're not implying anything about Tony's age, Moonface!! No, he never met Enid Blyton but he knows her younger daughter, Imogen Smallwood, and also knew her elder daughter, Gillian Baverstock.

Barney says: The Pennant Readers are scarce items, Morgan, so your best bet is probably to try a specialist bookseller. Some are listed under "Lashings of Links". It's always worth keeping an eye on eBay as well, though.

Barney says: Both series would probably look fantastic on screen with today's special effects, though the stories are episodic so may not translate well to film. It has to be said that, more often than not, the best "film versions" are the images that run through our own heads, conjured up as we read Enid Blyton's magical words.

Barney says: At least some of those incidents are mentioned in A Childhood at Green Hedges and, as the book was written by Imogen, that suggests that she was trying to paint a balanced picture. Some of the more shocking revelations in A Childhood at Green Hedges tend to remain in readers' minds while quieter, more reflective passages are overlooked. The book is not wholly negative by any means and actually shows Imogen attempting to understand the mother with whom she had a difficult relationship. Imogen has always respected her mother's ability as a writer and she and her daughter Sophie support the Enid Blyton Society, attend Enid Blyton Days and run a charity (the Enid Blyton Trust for Children) in memory of Enid's own charity work.

Barney says: The most comprehensive biography of Enid Blyton is Barbara Stoney's Enid Blyton - the Biography. If you click on our "Author of Adventure" button you'll see various other books about Enid Blyton listed too, including Blyton's autobiography (The Story of My Life) and Imogen Smallwood's A Childhood at Green Hedges. Those two titles are not currently in print but they sometimes come up for sale second-hand.

Barney says: Thanks for that, Harry. We know from Denis Judd's biography, Alison Uttley: The Life of a Country Child, that Alison Uttley was jealous that Enid Blyton's books sold so well. She referred to her as "The Blyton, photographed and boastful" and as "a vulgar curled woman". Once, both authors attended a lunch party and Alison asked Enid what else she'd written, other than the book about the horse (she claimed later to have mixed Enid Blyton up with Enid Bagnold, who wrote National Velvet). Denis Judd says that Blyton replied frostily, "Smith's window is full of my books." Another report of the same conversation says that Enid answered that her books were just as popular as Alison Uttley's Peter Rabbit stories (which of course were penned by Beatrix Potter, with Uttley having written about Little Grey Rabbit)!

Barney says: Thanks, Catherine! I never say no to a nice, meaty bone! I don't know whether Enid Blyton liked tea or coffee but she did drink alcohol in moderation. In A Childhood at Green Hedges Enid's daughter Imogen Smallwood mentions that her mother drank sherry, stout and gin. Her second husband, Kenneth, had an interest in vintage wines and also drank whisky, brandy and liqueurs. Enid's other daughter, Gillian Baverstock, said in an interview that her mother gave many of her story characters a liking for ginger beer because she (i.e. Gillian) was so fond of it. At the time Enid Blyton was writing, Coca Cola wasn't as popular in Britain as it is now.

Barney says: I'm not sure who you mean by "she", Simon - your daughter or sister, perhaps? Copies of that book sometimes turn up on eBay, if all else fails.

Barney says: I just checked on Amazon, Sue, and you're right that there's no sign of a Noddy Annual for 2011. What a blow! Perhaps there has been some delay in producing it? I suggest that you contact Egmont or Chorion to find out whether or not there is an annual in the pipeline.

Barney says: I don't think Darrell and Felicity were "based on" Gillian and Imogen, though certain aspects of her daughters' personalities and experiences seem to have influenced Enid Blyton when she created her characters. The age gap between Darrell and Felicity is similar to that between Gillian and Imogen, and Darrell is to attend St. Andrew's University after leaving school just as both of Enid's daughters did. Darrell actually resembles the young Enid in some ways, being popular, academic, sporty, hot-tempered, good at writing (she writes the Cinderella pantomime in In the Fifth at Malory Towers) and fond of tricks and jokes. Like Darrell, Enid became Head Girl of her school. The name "Darrell Rivers" was undoubtedly inspired by the name of Enid's second husband, Kenneth Darrell Waters. Mr. Rivers, like Kenneth, is a surgeon. As for the school itself, in her autobiography (The Story of My Life) Enid Blyton writes: "The schools in my books are a mixture of all the schools I have known - a bit of one, a piece of another, a chip of a third!"

Barney says: The "Mary Pollock" books are certainly less common than later editions featuring the Enid Blyton signature, though collectors tend to be interested only in copies that have dustwrappers and are in good condition. Of course the first editions of the Mary Pollock books just came with a pictureboard cover and didn't have dustwrappers, but when they were reprinted as part of the Tower House series they all had wrappers. You don't say which edition of which book that you have.

Barney says: I'm delighted that you're enjoying the Cave, Harry. Unfortunately we haven't time to find out about sales figures for genuine Enid Blyton books and continuation books by other authors, and such figures would be constantly changing anyway. If anyone is interested in following this up, perhaps they could post on the Message Board to let us know what they've found out.

Barney says: I'm glad the illustrations are bringing you so much pleasure, Three Cheers for EBS. There are many tail-wagging moments for me but I particularly like the picture of the children and dog romping in the hay (Grace Lodge, first Holiday Book). It looks tremendous fun and I'd love to join them!

Barney says: We don't know why Enid (and presumably her husband Hugh too!) chose those names, but they are pretty and I believe Gillian was a popular name at that time.

Barney says: We don't sell books, Rosa, but you could try ordering from Navrang, Amazon or other online booksellers. I hope your daughter enjoys the St. Clare's series!

Barney says: Enid Blyton was born on 11th August 1897. She was quite a talented artist but her daughter Imogen Smallwood says in "A Childhood at Green Hedges" that Enid "never drew or painted at Green Hedges until, when her mind began to let her down, I bought her some water colours and she began, hesitantly at first, to paint her beloved garden".

Barney says: Sophie Smallwood regularly attends the Enid Blyton Day and she was signing copies of "Noddy and the Farmyard Muddle" there earlier this year, Mick, but I'm afraid I don't know how you could get your copies signed in time for your son's birthday. Perhaps you could get Sophie to sign them at a later date?

Barney says: It's often difficult to find out who owns the copyright for illustrations I'm afraid, Donna. You're right that Chorion only own the text copyright, but it might be worth getting in touch with them to see if they can advise you whom to consult regarding the illustrations. You could also try contacting the original publishers if they're still in business, or see if the current publishers can help. Sorry I don't know any more than that.

Barney says: Thanks, Francis. Tony Summerfield is the man to thank for the Cave of Books - he has put literally thousands of hours into it, scanning and "cleaning up" illustrations before adding them as well as researching dates and other information. Except for technical input from Keith Robinson, reviews written by several contributors (notably Terry Gustafson but a number of others as well), series introductions by Anita Bensoussane and occasionally a little help from my paws, the Cave is all his own work. And it really is a Cave of Wonders!

Barney says: It sounds interesting but I'm not sure which book you mean, Tessa. You mention 1944, so are you talking about "The Christmas Book"? If you're thinking of selling it you could try one of the specialist booksellers listed under "Lashings of Links", or perhaps an auction house or eBay.

Barney says: Hi Harry, the Cave is a work in progress and not yet complete despite the myriad goodies that it already holds (it's a mammoth task as you'll appreciate, and there are always new bits and pieces to work on). We have been focussing mainly on earlier editions as well as lesser-known writing (we've just added a section on periodicals containing contributions by Enid Blyton) but if you select a book and look at "reprints" you can see the latest editions of most titles. Whether we'll have time at some point to put together and maintain a list of "in print" Blyton books I'm not sure, but we'll bear your suggestion in mind.

Barney says: I can't name all the countries in which the St. Clare's books are/have been available, as they are popular around the world. In places like India and Canada they are read in English but in other countries the stories have been translated - I know that there are/have been Dutch, German and Japanese translations, for example.

Barney says: All the Pepys Famous Five card games contained those letters. They are just printed copies so are not valuable.

Barney says: If you mean the boy on the right, I think it's Yan from "Five Go Down to the Sea"!

Barney says: The posters you have found were known as the Nature Plates, Karen, and there were sixty altogether. The artist was Eileen Alice Soper, who also illustrated the Famous Five series and various other Enid Blyton books. The plates came out in 1949 to accompany the first thirty Nature Readers (each contained two short stories about the natural world) which Enid Blyton had written to be used in schools. While the class was working on a particular story, the teacher would pin up the relevant poster on the wall. They are lovely pictures but, because of their large size, they don't appeal to all Blyton collectors.

Barney says: Hi Poppy, That's a difficult one to answer but I'd guess that the Famous Five and Faraway Tree series have been some of the best-selling Enid Blyton books over the years.

Barney says: I'm glad you like it, Joseph! It's one of my favourite pictures too. The image comes from The Adventure of the Secret Necklace, illustrated by Isabel Veevers.

Barney says: That edition of "The Enchanted Wood" sometimes comes up for sale on eBay or Abebooks, Christine, or you could try the booksellers listed under "Lashings of Links". Good luck with your search!

Barney says: The Bible plates were used in schools and Sunday Schools, Gloria, pinned up on the wall to accompany Enid Blyton's re-tellings of Bible stories. Because of their large size, the posters have only limited appeal to collectors. If you're thinking of selling them, you could try eBay.

Barney says: Three cheery barks for you! It's good to see that Enid Blyton books remain popular in Malaysia.

Barney says: Hi Wayne, Yes some of the Macmillan Readers were issued in Welsh, and I have also seen some Welsh editions of early Mary Mouse books. I can't put a date for you offhand but I suspect they were in the 1940s. I'm afraid that the Cave doesn't list any 'foreign language' books, but I guess we could include a picture if one comes along.

Barney says: My pleasure, Francis.

Barney says: Enid Blyton died in 1968, Aditi, but the best of her lives on in her books. You can find out all about her life, including where she lived, by clicking on our "Author of Adventure" button and reading the section called "A Biography of Enid Blyton - The Story of Her Life".

Barney says: I've done a spot of investigation and the "third" compilation book I was thinking of actually predates the others, being a T.V. Special published in 1978. It contains "Five Go Off in a Caravan", "Five Go Off to Camp" and "Five Go to Mystery Moor". The cover is black and red with the heads of the Five in circles and can be seen here (scroll down and it's the book on the right on the bottom row).

Barney says: I enjoy having something meaty to chew on, Francis! The first six Famous Five books were produced as individual annual-sized volumes with TV covers which can be seen in the Cave - take a look at the 7th (or occasionally 8th) reprint under the book title, e.g. Five on a Treasure Island. Those six books were then released as two bumper compilations (not yet in the Cave), which are the ones you've got. However, there was also a third compilation volume which I can't get my paws on at the moment. If I'm able to give you further details later, I'll edit my reply accordingly. Or maybe someone else will be able to chip in?

Barney says: We don't know what Enid Blyton would have said on the matter but her books reveal a lack of research when it comes to depicting foreign countries. For example, we're never told in which part of Africa "The Secret Mountain" is set and exotic fruits and vegetation are vaguely referred to but never named. "The River of Adventure" takes place in the Middle East but Blyton avoids being specific, with Bill saying only that they are "some way from the borders of Syria - a very old part of the world indeed!" For Enid Blyton to have become more informed would probably have taken too much time when what she really wanted to do was get on with telling a cracking story.

Barney says: Enid Blyton's writing undoubtedly contains stereotypes of foreigners, though a number of foreign characters are portrayed in a positive light on the whole and are well-liked. The faults of French girl Claudine in the St. Clare's books (which include copying other people's schoolwork quite openly and locking matron into a cupboard so the girls can enjoy their midnight feast without interruption) are put down to her lacking "the English sense of honour" - yet at the same time she is such fun, so lively and warm-hearted, that she quickly becomes one of the most popular girls in the form. Enid Blyton obviously liked Claudine (who was based on a Belgian girl Enid knew as a child) and the French girl has the distinction of having her name included in the title of one of the books - "Claudine at St. Clare's". Enid Blyton probably knew little about other races or cultures and therefore relied on stereotypes in portraying them, but she didn't set out to denigrate foreigners and she succeeded in creating many likeable characters of various races and backgrounds.

Barney says: Rachel is probably referring to the fact that, back in 1960, a reader for Macmillan rejected the manuscript of "The Mystery that Never Was", claiming that the author's attitude was xenophobic in that the thieves' foreignness seemed to be regarded as sufficient to explain their criminality. The reader also commented on the weak plot and thin characterisation. "The Mystery that Never Was" is not one of Blyton's best books, having been written late on in her career, but to describe Enid Blyton as xenophobic is to exaggerate. She wrote about a fairly homogeneous society in her books simply because that was the kind of society she was used to. It doesn't follow that she was racist. It's true that her books do sometimes portray foreign characters as funny or suspicious but she also creates foreign characters who are likeable and admirable, for example the black African boy Mafumu in "The Secret Mountain" who is courageous, intelligent, dependable and a loyal friend to Jack et al. Then there are the people of different nationalities who rub along together in the circus stories. At times, Enid Blyton's descriptions of people of various races could be handled more sensitively. In "The Island of Adventure" we have Jo-Jo, a black man with "rolling eyes", and Blyton herself seems unsure of the origins of her vaguely "Eastern" characters in "The Mystery that Never Was", writing about Hassan: "Nicky thought he looked as if he came from the East - was he an Indian - or perhaps a Persian? He looked pretty fierce, anyway." This betrays not racism on Blyton's part, but a lack of knowledge, and would appear to be typical of an author who writes at a fast pace, unwilling to interrupt the flow of a story by stopping to research the finer details.

Barney says: Gillian Baverstock was keen to promote her mother's work and to ensure that it remained available to new generations. She used to attend literary events and go into schools, where she would read some of the short stories to children and talk about Enid Blyton's books and characters. I know that she was particularly fond of "The Secret Island", the nature writing and the tales about naughty rag doll Amelia Jane.

Barney says: Imogen herself had a difficult relationship with her mother and has written about it, but she also shows understanding of Enid Blyton and acknowledges her talent as a children's writer. Both Imogen and her daughter Sophie Smallwood support the Enid Blyton Society and regularly attend the annual Day as you say, Nigel.

Barney says: For those who haven't seen it, there's a nice, meaty thread on the forums about the "Enid" film.

Barney says: The Enid Blyton Society, formed in 1995, can't possibly be held responsible for the behaviour of a person who died in 1968! Besides, as any reader of Blyton books knows, an individual is accountable for his/her own actions. Enid Blyton did have a dark side to her character and the "Enid" film concentrated on that and failed to focus on things which would have shown another side of her, e.g. her days as an inspirational and enthusiastic teacher or the way she communicated with fans through her magazines and encouraged them to use their initiative, do their bit for society and raise money for charity. The best of Enid Blyton comes out in her books so I see no need to stop children reading them - they have had a positive influence on generations of young readers all over the world.

Barney says: The Bible plates were used in schools, Graham, pinned up on the classroom wall to accompany stories from Enid Blyton's Bible Story readers. Because of their large size they have only limited appeal to collectors. If you're thinking of selling them, you could try eBay.

Barney says: Several people who knew Enid Blyton have said that she'd have liked a son as well as daughters, but I haven't read anything that suggests she preferred boys over girls.

Barney says: Hi William, a stats man! No, we don't have a counter on the site as figures can be very misleading. We actually have three different sites giving us stats and there is a huge difference in the figures. Just to give you a vague idea, over the past year according to Google Analytics we have had just over 258 thousand visits from 172 thousand different visitors. They don't measure hits, but over the same period Webalizer say we have had just over 28 million hits, I guess that is an awful lot of dog biscuits, but I hope this helps!!

Barney says: I think it's the various publishers of Blyton books who get out the red pens, though presumably they seek Chorion's approval. You may be interested in joining our forums, Imogen, where there have been a number of discussions on the issues you've raised. Comments on the BBC Archive can be found here and there are also several threads on textual updates.

Barney says: For years Enid Blyton's books were dismissed by certain adults (most of whom probably hadn't read them properly) as formulaic and poorly-written but recently critics have begun to re-evaluate them, concluding that they have much in them that resonates with children and fires their imaginations. The work of many other authors who were popular in the mid twentieth century has now disappeared from bookshops but Enid Blyton books continue to sell well in many countries. That speaks for itself!

Barney says: I think the BBC objected to Enid Blyton mainly because they considered her writing banal rather than because they thought she was racist. Pierre (Sooty) in "Five Go to Smuggler's Top" is described as having dark hair and eyebrows but not as being black - his name (Pierre Lenoir) suggests French ancestry. There are number of likeable black characters in Blyton's books though, including Mafumu ("The Secret Mountain") and Sam ("The Mountain of Adventure"). Mafumu in particular becomes a great friend of the white child characters. And Fatty mentions in "The Mystery of the Strange Bundle" that he goes to school with a black Zulu prince named Boobanti, who is a wonderful ventriloquist. Regarding the way some people view Enid Byton these days, I agree with you Imogen when you say, "It really gets my goat when people make shallow assumptions because of how cultural attitudes have changed."

Barney says: It took years for Enid Blyton to be taken seriously by the BBC, who for a long time dismissed her stories as "mediocre" and "very small beer". You can read some correspondence between Enid and the BBC here. A recent article in the "Enid Blyton Society Journal" Number 42 (Summer 2010) revealed that Enid was interviewed on the BBC television programme "Readers and Writers" on 24th August 1951, perhaps as a result of Louie Clampitt (whose son Fred was a Blyton fan) having written to the BBC suggesting that they make a programme about Enid Blyton.

Barney says: All sorts for all age-groups, Miss Attitude! Check out the Cave!

Barney says: I'm afraid I've said all I can on the matter, John, and we haven't heard from anyone else.

Barney says: Thanks for that, Ilsa! I'm grateful that we dogs don't have to bother with such things!

Barney says: Although it started to become more acceptable for girls to wear trousers or shorts during the War, I think frocks/dresses continued to be the most popular choice for girls and it's likely that Enid Blyton would have felt it more appropriate for her daughters to wear dresses for formal photos or publicity shots. I don't know whether anyone who lived through the War/post-War years would be able to tell us more?

Barney says: Thanks very much, Lucky Star! What a treat - and plenty of meat on it too. You're a star!!

Barney says: It says on the TV Tropes website that "Tropes are storytelling devices and conventions".

Barney says: No, I hadn't seen that. Thanks, Catherine. It doesn't say much of substance, but at least it gives a link to the Society!

Barney says: Yes, it's interesting to see Enid responding to a topical issue.

Barney says: The poem you're looking for is 'To Hang - or Not to Hang - that is the Question!', printed in Appendix 1 of Barbara Stoney's "Enid Blyton - the Biography". Enid Blyton wrote it in 1950, during the Government discussion on the Abolition of Capital Punishment. The poem is too long to reproduce here, but she approved of hanging murderers and rapists.

Barney says: I feel as though I ought to know this story with it being about a dog, Diane, but I'm not sure. There is a short story called 'The Rich Little Dog' which is a bit like that, though the dog doesn't get lost and he meets other dogs who let him join in with them. That may not be the tale you're looking for, but perhaps someone else will be able to help. If you were to join our forums, you could ask about the story under Book/Story Search and perhaps post a picture of the image.

Barney says: It's an interesting question, Catherine. I think Enid Blyton liked children to be children and would have frowned upon the idea of young girls and boys being encouraged to grow up too fast and take an interest in things like image, fashion and sexual relationships from an early age, so I don't imagine her books would have embraced nightclubs etc. She wrote mainly for children aged about 4 - 12 so teenage issues didn't feature in most of her stories anyway, though no doubt her books would have continued to make some reference to modern food and technological developments as appropriate (in "The Mystery that Never Was", published in 1961, Nicky's father complains that Nicky watches too much television).

Barney says: Enid Blyton herself may have been surprised at the number of people who do exactly that, Mannat!

Barney says: It's hard to say precisely, Katharine, but we know that Enid's final novel was "The Hidey Hole", published in August 1964 after having originally appeared in "Playways Annual" in September 1963. After that, most books that appeared were reprints or collections of stories that had been published elsewhere earlier, though there were a few new Noddy picture books and some re-tellings of Bible stories - "The Boy Who Came Back" and "The Man Who Stopped to Help", both published in August 1965.

Barney says: Thanks for the biscuits with potted meat, Fan of Buster! That's put a wag in my tail! We know that Enid Blyton's house, Green Hedges, had a garden of about three acres, later to become four acres when Enid and Kenneth purchased some extra land at the bottom of the garden. I imagine that the larger detached houses in Peterswood would probably have had about the same amount of land, while smaller houses would have had considerably less.

Barney says: Happy reading!

Barney says: I have just been wrapping my paws round a book, Catherine, and I will trot down to the post office with it tomorrow! I hope you live in Australia because that is where the parcel is going to!!

Barney says: You're welcome, Poppy.

Barney says: The reason for the entry on our website is that the book was published in May 1950!

Barney says: Sorry, John, but we can't promote websites or individuals selling reproduction dust covers. I can understand your yearning for colourful wrappers for all your vintage books and I know it's frustrating that you can't simply go out and buy dust jackets from the shops, but at the same time it's terrible to see people raking in money by scanning old dust jackets, making numerous print-outs and selling them at a large profit.

Barney says: If it's the Dean 3-in-1 compilation, I'm afraid the second book in the trilogy ("The Magic Faraway Tree") may have been abridged, with several chapters having been removed. There is a fourth Faraway Tree book called "Up the Faraway Tree" but that's only a slim picture-strip volume, with simple stories told in very few words. I'm not even sure if it's still in print.

Barney says: I'm sure your teacher's bark is worse than his bite! Enid Blyton only wrote six St. Clare's books, the other three being written by Pamela Cox. "Kitty at St. Clare's" was published later than the rest (in 2008) so it's possible that it may not be included in boxed sets. Even if it is, you should still be able to buy it on its own from bookshops or from Amazon. "Kitty at St. Clare's" tells us more about life in the third form, so it fits into the series after "The Third Form at St. Clare's".

Barney says: We don't know much about the music Enid Blyton listened to, Marie, though we know that she was a skilled pianist. In her autobiography, "The Story of My Life", she says that as a child she liked listening to her father playing classical music - "Beethoven's sonatas, Chopin's nocturnes and ballades, grand pieces from Liszt and Rachmaninoff, and a great deal of Mozart." When playing the piano herself, she "enjoyed learning sonatas and nocturnes and all the rest" and "liked Bach best of all." Being a dog, I'm fond of "Bark" too! Enid Blyton's family wanted her to train to be a professional musician but she chose to be a teacher and writer instead.

Barney says: A novel is a fiction book telling a long story, which is usually divided into chapters. Examples include "Five on a Treasure Island" and "The Secret of Moon Castle". I'm sure your teacher would have told you to look the word up in a dictionary Alison! As for my replies, they're as long as they need to be!

Barney says: See my reply to Eagles Rocks! about four messages back, Amy!

Barney says: The only book I can think of that may have been edited by Enid Blyton herself is "The Yellow Fairy Book", originally published in 1936 by Newnes. In 1952, when it was reprinted by Staples Press, the title was changed to "The Queer Adventure" and alterations were made to the text - for example, the Faraway Tree and Moonface were introduced into the story. It seems likely that Enid Blyton would have made these changes herself or at least approved them. Some books were serialised in magazines ("Sunny Stories" or "Enid Blyton's Magazine") before being published in book form and there are a few cases in which the text has been altered slightly for the book version. It's not certain whether these changes were made by Enid Blyton or by the publishers. I can't think of any janegirls in Blyton books!

Barney says: No, they're not! English author Enid Blyton generally wrote under her own name, except for half a dozen books which she wrote as Mary Pollock, and a few contributions to annuals for which she occasionally used pseudonyms. The Nancy Drew books are American and were written by a syndicate of authors. None of them were actually called Carolyn Keene, which is a made-up name.

Barney says: There's a thread on the forums - here - all about the auction of Gillian Baverstock's Blyton-related items, Barbara.

Barney says: I'm afraid it's almost impossible to say exactly how many books Enid Blyton wrote. As well as writing novels, short stories, plays, poems, nature books and educational books, she wrote magazines, provided the text for picture books for younger children and contributed articles and stories to encyclopaedias, annuals, etc. Some short stories appeared in more than one collection and new compilations of previous work continued to be published after her death. We know that she wrote over 180 novels though, and about 4000 - 5000 short stories, which is a remarkable achievement. To find out more about Enid Blyton's amazing output, have a wander through our Cave of Books.

Barney says: I thought your book must be an older copy, Poppy. The badges are not available to buy new as they were given out to people who joined the Famous Five Club, which sadly no longer exists. Second-hand badges sometimes come up for sale on sites like eBay, though they can be rather pricey.

Barney says: Yes, Enid Blyton was her real name! Enid was married twice - to Hugh Pollock and Kenneth Darrell Waters - but she kept the surname Blyton in her professional life.

Barney says: I don't know enough about Roald Dahl to comment on your statement about him, Imogen, but books by other children's authors have also been edited - among them L. Frank Baum's "Wizard of Oz" books, Malcolm Saville's "Lone Pine" series, Helen Bannerman's "Little Black Sambo", Penelope Farmer's "Charlotte Sometimes", Ruby Ferguson's "Jill" pony books, the "Nancy Drew" books (Carolyn Keene is the pseudonym of a syndicate as you may know) and P. L. Travers' "Mary Poppins" series. Enid Blyton's books have been tampered with more drastically than most, however, and many of the updates seem pointless. I suppose it's the fact that her books sell so well that makes the publishers anxious to keep the texts "relevant", but in the process they may well be in danger of ruining the special Enid Blyton formula which made them so popular in the first place.

Barney says: It is a great pity that the items owned by Gillian Baverstock can't be kept together as a collection. Let's hope that at least some of them will end up somewhere where they will be put on display so that Enid Blyton enthusiasts have the chance to see them.

Barney says: It's hard to specify a year, Betsy-May, as different publishers changed things at different times. Between the late 1960s and the late 1980s there were only a few very minor alterations, mainly updates to money (i.e. shillings etc. being replaced by decimal currency) and, in series such as the Famous Five and Secret Seven, changes to some of the clothing, e.g. shorts sometimes became jeans, and overcoats sometimes became anoraks. More major alterations were made from 1987 onwards, starting with the removal of golliwogs from the Noddy books, and since then there have been numerous updates (affecting some books and series more than others).

Barney says: Hiya Janie, We certainly do have reviews of all Enid Blyton's novels on this website. If you look above this Message Board you will see ten buttons with pictures and if you click on the Famous Five one that will list all the books and there is a review for each one. You want to know how old the Famous Five are - or Four actually, as you left out Timmy! They are all three or four years older than they were at the start of the series!

Barney says: Thank you kindly for the bone! Sometimes newer editions have had a few changes and occasionally because of space a chapter has to be left out of the new edition, but at least you are able to read it as you also have the Dragon edition. I am now off to chew my bone!

Barney says: A wag of the tail to you, Tubby-puppy and Tinker-dog - and to you too, Betsy-May! Yes, the stories about Betsy-May are charming and a lovely read. Enid Blyton never gives Betsy-May's age but in one or two of the later tales we're told that she longs to go to school but isn't old enough yet, so she's definitely of pre-school age (children in Britain start full-time school at about four and a half - thought I'd mention that as some readers from other countries may not know).

Barney says: Although they may not be quite as long as the Adventure books, Enid Blyton herself felt that the six Barney/"R" Mysteries were aimed at a slightly older readership than her other series, perhaps because of the emotional subject-matter (Barney being on a quest to find his father). Some of her family/society novels like "The Six Bad Boys", "The Family at Red-Roofs", "House at the Corner" and the two "Six Cousins" books would also probably appeal to older readers.

Barney says: The Augusta Huiell Seaman books sound very interesting, Mick!

Barney says: Hi, Dipti. A number of writers have said that it was Enid Blyton who got them interested in reading, and that their love of reading led to a desire to write. Her work is not regarded as "Literature" with a capital L, nevertheless she is recognised as a cracking storyteller whose pacy plots, memorable characters, atmospheric descriptions, creation of suspense and immensely readable style have meant that her books have remained in print and have entertained and inspired generations of readers and writers.

Barney says: I suppose the difference is that no seller has a monopoly on second-hand copies of a book. And book-sellers can't keep on producing an infinite number of copies at next to no cost to themselves, and amass a huge profit from their sale. People who buy second-hand books may even go on to buy new books by the same author (if his/her work is still in print). When it comes to printing off rare dust jackets, however, a seller with the right book and right equipment has little or no competition and can make a mint. I've seen someone on eBay selling multiple copies of facsimile Enid Blyton dust jackets for over £20.00 each, which doesn't seem ethical to me (I haven't checked for a while so I don't know whether eBay have since removed that person). Anyway, I'm afraid that that's why I don't feel inclined to provide a link!

Barney says: When you say "you had to tell your favourite book," Kitty, I assume you had to talk about it at school. I wonder if any of your classmates also mentioned Enid Blyton books as their favourites?

Barney says: Sorry, Mick. I can understand your yearning for colourful wrappers for your vintage books and I know it's frustrating that you can't simply go out and buy dust jackets from the shops, but at the same time it's terrible to see people raking in money by scanning old dust jackets, making numerous print-outs and selling them at a massive profit, with none of the money going to the illustrator or the copyright-holders.

Barney says: Very sorry to hear about Minnie - it will obviously take time for you and your family to come to terms with losing a much-loved companion. Enid Blyton wasn't allowed to keep pets as a child, but when she grew up she had many pets including dogs such as Bobs and Topsy (fox-terriers), Sandy (a smooth-haired terrier) and Laddie and Lassie (black cocker spaniels). Topsy and Bobs feature in the book "Bimbo and Topsy" (Bimbo was one of Enid Blyton's Siamese cats), while Loony in the Barney Mysteries is based on Laddie.

Barney says: Do you mean "The Enchanted Wood"? You can find out all about it here. There's a lot of information on this website if you take the time to look!

Barney says: Lucky you! Being a dog, I have pads on my four paws!

Barney says: I corrected your "Faraway Three" to "Faraway Tree", Alison, though I did have a chuckle at the idea it conjured up of three children in a permanent daydream! Back in the 1990s there was an "Enchanted Lands" cartoon series on TV, with tales from the Faraway Tree and Wishing Chair series. The stories didn't stick closely to the books though. I know that the "Enchanted Lands" stories were released on video but I'm not sure whether they ever made it to DVD. No Secret Seven films or TV series have ever been made, but the Famous Five books have been filmed several times. The 1957 and 1964 Children's Film Foundation films ("Five on a Treasure Island" and "Five Have a Mystery to Solve") are due to be released on DVD this month, and the 1970s Famous Five TV series will be available on DVD shortly (starting with a German release later this year). The 1990s Famous Five TV series can also be bought on DVD. You could try looking for the DVDs on sites like Amazon (or perhaps eBay in the case of "Enchanted Lands", as I'm not certain whether those recordings are still available new). Alternatively, you could try shops like WH Smith. I know that the Ginger Pop Shop in Corfe, Dorset, will be stocking the two Children's Film Foundation Famous Five films when they're released.

Barney says: Which films do you mean, Wendy? Do you mean films based on particular books, or films about Enid Blyton's life?

Barney says: Cheers, A4! When it comes to continuation books by other authors, or books which have been rewritten to the point where they differ greatly from the originals, it's up to the publisher whether the author is identified on the cover. Some publishers choose to acknowledge the author - Anne Digby's name is on the cover of her "Naughtiest Girl" sequels - while other publishers either put the author's name inside or don't mention it at all (meaning that young readers will wrongly assume they are buying a genuine Enid Blyton book).

Barney says: Every day spent in the Cave is an adventure, thanks, A4! I think the book you mean is "The Adventurous Four - Trapped!" It started life as a shortish story of four chapters in "Enid Blyton's Omnibus!" in 1952, with the title 'Off With the Adventurous Four Again!' In 1998 Clive Dickinson added a lot more chapters of his own to turn the story into a full-length novel, meaning that much of the content is not by Enid Blyton. Also in 1998, "The Adventurous Four" was retitled "The Adventurous Four - Shipwrecked!" and "The Adventurous Four Again!" was retitled "The Adventurous Four - Stranded!" Some alterations were made to the texts, including name changes.

Barney says: Tomorrow I might need some more bones and biscuits to keep my strength up! ;-)

Barney says: It sounds as though you have masses of time, Alison! If I were you, I'd start keeping a notebook about Enid Blyton. You can jot down anything you learn about her, and anything interesting that occurs to you while reading her books. Then you'll have plenty of material to work with when you come to write the article.

Barney says: When that question was put to Enid Blyton she said that golliwogs were simply nursery toys, not symbols of racism or representations of black people. Golliwogs are generally presented as smart, cheerful, lovable characters and they tend to be loved by the children who own them. Although they have been removed from children's books and were hard to find in the shops at one point, they are now making a come-back in Britain. In your case, your golly is a family heirloom and I'd continue to cherish him and explain to friends that he is nothing more than a much-loved cuddly toy.

Barney says: It sounds as if these are the New Testament Bible Plates, that were produced to go with Blyton's Bible Readers published by Macmillan. Because of their size they are difficult to store (they originally came in a large brown 'wallet') and equally difficult to display in quantity. For this reason they are not really of much interest to Blyton collectors.

Barney says: Is your "new" book secondhand, Poppy? (That sounds like nonsense, but you know what I mean!) There used to be a Famous Five Club for fans, who were sent a badge and a membership card on joining. Unfortunately the Club came to an end years ago. The badges do sometimes turn up on eBay but can be quite pricey, I'm afraid.

Barney says: Golly, you make me feel as if I'm doing 'Enid Blyton' as a special subject on "Mastermind", asking me all these questions! ;-) Enid's favourite book as a child was "The Princess and the Goblin" by George Macdonald. She had two younger brothers, Hanly and Carey. Her first book was "Child Whispers", a slim volume of poetry which was published in June 1922 when Enid Blyton was twenty-four. You can find out more about her life by clicking on our "Author of Adventure" button. Good luck with your article!

Barney says: Cats are all right in their place - but their place is certainly not in my basket!

Barney says: If you're asking whether anyone has written a Naughtiest Girl continuation book for this website then I'm afraid not, Yumi. I don't know whether you know, but six Naughtiest Girl sequels were written by Anne Digby some years ago.

Barney says: Thanks very much, Katie! And don't worry, I wasn't upset. If some visitors prefer to correspond with a female, perhaps my master will consider finding me a nice lady canine companion to help me out on the Message Board! Not a bad idea at all!

Barney says: It was a real privilege to spend a sunny afternoon in the grounds of Rowe Hall, Nigel!

Barney says: Thanks, Loony! It's great to hear from a fellow canine!

Barney says: I like to think I'm an approachable dog, Katie, and that people are happy to come to me with their questions. I do like the set-up over at www.enidblyton.net, where questions are answered by several characters from the Find-Outers books, though I don't think visitors are able to choose whether their queries are answered by Fatty, Bets or Inspector Jenks - it depends which character gets there first! Much of the time our Message Board isn't quite as busy as the one at www.enidblyton.net, so having one dog answering questions is probably sufficient for now. Thanks for your comments though - it's always interesting to hear people's suggestions.

Barney says: Interesting that you have a family connection, Jackie. If you want to buy books with Lilian Buchanan dustwrappers, you could look on eBay or try the booksellers we list under "Lashings of Links". Occasionally original artwork by book illustrators turns up at auction, but more often than not publishers threw away artwork when it was no longer needed, in order to free up space.

Barney says: It is indeed disappointing that so many of Enid Blyton's books have been edited/updated - some series more than others.

Barney says: I haven't seen "Waterloo Road", Katie, but I imagine that school uniforms on actresses in their 20s may look somewhat perverse!

Barney says: That's interesting, Katharine. I know some small village schools still operated in that way until fairly recently - perhaps some still do?

Barney says: I don't know of an Enid Blyton poem called 'I Wonder' but you might possibly be thinking of 'Things I won't Forget', which is included in Appendix 1 of Barbara Stoney's "Enid Blyton - the Biography" and first appeared in Enid Blyton's poetry collection "Silver and Gold" in 1925: When I'm grown up I won't forget the things I think today -/ I won't forget the sort of things I like to do and say;/ I won't be like the folk I know, who seem so very old,/ And quite forget the things they did when they were eight years old./ There's lots of other things, of course, that I'll remember too;/ And then when I'm grown up I'll know what children like to do./ I'll know the things they're frightened of, I'll know the things they hate -/ And oh! I hope they'll love me, though they'll know I'm long past eight!

Barney says: I'm enjoying the summer very much thanks, Javier! We don't really know why Enid Blyton didn't write about the third form or sixth form at St. Clare's but there are a few oddities in the stories, such as the fact that the O' Sullivan twins are already aged 14 in the first form, so perhaps she decided to miss out a year or two in order to avoid focussing too much on the fact that they would be rather old by the time they got to their final years at the school! The Malory Towers series is better-structured but even there there are some inconsistencies, e.g. Darrell starts Malory Towers in the summer term, some characters spend more than three terms in one year and some members of a class move up early to the next form while the majority stay put. It's possible that things are more flexible at private schools than at state schools, but it's still difficult to make sense of it all. Luckily, we soon get caught up in the exciting stories and stop dwelling on minor details! As you may know, Pamela Cox has written books about the third year and sixth form at St. Clares.

Barney says: I'm afraid I've no idea, Emma, but perhaps someone reading this will know. Alternatively, you could look on a site like Amazon.

Barney says: An occasional question is fine, Ana. If you mean are all Enid Blyton's books still in print, not all of them are but most of the full-length novels are still published as well as many of the short stories. If you want to know about specific titles, you could check sites like Amazon to see whether those titles are currently available to buy new.

Barney says: It's nice to see this series mentioned as it appears to be one of Enid Blyton's lesser-known series.

Barney says: Hope you enjoy "House-at-the-Corner", Poppy.

Barney says: "The Six Bad Boys" is a stand-alone novel, Poppy, but if you liked that you may enjoy some of the other 'family and society' novels written for the same age-group (if you haven't already read them), e.g. "The Family at Red-Roofs", "House-at-the-Corner", "The Put-em-Rights", "The Children at Green Meadows" and the two "Six Cousins" books.

Barney says: Sadly Enid Blyton's elder daughter, Gillian Baverstock, died three years ago, Katie. We can't give out the address of Enid's younger daughter, Imogen Smallwood, but many fans have been able to meet her as she regularly attends the Enid Blyton Day with her daughter, Sophie.

Barney says: Cheers, Julie. You're welcome to share my bones and biscuits any time!

Barney says: Gosh, you do put a dog in a dilemma, Nigel! It's impossible to pick a favourite as the dogs you mention are all so appealing in their own ways. Timmy is wise and brave, Scamper is wonderfully patient and Buster's admirable aim in life is to nip Goon's ankles as often as possible. Then there are Loony and Crackers, who more than live up to their names, and Lucky the fox-terrier, clever as paint. I suppose which one I like best depends on what kind of mood I'm in. If I'm in a playful mood I might prefer to read about Loony, but when I'm feeling more serious I might plump for Timmy. As for myself, I'm not sure that I'd like to have been one of Enid's hero-dogs. Their lives sound rather dangerous at times and I think I prefer to curl up with a book and a bone and participate in their adventures from the comfort of my blanket!

Barney says: They're both great books, but personally I've got a soft spot for "Shadow the Sheep-Dog" and "The Adventures of Scamp". Shadow and Scamp are two of Enid Blyton's most intelligent characters!

Barney says: I'm afraid we can't give valuations but you can find out more about the Holiday Books here.

Barney says: Good luck with your article, Lauren. It is often said that Enid Blyton books continue to play a very important part in getting children to enjoy reading independently, which is no doubt true. Other readers have spoken of the things they've learnt from her books - good morals, fairness, courage, owning up to wrongdoing and making amends, an appreciation of nature, etc. During her lifetime, Enid was in contact with her readers through magazines like "Sunny Stories" and "Enid Blyton's Magazine". Through those magazines she encouraged boys and girls to get involved with charities, e.g. readers of "Enid Blyton's Magazine" were invited to join clubs which regularly raised money for a children's home, blind children, children with cerebral palsy and sick animals. Enid Blyton has been a positive influence on readers for generations and continues to inspire, educate and entertain children today, more than forty years after her death.

Barney says: I always try to help if I can! There has been a great deal of discussion about the DVDs of the 70s Famous Five TV series in our forums in the following thread. If you look at the post by Timmy254 on August 2nd that will tell you more, but briefly these DVDs are being released in Germany in October. At present there is no sign of a UK release.

Barney says: I am duly rebuked, but I was trying to match the tone of Ana's message, some of which didn't quite make the Message Board!

Barney says: I've put all five of your messages together, Ana. A dog doesn't like to be pestered like this - I can't be on the Message Board constantly - and no, I'm not a character from a Blyton book! "Adventures of the Wishing-Chair" is still in print, as are the vast majority of Enid Blyton's other main books, and the copyright doesn't run out until the end of 2038. So if you find any of the major novels anywhere online, they've been uploaded illegally.

Barney says: As I said in my original reply, Christina, Birn Bros published a huger number of books and I can really only help with those written by Enid Blyton, and even then I really need to see the book.

Barney says: You are so kind, I just luv juicy bones!! I am not sure what you mean about the Wishing-Chair books, if you want to buy them you can find them all over the place, have a look at our Lashings of Links page. If you just want to read them on the internet you are going to be out of luck as you will not ne able to find them.

Barney says: I don't like anonymous posts, it reminds me of what cats do in the garden!

Barney says: A pleasure, Poppy, good luck with finding a copy.

Barney says: We would need a few more details that that, Christina, as Birn Bros published hundreds of books over a long period. What makes you think that the book is by Enid Blyton?

Barney says: You'll be glad to know that both films are to be released on 13th September - check out this link.

Barney says: This is up to you really, Anne. If it is a large collection selling them separately might be rather tedious. You could always try putting them in the For Sale section on our forums, which wouldn't cost you anything (you would have to register first), or else you could try putting them on an internet website like ebay.

Barney says: Good for you, Karen!

Barney says: My birthday, now there's a question! I like to think of every day as my birthday, but a fellow never reveals his age. I can tell you that I am the same age as my tail!

Barney says: Yes, you're right that the copyright on Blyton books expires at the end of 2038. I don't know of any published Find-Outers continuation books, but continuation books have been produced for other series (traditionally published, not self-published) with the approval of Chorion. Some, like Pamela Cox's Malory Towers and St. Clare's books or Trevor Bolton's "The Secret Valley", have been written very much in the spirit of the originals. Others, however, have strayed far from Enid Blyton's original creations - I'm thinking of books like the anonymous "Faraway Fairies" series and the new Wishing-Chair stories.

Barney says: Enid Blyton's "The Story of My Life" has been out of print for years, Poppy, but second-hand copies sometimes come up for sale on eBay or Abebooks. Alternatively, you could try contacting the booksellers listed under "Lashings of Links".

Barney says: I have just been through 'The Second Holiday Book' page by page and the stories listed in our Cave of Books are correct and nothing is missing. I would love to know what extra stories you have as there is only one version of this book. It did get reprinted as an abridged version in 1959, and this version only had 22 of the original 29 stories, with 156 pages instead of 192. Do let us know how your book is different.

Barney says: Thanks very much for the bone and biscuit! Let's hope the dogs in the modern editions of the books are still allowed to enjoy titbits!

Barney says: It certainly does exist, it has a blue plaque on it and I have taken a photo of it (I'm a smart dog!). There is a letter from that address in Journal 41 and you will see that it goes on as 31 Shortlands Road, Bromley.

Barney says: That's the first I have heard of it, Harry, I didn't know it existed. It seems that it is only available on the UK Amazon as a Kindle edition, but I have checked it out on Amazon.com and it is also available as a 406 page paperback in America. If you are interested I suggest you should buy a copy quickly as I think it is probably illegal and may not be on sale for long when the legal eagles get their claws into it!

Barney says: To the best of my knowledge there have not been any stage productions of the Faraway Tree, so I am pretty sure that there would be no scripts available.

Barney says: Hi Sue! It's unlikely that your library will have the book in stock, but they might be able to get it in for you if you ask.

Barney says: There are a few Enid Blyton stories about children not wanting to go to bed, LaNae, and about beds walking away, but I can't think of one that is quite as you describe. Perhaps someone reading this can help?

Barney says: Thanks, Petermax. And thanks too to Nigel Rowe, who also submitted a translation of David Castelló's words.

Barney says: They are indeed unique to the calendar. None of the magazine stories would be in full colour and these were done specially for the calendar by Ernest Aris.

Barney says: No hablo Español I'm afraid, David, but I know we sometimes have Spanish visitors to the website who will be able to read your message.

Barney says: Along with ordinary dogs (or even extraordinary dogs!)

Barney says: I agree that the updates are unnecessary and that they distort the flow and rhythm of the writing and destroy the period flavour of the stories. Unfortunately, the original text editions haven't been in print for years. Hodder and Stoughton have said that they will still be keeping the centenary paperbacks in print, with the Eileen Soper illustrations, but even those have undergone editing (though not as extensive as the latest changes, which abridge the books as well as updating the language).

Barney says: The story doesn't ring a bell, Becky, and might not be by Enid Blyton, but perhaps someone reading this will know it anyway.

Barney says: Reading Enid Blyton books puts a wag in my tail too, but I must admit that messages signed "Anonymous" make my tail droop a little. However nice the messages may be, they seem less friendly without a name (either a real name or a username) attached to them.

Barney says: Not all later Enid Blyton books (i.e. short story collections published some years after her death) have been added to the Cave yet, Hels, but I think the book you remember is "Enid Blyton's Gift Book of Bedtime Stories". It's a big, light blue book with pictures of fairy-folk and animals on the cover and the coloured illustrations are by Rene Cloke. The copy I have in front of me was published in 1978 by Dean, but there may have been later reprints. There are 27 stories including 'Tell-Tale Tommy', 'Johnny, Come at Once!', 'His Little Sister' and 'What's Happened to the Clock?'

Barney says: It's interesting that you're related to Enid Blyton through your Mother, Colin. Primrose Lockwood included family trees in her articles in Journals 10 and 11, but unfortunately cousins weren't shown. If you manage to find out anything more, please let us know.

Barney says: Sadly you are going to have to give up your search, Claire. Cloud 9 filmed the Adventure Series and followed it with the Secret Series in New Zealand. The Adventure Series was released on video by Disney in Australia and New Zealand but not in the UK, but the Secret Series has never been released on either video or DVD.

Barney says: Racking my brains as I'm sure I've read that story, but I can't think of the title or the book. I hope someone else reading this will know!

Barney says: I look forward to reading the next installment!

Barney says: You'll probably get more answers to your question if you put it on the forums, Michael.

Barney says: Thanks very much for your interest, Green Meadow. The Cave is indeed a Cave of Wonders! Many of the books belong to Society Organiser Tony Summerfield, but a fair number have been scanned for the Cave by other collectors. Older books often have faults such as tears or staining, so Tony does a great deal of work on the scans before uploading them to make the images look as pristine as possible.

Barney says: Try searching for them on Amazon, Sharon, to see if they're available to buy new. They may be called "The Book of..." or "The Enid Blyton Book of...", rather than "A Book of..." If they are still in print you can either buy them online or order them from your local bookshop. Otherwise, there should be plenty of second-hand copies around if you check sites like eBay, Abebooks or equivalent.

Barney says: Enid Blyton was concerned for the most part with her characters' childhoods, so I doubt she devoted any time to thinking about their sexuality. In her autobiography, "The Story of My Life", she says that George was based on a real girl and that the girl had a dog which was like Timmy in character.

Barney says: Quite a lot of audio CDs and cassettes of Enid Blyton's stories have been produced over the years but I'm not sure which titles are still available, Sally. You could look on Amazon, or there may be second-hand ones for sale on eBay.

Barney says: Roderick loves dogs and dogs love him, so he must be a good egg!

Barney says: I love the phrase "stiff upper lip", but when I try to stiffen my top jaw it just looks as if I'm snarling!

Barney says: We can have a little sympathy for Rose as the people around her, especially her husband David, don't seem to appreciate how difficult it is for her to adapt to life on a farm. And if the daintier things in life mean so much to her, such as afternoon teas and frilly frocks, surely her family could indulge her once in a while, as a treat. However, I think Blyton's main point is that Rose doesn't even try to make the best of a bad situation - instead she wallows in misery and languishes in a nursing home (for which someone will have to pick up the bill!) for months. Her husband and children have also had to go through the shock of their house burning down but they get on with things as best they can despite the trauma. And Linnie, already very busy with Mistletoe Farm and her own family, takes on her brother-in-law's three children and cares for them. When Rose eventually emerges from her cocoon, it's no wonder that her family have moved on without her. What is objectionable is Rose's selfishness, rather than her ineptness. She is not willing to muck in with the rest of her family, face up to what has happened, give her children the emotional support they need and do her bit in sorting things out. And when they go to Holly Farm, which is a chance for them to build a new life for themselves, she does the jobs she has to do grudgingly, and with a bad grace. If only she tried to help herself and her family, people might feel more sympathy for her.

Barney says: It's always good to see you, Nigel, especially when you come bearing biscuits! *Wags tail vigorously*.

Barney says: Regarding the school series, you could order them from a local bookshop or you could try sites like Navrang or Amazon (Navrang ship worldwide - I'm not sure about Amazon). I'm not a character from an Enid Blyton book (!) though there is a circus-boy called Barney in the set of six books beginning with "The Rockingdown Mystery".

Barney says: The copyright for the works of Enid Blyton is owned by Chorion, Robin, so you'll need to contact them about putting on a production. All Blyton's stories and characters will remain in copyright until the end of 2038.

Barney says: In her autobiography, "The Story of My Life", Enid Blyton advises would-be writers to expose themselves to a range of experiences, to read widely and to think deeply about issues, in order to give their imaginations a store of things to work with: "It is open to all writers to enrich their imagination and to make it easy of access. The more one observes and hears and learns, the more one reads (and that is very important), the more one ponders and muses consciously on this, that and the other, the richer the imagination becomes." You could try keeping a diary of things that happen to you, Erica, including your thoughts on things you've heard or read. It may happen that some of your diary entries could form the basis of a story. If all else fails, gnawing a juicy bone always gets the ideas flowing!

Barney says: Thanks for the bone! *Chews it eagerly*. Your queries sent me to the RNIB website, June, where I discovered that they have a range of Blyton titles available as talking books (your friend would need to have a Daisy player, which can be hired, but perhaps she has one already?) or as braille books. Places like Amazon also sell some Blyton audio books on CD but I believe most of those are dramatised and abridged, rather than being straight readings. It's worth having a look, though. You could also see whether any Blyton books are produced as e-books. Some e-readers have an audio option (I think Kindle does) but I don't know whether your friend has one, or what the audio option is like (does the narration sound robotic, for example, or is the book read with expression?) About the Blyton fanfiction, it does seem a pity that sexual themes are so common but people can just ignore that and stick with the original books if they prefer.

Barney says: I'm not sure why you want the review, Maria, but there's one on this website here, by Terry Gustafson. I removed your email address from your post because it's not a good idea to include it on a public message board unless absolutely necessary.

Barney says: Hullo, June! It probably won't surprise you to hear that a few alterations have been made. For instance, I believe that Darrell no longer slaps Gwendoline in "First Term at Malory Towers". I'm not sure whether June still gets shaken though, so don't let your guard down!

Barney says: Thank you very much for your kind comments, Javier. I'll pass your remarks on to Anita - I'm sure she'll be delighted that you enjoyed the reviews.

Barney says: Enjoy reading it, Georgie! Here's to plenty of adventures!

Barney says: Hi Aleshia, eBay would be a good place to sell your books as you can decide on a starting price and you may perhaps make more than you'd expected on some titles. To get an idea of value, you could see what similar books are selling for on eBay or Abebooks. A lot depends on age and condition.

Barney says: I'm afraid we can't give out people's email addresses, Alice, but you could try writing to Pamela Cox using her publisher's address which you'll find in the books. I'm sure her publisher will forward any correspondence to her. I think Pamela only ever intended to write six Malory Towers continuation books, though. Have you read her three St. Clare's titles?

Barney says: Hi Donna. In Britain, films were made of "The Island of Adventure" and "The Castle of Adventure". They haven't been available to buy new for ages, but sometimes old videos turn up on eBay. In the 1990s, films of all eight books were made in New Zealand. However, the plots were altered drastically and "The Castle of Adventure" became "The Woods of Adventure". That series was released on video (again, not DVD), but only in New Zealand and Australia.

Barney says: Hi Carole, I'm afraid we can't give valuations. I can only suggest that you check what similar books are selling for on Abebooks and eBay, or consult a dealer. The signature, if genuine, ought to add value to the book. Once you've got a rough idea of the value, it might be worth listing it on eBay at a price which will attract potential buyers. I hope you raise a good amount of money for Cancer Research.

Barney says: Glad to be of help, Catherine. It's a cracking story!

Barney says: It's the same book as before, TJ, as that story ('Wanted - a Hot Water Bottle') appears in the Dean & Son edition of Tales of Toyland. The Dean & Son version contains 11 assorted short stories, as well as the chapter book about Tiptoe and Jolly.

Barney says: Hi TJ, the book you're looking for is Tales of Toyland, about Tiptoe the fairy doll and Jolly the sailor doll.

Barney says: Strangely enough, someone else asked about that story only a month ago, Catherine. It's called 'Brer Wolf's Trick'. A hilarious story which can be found in Five-Minute Tales.

Barney says: Although books from some of Enid Blyton's major series are available online (or at least have been - I haven't checked recently), I'm afraid we can't promote the relevant websites. The books have been uploaded illegally, since they are still in print and under copyright. If it's too late to exchange your book, you could perhaps borrow a copy from the library or a friend and scan or photocopy page 2 of Chapter 21.

Barney says: I don't know for certain whether the text had been altered in any way by 1967, Romy, though I think it's unlikely. Perhaps someone else reading this will know for sure. Good luck with writing your paper!

Barney says: As I said to Cat recently I love all the dogs, especially Shadow because he is so intelligent, Loony because he is mad and Buster because he nips Goon's ankles on a regular basis! Oh, and I mustn't forget Lucky, Jimmy Brown's clever fox-terrier in the Galliano's Circus books.

Barney says: Don't worry - I play hard too!

Barney says: I suppose a dog does have to work to earn his bones, Julie! We're busy with a number of things at the moment, including the next Journal which is due out in about a month, but we certainly haven't forgotten the photos of the Day and we'll let you know when we add them.

Barney says: I hope someone reading this can help.

Barney says: I like the sound of Kirrin Island, teeming with rabbits!

Barney says: Which books are your favourites, I wonder? You would probably enjoy the Barney Mysteries too (six books beginning with "The Rockingdown Mystery").

Barney says: Just this once, Cat, as we try to keep the Message Board as Blyton-based as possible. A Wuffy Wuff Wuff to your mum - hope she has a great day with plenty of presents. I love to receive meaty bones and rubber balls, but her tastes might be different!

Barney says: I'm a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Jenny.

Barney says: Do I really look like Enid Blyton, you Bold Bad Girl?!

Barney says: A wag of the tail for you, Namita!

Barney says: I'm not sure whether you're aware that Enid Blyton died in 1968, K. Aishwarya, but her books and characters live on and I hope they'll continue to do so. "Six Cousins at Mistletoe Farm" and its sequel "Six Cousins Again" would be particularly good for older children, I think, as would "The Six Bad Boys", "The Family at Red-Roofs" and "House-at-the-Corner". All are family/society stories with well-drawn characters who go through dramatic and life-changing experiences. Of the mystery and adventure series, the eight "Adventure" books about Jack Trent and co. and the six "Barney Mysteries" would perhaps be the most appealing for older readers.

Barney says: Hopefully someone is going to say that they remember it, Peter, but I have never heard anyone mention it. We have always been aware that Bom appeared on TV, as he featured as a regular in TV Comic from July 7th 1956 to November 14th 1959. This was a much longer stay than Noddy who went from December 1956 to December 1958. It would be good to see one of the five-minute Bom stories.

Barney says: A few people from the website - and other Blyton fans - met up at the British Film Institute in London last year on 1st August for a showing of the 1964 cinema serial of "Five Have a Mystery to Solve". However, people may be away on holiday or busy with family in August as schools have broken up for the summer hols. Also, it would be important that any gathering arranged didn't conflict with Viv's event, which already provides an opportunity for fans to get together.

Barney says: Viv Endecott, who runs the Ginger Pop Shop and Eileen Soper's Illustrated Worlds in Dorset, holds a day of celebration every year either on or near Enid Blyton's birthday (11th August). I know you've already visited the shop, Cat, but I'm including a link for others who may read this. As far as the Society is concerned, we sometimes wish Enid a Happy Birthday on the forums but that's all, though some members meet up at Viv's Day. Did you have anything particular in mind that could perhaps be done on the website? If you're a member of the forums, you could start a discussion there.

Barney says: Hello, Namita. I don't know whether you've registered on the website forums, but if so you could ask about badges in the "Famous Five Club" topic which is to be found under "Miscellaneous Blyton".

Barney says: I am an older dog, Cat, with barely enough puff left to chase 'Cats' round the garden! It is good to hear that it would remind me of my puppyhood, but I am not sure that dogs are allowed in and I am told it is rather small, so there might not be enough room for my owner too. The good news is that they have a much larger shop in Poole, where a whole pack of us can fit, check it out on our Lashings of Links page. I must correct you on your filming though, it was the 1957 film of Five on a Treasure Island (shortly available on DVD), that was shot in Corfe, not the 1996-7 series.

Barney says: Robert Houghton is registered on the forums so perhaps you could try sending him a PM, Sue?

Barney says: Let us know if you manage to arrange anything!

Barney says: That's interesting, Australian EB fan!

Barney says: Best of luck with getting enthusiasts together!

Barney says: Hi Margaret! There have been stage versions of the Famous Five, the Secret Seven and Noddy but I don't know of a Faraway Tree play. If you're thinking of adapting the Faraway Tree books for the stage you'll need to check with Chorion, who own the copyright.

Barney says: If you click on the "Enid Blyton Day" button, Namita, you can read accounts of this year's Day and previous Days. The Enid Blyton Day is held in a large hall and over the years we have had various people speaking about Enid, have shown film clips and have had stalls where people can buy Blyton-related books, games, jigsaws, badges, etc. However, when the Day started about 17 years ago it was a smaller affair. That may be the best way to start in India - with a gathering of Blyton fans meeting for a meal or picnic and bringing books to sell or swap. Then you'll know who would be interested in meeting on a regular basis and how many would be able to get involved with contacting potential speakers, arranging a venue, selling tickets, etc. Good luck if you do decide to start the ball rolling!

Barney says: The "Holiday Books" were published by Sampson Low, who were taken over by Purnell, who were then taken over by Maxwell Communication Corporation plc. Unfortunately that means that tracing the current copyright holders will probably prove difficult, Linda. I'm sorry I don't know any more than that.

Barney says: Thanks, Rob.

Barney says: I'm glad to hear that books by Enid Blyton and Pamela Cox are stocked by your local library, Cat.

Barney says: Have you tried the Faraway Tree and Wishing-Chair series, the Secret Seven books and the short stories, Hafsa?

Barney says: Let's hope someone in India is able to organise one, Namita!

Barney says: Hi Sue old girl! ;-) The Pamela Cox books are still in print so your library may have at least some of them in. It's less likely that they'll have the Evelyne Lallemand and Claude Voilier books because they've been out of print for years, but you can always ask. Libraries can sometimes borrow books for you from other libraries but there is a small charge for that per book. It's also worth checking eBay, though of course the postage and packing charges add to the cost.

Barney says: Welcome, Melisande. You've certainly come to the right place if you're an Enid Blyton fan. "Heather's Blyton Pages" is no longer updated but is preserved because there is some useful information on it. I did hear rumours of a proposed Malory Towers TV series some time ago but I don't know why it wasn't made.

Barney says: Thanks, Cat. I suppose I have become rather nimble with the old paws!

Barney says: Hello, Namitha. I'm glad your collection of Blyton books still brings you pleasure. Enid Blyton has a daughter and granddaughter (Imogen and Sophie Smallwood) who live in England and regularly attend the annual Enid Blyton Day. Enid's other daughter Gillian died nearly three years ago, but she too used to come to the Enid Blyton Day.

Barney says: I'm afraid it's almost impossible to say exactly how many books Enid Blyton wrote. As well as writing novels, short stories, plays, poems, nature books and educational books, she wrote magazines, provided the text for picture books for younger children and contributed articles and stories to encyclopaedias, annuals, etc. Some short stories appeared in more than one collection and new compilations of her work continued to be published after her death. We know that she wrote over 180 novels though and about 4000 - 5000 short stories, which is a remarkable achievement.

Barney says: I don't remember an episode like that in "The Adventures of Binkle and Flip", Denis (though maybe it's just my memory playing up!) but I do recall a Brer Rabbit story like that called 'Brer Wolf's Trick'. Brer Fox pretends to be dead but Brer Rabbit is suspicious and says loudly, before getting too near him, "Brer Fox looks as if he's dead, but he doesn't act as if he is. Dead foxes always kick up their hind leg and shout, 'Wahoo!' when anyone comes to see them." A hilarious story which can be found in Five-Minute Tales.

Barney says: Crumbs, Cat, you make a dog dizzy with so many questions! I love all the dogs, especially Shadow because he is so intelligent, Loony because he is mad and Buster because he nips Goon's ankles on a regular basis! If you look in the Cave, you'll see that Enid Blyton wrote quite a lot of one-off books. The Famous Five series must be one of her most popular and best-known series.

Barney says: All the books produced by the Society are listed in the shop, Prabahika. The latest three booklets are "Bobs and His Friends", "More Bobs and His Friends" and the script of "Five Fall into Adventure" (from the 1970s TV series).

Barney says: The short answer is that I don't! Our webmaster deals with the technical side of things. Attempting to explain it all here would probably result in a complicated message full of long numbers and strange symbols, looking rather like a page torn from Uncle Quentin's notebook!

Barney says: If you click on the "Famous Five" button you'll see that Enid Blyton wrote 21 Famous Five books and a few short stories.

Barney says: Barney is a super name for a dog!

Barney says: Thanks very much for your help, Robert!

Barney says: I'm glad to see that a "Cat" likes books about dogs! ;-)

Barney says: The Famous Five are great, especially Timmy, but my favourite books are the ones which feature the most lively and intelligent characters, such as "Shadow the Sheep-Dog", "The Adventures of Bobs" and "Bimbo and Topsy."

Barney says: The Enid Blyton Day is usually held on the second or third Saturday in May, Namita, at Loddon Hall in Twyford, Berkshire, England. However, it is becoming more and more difficult each year to find speakers or booksellers for the Day, so only time will tell whether there will be an Enid Blyton Day next year. I liked your last message, by the way, and thought your words said it all and didn't really need a reply.

Barney says: Vintage Noddy records sometimes come up for sale on sites like eBay, Steady. I hope someone reading this can help you further.

Barney says: I'm posting this message (exactly as I received it) as an example of some of the messages I get which require considerable editing. Emmanuel does at least have something to say - I've had to gobble up a number of messages today either because they said little more than "I love Enid Blyton books" or they were written all in capital letters or they simply didn't make much sense. Such messages make my normally perky tail disappear between my legs, whereas my tail wags merrily when people submit sensible messages and have taken care with things like grammar and punctuation. I do of course make allowances for those who don't have English as a first language, which probably applies to Emmanuel, though even in his case there's no need to use such a mixture of small and capital letters. Anyway, in answer to Emmanuel, most things in life have to be paid for - food, housing, clothes, etc - and books are no different. At your age it may be difficult to earn money but you might be able to earn some by doing little jobs for your family. Alternatively, you could try asking for books as presents for special occasions such as your birthday or you could save up money given to you by relatives. Second-hand books are often cheaper than new ones. You'll treasure the books all the more if you've had to wait for them.

Barney says: A cartoon TV series based on the Faraway Tree and Wishing Chair stories ("Enchanted Lands") was made in the 1990s but it strayed quite far from the books. One problem with making such a film would be that the Faraway Tree books tend to be episodic, with plotlines being resolved every few chapters and new ones beginning. At times, they seem more like collections of short stories than novels. Besides, film-makers' interpretations can be disappointing and it may be that the BEST film of the books is the one that runs through your own head as you read them!

Barney says: I agree with what you say, Carolann. And when texts are edited/updated in modern editions, that picture of the past becomes distorted.

Barney says: Hello, Carol! The children of Enid Blyton's day must have found their mouths watering when reading about all the scrumplicious food the characters tucked into at midnight feasts and picnics. Her descriptions of nice, meaty bones always make me feel hungry!

Barney says: Enid Blyton died in 1968 but thankfully her books live on!

Barney says: Hi Sally, I suggest that you try eBay, Abebooks or the booksellers listed under "Lashings of Links." I hope you're able to find the edition you remember from your childhood.

Barney says: I'm glad you had such a good time at the Enid Blyton Day, Sue!

Barney says: If you mean help wear it, then certainly. It would look rather smart attached to my collar! Those badges came out in the 1950s, Nigel. Children who read the fortnightly "Enid Blyton's Magazine" could fill in an enrolment form and send it off with a postal order and stamp, and they would receive a badge. Members of the Magazine Club worked to raise money for the Spastic Centre in Chelsea, helping children with cerebral palsy.

Barney says: I'm afraid there isn't, Angela, as Enid Blyton's books are still under copyright until the end of 2038. If you find any of the novels available online, they have been uploaded illegally.

Barney says: Hi Roshni, and welcome to the site. The Enid Blyton Day is held once a year at Loddon Hall in Twyford, Berks, and is an opportunity for Blyton fans to get together and chat, listen to speakers or watch film clips, buy books and look at displays of items like manuscripts and artwork. Sometimes there is a picnic afterwards. It's a fun-packed day in which everyone has A Wonderful Time and Plenty of Fun. There is a thread in the forums about the 2010 Enid Blyton Day, which was held last Saturday. To see accounts and photos of previous Enid Blyton Days, click on the "Enid Blyton Day" button on the left.

Barney says: So do we all, but your post would be meatier and more satisfying if you'd said what you particularly like about the Society!

Barney says: Hi Melinda, I can think of two possibilities. One is The Enid Blyton Book of Brownies, a full-length novel about mischievous brownies Hop, Skip and Jump. They journey from land to land, finding themselves at one point in the Land of Clever People. They can't escape from there unless they can think of something that the Very Wise Man can't do. Eventually, they get the better of him when they challenge him to straighten a curl taken from the head of a girl from the Land of Giggles. The other possibility is the short story 'The Tenth Task' from The Enid Blyton Book of Fairies. Jack is set to become the slave of Zani the wicked spirit, unless he can think of a task that Zani cannot perform. He is saved by his sister Jean, who suggests that Jack asks the spirit to straighten a curly hair from her head.

Barney says: I'm pleased that you and your sisters enjoyed the Day, KNM!

Barney says: Hi Mike, The book you're looking for is Enid Blyton's Animal Lover's Book. As you can see, it was also reprinted as an Armada paperback in the early 1970s with the title "Enid Blyton Nature Lover's Book Number 1 - Rambles with Zacky the Gipsy." There were four paperbacks in the set altogether, containing material from "Enid Blyton's Animal Lover's Book", "Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Book" and "Enid Blyton's Book of the Year."

Barney says: Delighted!! to hear! that you had a good time!!

Barney says: It's clear that there was a difference between Enid the writer and Enid the person but some television programmes have tended to exaggerate somewhat!

Barney says: I've removed your address from your post, Mary, because we discourage people from giving out their personal details on a Message Board like this. I'm not sure whether there is an official fan club for either the Famous Five or the Secret Seven at the moment, though I know there used to be one for the Famous Five. If there is, the address would be printed in current editions of the books.

Barney says: There are a few for sale on the internet, Sophie, here is one from AbeBooks.co.uk. Your grandmother did a great deal of illustrating for Enid Blyton over a long period, but we know very little about her. It would be great if you could get in touch by email and tell us more.

Barney says: Enid Blyton may not be here in person, Beena, but her stories live on!

Barney says: I haven't answered previously because it's not clear what you mean by "Enid Blyton Magazine." If you mean the Journal which we publish thrice-yearly, I'm afraid we need to charge people for it (see "Fireside Journal") because we have to pay for paper, printing and postage. We don't make a profit on it and contributors are not paid, but we do have to cover our costs. The Journal is not available online because most readers prefer a printed copy.

Barney says: Hi Sue! I'll be busy looking after the Message Board on Saturday while you're all off enjoying yourselves, but I hope you have a fabulous day. Paws crossed for good weather!

Barney says: There's a story called 'The Girl with the Broken Doll' in "The Adventures of Mr. Pink-Whistle," Rani. However, the girl is called Jessie and the doll is Rosemary Ann. Enid Blyton did write stories about Amelia Jane too, but she's a naughty rag doll who lives with other toys in a nursery. If "The Adventures of Mr. Pink-Whistle" is still in print, you should be able to buy or order it from any bookshop or from Amazon. Otherwise, you could look for a second-hand copy on eBay or Abebooks.

Barney says: Thanks, Katharine. Yes, it is an unusual booklet and shows how versatile Enid was as a writer.

Barney says: My bark is worse than my bite, jj! We can send out copies of the Journal to anywhere in the world. Click on "Fireside Journal" to find out more.

Barney says: It's not only rudeness that gets me growling, but inanity, laziness and carelessness. Your post above, for example, was originally two posts which I've condensed into one (I put in the capital letters too, which you could have put in yourself) and the answers to your questions are obvious. There's a "Noddy" button above "Secret Messages," and an advert for Navrang (an online bookseller) over on the left. More booksellers are to be found under "Lashings of Links." We also mention other sites frequently on here, such as Abebooks and eBay. If you take the time to explore the website, you'll find the answers to many of your questions.

Barney says: Philip Pullman has made snide remarks about a number of popular children's writers, unfortunately. His "His Dark Materials" series is beautifully written (I haven't read his other books) and he's a successful writer who has his own fans among children, teenagers and adults, yet he comes across as an insecure and discontented man.

Barney says: Keep them ALL sensible, and you may find that I will!

Barney says: I can only think of one story in which bodyswapping plays a part, though there might be others. In the short story 'The Boy Who Was Too Clever' ("A Second Book of Naughty Children"), a brownie grants George a wish and George declares, "I wish that all the wishes I ever wish will come true." All goes well until one hot day he sees a boy swimming in the river. George can't swim and he says without thinking, "I wish I was that little boy and that little boy was me!" Sadly, he finds that he can't change back to himself when he wishes to because he is now someone else, and that boy's wishes don't come true.

Barney says: Enid Blyton wrote a number of nature books, Mary, but I'm not sure which one you're remembering. If you look in the Cave of Books, likely titles such as "Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Book" and "Enid Blyton's Book of the Year" are listed and the former has a review which might jog your memory. I hope you manage to identify the book and that you're able to get hold of a copy and relive those wonderful memories.

Barney says: You could have taken a leaf out of the Secret Seven's book and done a spot of investigation yourself, Ingano. A quick search in the Cave would have told you that there are 15 full-length books in the Secret Seven series and 6 in the Malory Towers series.

Barney says: The story you're looking for is called 'A Fairy Secret' and it can be found in the following books. I hope your grandchildren enjoy it as much as you did.

Barney says: Good point, Nigel. Of the phrases that Enid Blyton did write, my favourites are the exclamations uttered by characters like Topsy, Bobs, Bimbo and Cosy in "Bimbo and Topsy": "Tails and whiskers!" and "Bones and biscuits!"

Barney says: I don't think the phrase "lashings of ginger beer" was actually used by Enid Blyton, Francis, although the Famous Five (well, four of them at least) do consume "lashings of" other things, such as eggs or tomatoes, in some of the books. Gluttony at the Enid Blyton Day isn't compulsory, but it's certainly encouraged!!

Barney says: You'll have to think of a trick to play to liven things up, June! Enid had a number of dogs (hurrah!) and cats (well, they're all right in their place, I suppose). Dogs included Bobs, Sandy and Topsy (fox-terriers) and Lassie and Laddie (spaniels). Cats included Bimbo (a Siamese) and a ginger cat called Rufus.

Barney says: Hello Nadine, my tail droops to tell you this but the short answer is that you can't get hold of them, as the Secret Series was never released on either VHS or DVD. The Adventure Series that was made by the same company was released on VHS, but only in Australia and New Zealand.

Barney says: Enid Blyton's short stories always go down well with a generous supply of bones, Nigel, or perhaps in your case you'd prefer scones! I'll have to check out 'Too Clever for Mr. Slick' myself. In the same volume are two promising-sounding stories called 'Feefo, the Pixie Dog' and 'The Noah's Ark Puppy,' though I'm not so keen on 'The Big Blue Cat.' But first of all I'll fetch my lead so Anita can take me for that nice long walk!

Barney says: You're spot-on with both titles, Lorraine, and if you do a search in the Cave of Books you'll see that both stories appear in various collections. However, I'm not sure whether they were ever published together in one volume. Perhaps you're thinking of two separate books, in which case the Cave may well jog your memory, or it may be that the book you're thinking of is not yet listed in the Cave.

Barney says: "The Lake of Adventure" has been in the hands of our webmaster for a few weeks, Debbie, so it may be up any day. I was lucky enough to have a sneak preview and it's a wonderful story which I'm sure "Adventure" fans will enjoy.

Barney says: A heartwarming story, Rob, though as you say it's not about magic spectacles.

Barney says: I don't know if it'll be of any help, Bex, but there are several stories with the word "spectacles" in the title.

Barney says: Ah yes - the story you're thinking of is 'Pinkity and Old Mother Ribbony Rose' from The Enid Blyton Book of Fairies. Pinkity is a gnome and Old Mother Ribbony Rose is the witch for whom he works. A lovely story containing some beautiful descriptions of ribbons sold in the shop - "There were blue ribbons made of the mist that hangs over faraway hills, and sea-green ribbons embroidered with the diamond sparkles that glitter on sunny water. There were big broad ribbons of shiny silk, and tiny delicate ribbons of frosted spider's thread, and wonderful ribbons that tied their own bows."

Barney says: It's nice to hear from you, Vita, but I'm afraid Enid Blyton's Famous Five books and the sequels by Claude Voilier are still under copyright and are therefore not available online - or not legally, anyway.

Barney says: I'm not sure what you mean by "Sunshine books," Pat. If you search for "Sunshine" in the Cave of Books (heh - sounds crazy to search for sunshine in a cave!) perhaps you'll find what you're looking for.

Barney says: Yes, I imagine that many siblings, cousins, friends and schoolchums have bonded over Blyton books. Enid Blyton has given children hours and hours of happiness and excitement. Long may she continue to do so!

Barney says: Click on the "Interactive Island" button, Jacob (in the panel on the left) and then on "Monthly Quiz." You don't have to be a member to have a go at the quiz. Have fun and good luck!

Barney says: Hello Jacob, You're right that films of all eight Adventure books were made in New Zealand in the 1990s, but I'm afraid I don't think they have ever been released on either video or DVD. I do know that the storylines were altered considerably though. "The Island of Adventure" (1982) and "The Castle of Adventure" (1990) were also filmed in the UK, though once again there were some changes to the plots. Both of those came out on video but are no longer available, though second-hand copies sometimes turn up.

Barney says: Opinion is divided, Clarissa. Some Blyton fans prefer to read only the original books, while others are happy to read continuation books by other authors without necessarily regarding them as "canon." Pamela Cox is a genuine fan who does retain something of the spirit of Blyton's originals in her work. Her books are published with cover designs that make them blend in with the rest of the series and Enid Blyton's name is printed on the covers, so it does look as though the publishers (Egmont) are trying to play down the fact that they were not written by Blyton.

Barney says: I'm afraid we can't give out addresses or contact details on here, Ed, but if you'd like to meet Imogen Smallwood she usually comes to the Enid Blyton Day in May. This year's Day is on Saturday 15th May at Loddon Hall in Twyford, Berkshire. Click on the "Enid Blyton Day" button for further details.

Barney says: Not a bad score at all, Katharine!

Barney says: Sorry to hear you had problems with the quiz, Mac. I haven't come across that before. Your attempt registered as a zero score, which I've now zapped with a tap of my paw, so feel free to try again and please let us know if you have further problems.

Barney says: A click of the paw and a wag of the tail and it's sorted! You can have another go now, good luck!

Barney says: Well done, Ethan! By introducing you to Enid Blyton books your mum has started you off on something which will bring you pleasure for many years to come. Have fun getting to know all Enid Blyton's exciting characters! Timmy and Scamper are two of my favourite characters but you will have your own favourites of course.

Barney says: Thanks, Rob. We have a link to that site (the BBC Blyton archives) under "Lashings of Links", and the programme which contains the poignant footage of Green Hedges being demolished is "Success Story".

Barney says: Enid Blyton's family were staunch Baptists, Nigel. Her great-grandfather George Blyton was a tramping preacher who had an (unfulfilled) ambition "to go to the Fiji Isles to 'convert the heathen'". He gave his elder son Thomas (Enid's grandfather) the second name of Carey, after one of the founders of the Baptist Missionary Society. Enid's father was also named Thomas Carey, and one of her brothers and her nephew were called Carey as a first name.

Barney says: So would I, Jacquie, if people would like to share their thoughts. I've already commented (see February 5th) but it would be interesting to hear what others have to say. There has been quite a lot of discussion about "Enid" on the forums.

Barney says: I'm afraid I don't know that story but I hope someone reading this can help you.

Barney says: You'll find that searching for "Finniston" in the Cave of Books will be of great help, Zeeman! Meanwhile, I'll enjoy gnawing the bone - thanks!

Barney says: I just had a look at The Doll that Fell Out of the Pram but it's about two girls called Joanna and Doreen so it may not be the story you're looking for. Perhaps someone else can identify the story?

Barney says: Yes, swatshemighthavesaid! Except that she wasn't Christened until the age of thirteen, at the Elm Road Baptist Church in Beckenham.

Barney says: A question like that makes me feel even dizzier than I do after a lengthy game of chase-my-tail!

Barney says: Do you mean the paratrooper Sam from "The Mountain of Adventure", Prentice? I hadn't realised he was a white man in modern editions, though I know that in the original book he used the word "nigger" (which is nowadays considered extremely offensive because of its use as a term of abuse) to describe himself. In Enid Blyton's day that word didn't have such negative connotations in Britain, and Nigger was in fact a popular name for black dogs! I'm not sure when "The Mountain of Adventure" was altered but it was probably some time after 1987, which is when the golliwogs started to be removed from the Noddy books. If you say your friend's copy dates from a year after yours, that must have been when the changes were made.

Barney says: It's a difficult one, Julia. In the current Egmont paperbacks, changes have been made to characters' names and to food and some vocabulary but the stories have not been abridged as far as I know. In fact, I believe "The Enchanted Wood" has been lengthened with the addition of a four-chapter Christmas-themed episode which originally appeared in "Enid Blyton's Omnibus!" There is also a Dean edition currently available, which contains all three Faraway Tree books in one volume. That has the characters' original names and I don't think there has been any other general editing either - but several chapters are missing completely from the second book in the series ("The Magic Faraway Tree"). To be on the safe side, it might be worth trying to get hold of copies printed before the late 1980s. I'm sorry I can't give a specific date but I'm not absolutely sure when the books first underwent editing.

Barney says: According to Barbara Stoney's Biography, Enid Blyton "died peacefully in her sleep on 28 November 1968." She was 71 years old. You can find out more about Enid Blyton's life in our "Author of Adventure" section.

Barney says: Woof!! What a silly question, but I like chasing balls of string as it is fun to see how long they are! The simple answer to your question is, I don't know. It is in the hands of our webmaster and has been for the last ten days, so it is just a question of when he gets round to it.

Barney says: I had a look at the website that you mentioned, Jilly, but it was all Greek to me!! I did put Enid Blyton into search (in ordinary doggie letters, not those strange squiggles) and loads of books came up. Quite a number had pictures and I guessed that those with a '5' on them were probably Famous Five. Probably the best thing would be to ask your Greek family to choose the books and say that you will pay for them, unless some helpful Greek speaker reads this message and is prepared to help.

Barney says: I'm delighted that you have managed to get your class interested in Enid, Sarah, and I am wagging my tail enthusiastically. Sadly there isn't really anywhere to send children's letters to Enid Blyton. Our Society is primarily for adults as anyone who takes our Journal will realise and although teachers do send us letters from children we have neither the time or manpower to answer them. We have done our best on this website to answer any questions that children might have and I'm afraid that is the best we can do.

Barney says: Hi, Sue! Not long now till the Enid Blyton Day - I hope you are able to go. Many of the stallholders sell things like jigsaws, games, models, posters, badges(!), audio cassettes and videos, as well as books. Vintage items can be quite expensive but there are some bargains to be found.

Barney says: If you mean the two Famous Five TV series, Francis, it depends what you're looking for. The 1990s series benefits from great locations and from being set in the correct period, and Jemima Rooper is marvellous as George. The 1970s series was a lower-budget production shot on slightly grainy film and the actors wear 1970s clothes, yet that too has its strong points - notably great casting, good acting and catchy music and sound effects. In both series there are alterations to the storylines, though some episodes stick more closely to the books than others. I believe episodes from both series are available on YouTube, so you could watch a couple and see what you think.

Barney says: Interesting thought, Mac. It's actually Google Buns that the Faraway Tree characters make, and Pop Biscuits. There's also a clown called Google in "Circus Days Again."

Barney says: You are a hoot, Nigel!

Barney says: I'm afraid I haven't seen the Mr. Twiddle cassette, Marlene, or a CD version, but I hope someone can help you. You could try looking on eBay for a replacement.

Barney says: I like the idea of "The Famous Five in concert"! ;-) I imagine Timmy would play the trom-bone!

Barney says: It would be useful to know what kind of research you're doing, Smitha! You should be able to find plenty of information on Enid Blyton's life and work by clicking on "Author of Adventure" and "Cave of Books."

Barney says: This is slightly puzzling Elizabeth. The story, 'Tommy's White Duck' does appear in a 1954 book, which was a new edition of 'The Daffodil Story Book'. The pictures you describe certainly fit the story, but two things are wrong. Although it was described, there was no full-page picture of a rearing horse with the duck and secondly the illustrations for this story were provided by Eileen Soper and not Helen Jacobs. If you can send scans of the illustrations we might be able to help you further.

Barney says: We have pictures of the book covers and internal illustrations (black and white) in the Cave of Books, Neil. Your son may enjoy looking at them, though they won't blow up to poster size. I hope someone reading this is able to help.

Barney says: If you enjoyed those series you may well enjoy the Adventure series, Five Find-Outers books, Secret series and Barney Mysteries, Prabahika. Click on the buttons (above this Message Board) to find out more.

Barney says: I just had a look on Amazon.com, Peter, and I'm afraid "Enid" only seems to be available as a Region 2 DVD. Therefore, I assume you would need a multi-region DVD player to be able to watch it.

Barney says: I'm afraid we can't give valuations, John. Collectors usually prefer books in fine condition with dustwrappers, though of course a genuine Enid Blyton signature is a nice thing to have. You could have a look what similar signed books are selling for on sites like Abebooks and eBay.

Barney says: Perhaps someone reading this will be able to help you find a copy of the audio book, Katy. If it's still available new, you should be able to order it from a local shop or from Amazon. If not, you could see whether second-hand copies are available from sites like eBay. I'm afraid that the children's names have been changed to Joe, Beth and Frannie because Jo sounds like a girl's name, Bessie is an old-fashioned name that was apparently associated with black slaves (or so I've read!) and Fanny has sexual connotations. The Dean editions of the books still have the original names but I think they were altered on the Kate Winslet recordings. It's possible that Dame Slap might also have become Dame Snap - I'm not certain exactly when that change was made.

Barney says: Woof woof, Stephen! Welcome to the website and happy reading!

Barney says: I'm glad that you liked Fred's article, Julia. I am not sure about when the auction will be, but I am sure he will let us know and we will say something about it on this board.

Barney says: Thanks, Rob!

Barney says: I'm sorry to hear about your experience with Navrang, Don. We give a link to their site because our webmaster has used them himself and was pleased with the service he received. I wonder how others have got on?

Barney says: Gollies have unfortunately been removed from Enid Blyton books over the last couple of decades, Dawn, and I don't even know whether that particular title would still be in print. If you need to replace your book your best bet would be to look out for a second-hand copy online, on a site like eBay or Abebooks.

Barney says: Heyo! Do you mean how many books are there in the Famous Five series, Enid-Jo? If you like the Famous Five then you've got many hours of happy reading ahead of you because there are twenty-one books in the series, as listed in the Cave of Books. Timmy is the best character, of course!

Barney says: I would have a go myself, Sue, but my paws are not made for delicate work with a needle and thread!

Barney says: Hi Gerry, It will be fine for you to buy the tickets in a month's time. I do hope you can make it to the Day on Saturday 15th May - it's always immense fun. There is no set date by which tickets have to be bought, though they do have to be purchased in advance and are not available on the door. I suppose it's possible that tickets could run out if there's a mad rush, but that's unlikely as Loddon Hall is a fairly large venue.

Barney says: Thank you, Nan. I hope Cathy is still looking in. I also wish you luck in finding out more about the 'Land of Nod' poem.

Barney says: What a bargain, Simon! I bet your tail hasn't stopped wagging!

Barney says: Cheers, Keith! The link will only work for Society Members who have logged in using the password.

Barney says: In yet another version, Dame Slap has become Dame Tickle!! Enid Blyton has been out of favour for a while in many schools in Britain, but there are always a few Blyton-friendly teachers who keep the flame burning and I have heard of her books being used in some classrooms even in the 21st Century.

Barney says: It's not clear whether you mean an Enid Blyton book or a book by any author, but first editions of "Five on a Treasure Island" have been known to fetch at least a couple of thousand pounds.

Barney says: The badges were red and green and are described in detail in "Secret of the Old Mill": 'The girls set to work that very evening, as soon as they got home, to make the little badges. Janet begged three small buttons from her mother, and a bit of cloth. She covered each button in red, and then threaded a needle with bright green silk. She neatly sewed S.S. on each button in green. They really looked beautiful when they were finished.' Typically, the girls make the boys' badges as well as their own (Janet's three badges are for Peter, Colin and herself).

Barney says: There are a lot of illustrations in the Cave of Books, JulieG. You could save the pictures you want into "My Pictures" and then print them out. Alternatively, if you have a scanner you could scan pictures from your own books.

Barney says: Our Webmaster will certainly make that option available as soon as he has the time, Michael. Although we don't have a new serial at the moment, there is one in the pipeline as Trevor Bolton is currently working on an exciting new 'Adventure' book - "The Lake of Adventure."

Barney says: You had me puzzled there for a minute, Kate, as I couldn't think what on earth you were talking about, but then I realised that you used the name 'Anonymous' last time and it is the Noddy books that you are interested in! They certainly came out after the 70s as they have been in print all along apart from a brief spell recently. The illustrations were altered in places in the late 80s when the golliwogs were 'culled'. All these later editions would have simply had shiny laminated covers, so it is difficult to know precisely which edition you are talking about, but they did return to the older styled titles.

Barney says: There are three possible courses, Alan. You could do it yourself on ebay, send them to auction or take them to a specialist dealer. It is obviously entirely up to you which one you choose.

Barney says: This particular edition of the Bible frequently turns up, Heath, and the same printed message is in every one. Credit must go to the printers as you are certainly not the first person to think that this is a handwritten message and judging by the number of enquiries that have come in over the years you won't be the last!

Barney says: I hope someone reading this is able to help you, Debbie. Have you tried looking on Amazon and eBay?

Barney says: This sounds like the reprints of the "Round the Year with Enid Blyton" books, and you will find them in the Cave of Books in the Education section. They were frequently reprinted and are quite common and therefore not worth much.

Barney says: Only the first six titles were reprinted by Thames Publishing, Gerry. It's interesting to compare Stuart Tresilian's revised dustcover designs with his original ones, and it's a pity that Thames Publishing didn't reprint "Circus" and "River".

Barney says: Hiya Lily, I'm glad you love the books so much, but it would have been nice to know what your favourite titles are.

Barney says: The editions you have are likely to be from the late 70s. When the black backed title design first came in they used up spare dustwrappers from the previous edition. When the dustwrappers ran out they simply issued the books with their laminated boards and with no dustwrapper. So your books are correct and have not suffered from a 'switcheroo'!

Barney says: Heyo Enid-Jo!! Trevor Bolton is working on a new serial called "The Lake of Adventure." I'm not quite sure when it'll be ready so you'll have to be patient, but I'm sure it'll be well worth waiting for. As for the next Journal, that is almost ready to go to the printers and should be with you in about three weeks or so.

Barney says: I agree that the Faraway Tree series is marvellous and I hope that one day you will achieve your dream of reading every single Blyton book. Although her stories live on, Enid Blyton died in 1968.

Barney says: I'm afraid we're unable to give valuations, Rich, but I'm posting your message in case anyone is interested in the books. You could always list them in the "for sale" section of our Forums, though you'd need to register to do that.

Barney says: If my Master wants to give me any commands after reading that, regarding nipping ankles or anything along those lines, I'm at the ready!!

Barney says: "Story Time Book" is listed here, Jan. If you scroll down, you'll see a note at the bottom which tells you that the first edition had eight titles listed on the dustwrapper. It also points out that the dates inside the Dean & Son books mean nothing. Dean used to continue printing the date of the first edition even in later printings. Tony Summerfield wrote an article on 'Deans in Dustwrappers' for the "Enid Blyton Society Journal" (Number 10.) He says in his article that there were 48 titles in the first batch of Dean & Son books, published between 1963 and 1974. The first 27 books were issued in dustwrappers but 10 of those had the wrapper changed around 1970, so there are 37 in total to collect in dustwrappers. Hope that helps!

Barney says: I don't know whether such a thing might be possible in the future, Captain Hastings, but it's not something we've really thought about up to now as there is already a lot of work involved in organising the Enid Blyton Day. To produce a DVD we'd have to have the necessary equipment, find someone willing to do the filming, get permission from the speakers (there might also be copyright issues regarding any film or audio clips shown), be able to guarantee reasonably good sound and picture quality, work out the costing, deal with orders... A lot to think about, as you can see!

Barney says: I'm sorry you were disappointed, Chloe, but the purpose of the film was to look at Enid as a person rather than as a writer. To those who are familiar with Barbara Stoney's "Enid Blyton - the Biography" and Imogen Smallwood's "A Childhood at Green Hedges," the portrayal of Enid Blyton in the film probably didn't come as too much of a shock. Perhaps a little more emphasis could have been put on her fun, creative side - not much was mentioned in the film about her musical ability, or her days as a teacher - but the fact remains that she did cut her mother and her first husband out of her life and that she had very little time for her daughters as they were growing up. The drama did attempt to show some understanding of why Enid was like that, emphasising the trauma caused by her beloved father walking out on the family when she was twelve. Despite everything, Enid Blyton's books have entertained, educated and inspired millions of children over the years and in that way she has been, and continues to be, a force for good. I'd say that the best of her went into her books and that they can be enjoyed on their own merits.

Barney says: Hi Jan, If you put the titles of the books into the "search" box in the "Cave of Books," you'll be able to see pictures and details of the first editions and reprints.

Barney says: I'm afraid we can't give valuations, Derek, but I'm sure it would be worth consulting a dealer.

Barney says: A pianist is someone who plays the piano, Zahraa.

Barney says: Do you mean a report on her life or her books, Alison? If you click on the "Author of Adventure" button you'll find a lot of information about Enid Blyton's life. If you want book reviews and information on the major series, click on the "Cave of Books" button. Good luck with the report!

Barney says: As Enid Blyton was a "popular" author who turned out numerous titles at a rapid rate, her books tended to be regarded as lightweight and ephemeral. However, time is the real test and Blyton books still sell well in Britain and internationally and are stocked in abundance by high street bookshops. The same cannot be said of the works of many other authors of her era who were regarded as "better" writers. Enid Blyton is having the last laugh!

Barney says: It may surprise you to know that the only literary award Enid Blyton ever received was in America, for "Mystery Island" ("The Island of Adventure" retitled). That book was awarded a prize by the Boys' Club of America for being one of the six most popular books of 1947.

Barney says: Hi Alison, Enid Blyton's first book was "Child Whispers," which was a slim volume of poetry. It was published in 1922. Many of her poems were about fairies or nature and would probably be regarded as rather whimsical by most modern readers.

Barney says: Nice to hear from you, June! Say hello to Felicity and all the others! I'm afraid I don't know whether any actors from the two Famous Five series have their own websites. You could try Googling their names, or perhaps someone else knows and will reply.

Barney says: Enid was a talented pianist, Zahraa, and her parents expected her to become a musician like her aunt. However, she chose to become a teacher instead so that she could get to know children better and use some of her own stories and poems in the classroom. Enid Blyton taught for about five years, writing stories, articles and poems in her spare time. In 1924 she left teaching and became a full-time writer. You can find a lot of information about Enid Blyton's life in the Author of Adventure section of the website.

Barney says: Impossible to say, Alison, as she wrote so many good'uns and it all boils down to personal preference. If you asked twenty people, you may well get twenty different answers!

Barney says: If you mean a cinema film, Bluerose, I don't think any of Enid Blyton's books have been filmed for the cinema since the Children's Film Foundation made "Five On a Treasure Island" and "Five Have a Mystery to Solve" in the late 1950s/early 1960s. There have of course been TV series, films and cartoons of various books, the best-known being the Famous Five TV series of the 1970s and 1990s. A period adaptation of one of Blyton's books (remaining faithful to the novel and taking the story seriously and not resorting to irony or parody) would be great!

Barney says: Yes Lindi, we can help you on that. The original map was a two page fold-out in the 1920's edition of The Enid Blyton Book of Fairies. Sadly this is a very expensive book and though there are currently two copies on AbeBooks and one on ebay all are over £140. I suspect that the edition that you are talking about is the first reprint from 1949 and you will see that on AbeBooks you could buy a copy of that edition without a dustwrapper for £11. If you wanted a copy with the dustwrapper you would have to pay quite a bit more. Later editions possibly did not have the map inside the cover, so you would do best to check with the seller first. I hope this helps you.

Barney says: I don't think Enid Blyton ever said what her favourite book was out of all the titles she had written, Roshain. She did tell us her favourite character though - George from the Famous Five books.

Barney says: Hi Roshain, If you click on the "Secret Seven" and "Famous Five" buttons (above) you'll see an introduction to the series and reviews of each book. I don't know whether you'd regard the reviews as "short" though.

Barney says: Heyo Enid-Jo! Enid Blyton was a talented pianist and played classical music by composers like Beethoven, Liszt, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Bach. In her autobiography, "The Story of My Life," she says that Bach was her favourite. Naturally, "Bark" is a favourite with dogs too! Presumably she enjoyed other kinds of music as well, but I don't think we have any information about that.

Barney says: 'The Adventures of Bobs' was a small school reader in the Old Thatch series and I am not at all sure if it would have had a French edition. Normally with Blyton books, when they were published in their French editions names had been altered, but as Bobs was the actual name of a real dog perhaps it would have been left the same.

Barney says: Take a look at our Author of Adventure section, Mia. There's a lot of information on Enid Blyton there. Did you know that she had a fox-terrier called Bobs, who wrote letters to children? His letters were printed in a magazine and children used to enjoy reading about what he had been up to. Good luck with your project!

Barney says: I'm not sure of the age of the children in K-3 level, Nandini, but there are plenty of activities based on Enid Blyton books which would be suitable for primary school children. Younger ones may enjoy listening to stories being read aloud, followed by a discussion of characters and morals. They could create paintings, drawings or collages based on the stories, or act them out. Older ones could write their own stories in the style of Enid Blyton, or write letters or diaries from the viewpoint of a certain character, or research her life or a topic inspired by the books (e.g. 'Great Auks' after reading "The Island of Adventure"). Another idea would be for groups of children to make audio versions of some of her stories, complete with different voices and sound effects. If by "event" you mean a day devoted to Enid Blyton or something like that, you could have displays of the books, a timeline of major events in her life, a showing of a TV adaptation of one of her stories, a stall selling typical Blyton food (sardine sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs, scones, fruit cake, ginger-beer, lemonade, etc), people dressed up as characters from the books, simple quizzes, treasure hunts, writing in invisible ink, decoding secret code messages, etc. As I said, I'm not entirely sure what you mean or how old the children are, so please feel free to get back to me if these suggestions are of no use.

Barney says: Hi Jo! The book about the boy who becomes involved in crime sounds like The Six Bad Boys. As you say, it's quite a 'dark' book for Enid Blyton and a compelling read. The story about the bully could be 'You're a Bully!' from Stories for You. Have fun rediscovering Enid Blyton!

Barney says: You may be thinking of "The Children of Cherry Tree Farm," Becky. Rory, Sheila, Benjy and Penny go to stay on a farm, where they meet Tammylan the "wild man." Tammylan lives alone in a cave in the winter or a willow-house in the summer, and his only friends are the animals that live in the countryside. Over the months he teaches the children about wildlife. Benjy in particular is drawn to him and learns a lot about nature. There are two other books in the same series - "The Children of Willow Farm" and "More Adventures on Willow Farm" - but Tammylan doesn't feature so strongly in those. Another possibility is "Enid Blyton's Animal Lover's Book," in which Zacky the gipsy teaches Richard and Susan about wildlife. You can find out more about these titles in the Cave of Books.

Barney says: I'm puzzling over "wthh imt brodas" (!) but the copyright is owned by Chorion. All Enid Blyton's stories will remain in copyright until the end of 2038.

Barney says: Hi Maddie and Emma, Although Enid Blyton has come in for some criticism for the way she treated family members and others during her life, her books show the best of her and it's great that they continue to influence young people from all over the world. In her autobiography, "The Story of My Life," Enid Blyton mentioned that her favourite book as a child was "The Princess and the Goblin" by George MacDonald. You can find out more about the books she enjoyed reading in the Biography under "Author of Adventure."

Barney says: Hi Judy, I'm glad the girls in your class like Enid Blyton. Performing Faraway Tree plays sounds like a wonderful idea! I don't think any have been published, but perhaps you and some of the children would be able to write your own plays based on scenes from the books? Enid Blyton uses a lot of dialogue in her stories, so it probably wouldn't take too long to turn a chosen scene into a playscript. I imagine it would be enormous fun making costumes for characters like Moon-Face, Silky, Dame Washalot and the Saucepan Man, and deciding on appropriate voices and mannerisms!

Barney says: Yes, I think you'll enjoy them, Lilyanne!

Barney says: We have a 'Sale' section on our own forums but you would need to register first. Other than that the only site that I can think of is ebay, or alternatively you could try putting it into auction.

Barney says: Hi Judy, If you mean an audio version I think the readings by Kate Winslet (of all three books) might still be available. You could have a look on Amazon - if they're not listed, try eBay. There were also some Faraway Tree cartoons a few years ago but they didn't stick closely to Enid Blyton's original stories.

Barney says: I like to think I contribute to the attractiveness of the website, Boldylox! If you click on "Author of Adventure" and then on "Chronology," you'll find out lots of information about Enid Blyton including the fact that she died on 28th November 1968.

Barney says: You could try looking on eBay or Abebooks, or contacting the booksellers listed under "Lashings of Links."

Barney says: Happy New Year to you too! If you mean the British films of "The Island of Adventure" and "The Castle of Adventure," both were released on video but not DVD. Copies still turn up from time to time on eBay. There was also a New Zealand TV series of all eight books (though "The Castle of Adventure" was retitled "The Woods of Adventure"). However, there were significant changes to the storylines. I don't know whether the New Zealand series ever came out on video or DVD but you could try Googling to find out.

Barney says: Why thank you Boldylox, though people generally call me 'handsome' rather than 'cute'! I don't know whether Enid Blyton had a favourite colour, although in her autobiography, "The Story of My Life," she wrote about her daughter Gillian, "Like me, she loves green and yellow, and she has made her room lovely with those two colours." We also know that Enid liked to wear red.

Barney says: A very Happy New Year to you too, KPRJ! There have been two TV series of the Famous Five as well as a couple of films. Two of the Adventure books, 'Island' and 'Castle' have also been made into films. There have also been a few cartoons and one or two foreign language films and of course a great many TV programmes about Noddy - but I think you were really asking about her full-length books.