Good points, Hannah and Yak. What I didn't know as a child (thereby missing the full import of Alma's name) is that there's a dessert called Alma Pudding - a steamed pudding with dried fruit. I seem to recall Boodi making one years ago from a traditional recipe. I'm a fan of stodgy puddings like tha...

A thoughtful review, Judith. I haven't read Songberd's Grove, though I have a copy somewhere, but I enjoyed reading Midway some time ago. It dealt with some tough issues but in a poetic, gentle style.

Photos need to be uploaded to a hosting site first, Sarah (e.g. Imgur or similar - I'm not sure which ones are around these days). Then the relevant image tag can be copied into your forums post. I've only ever posted images from a desktop computer so I'm afraid I'm not sure if it's different if pos...

Another good motto this time: It's what you do for others Not what they do for you That makes you feel so happy All through and through and through! I'm glad Thomasina the tortoise has turned up. Enid Blyton says that she (the tortoise - not Enid herself!) "almost scampers round the grass"...

Welcome, Sarah! Sorry for your loss, but it's lovely to hear that your dad was a cameraman on the Famous Five series. I was eight in 1978 and my sister and I also used to act out Famous Five stories with our friends after reading the books and watching the TV series. We'd have loved to have had some...

Ladybird books are ideal if you want a quick overview of a historical figure or event, Viv. Whenever I read one of the history titles, I learn something new even now. I don't have the Ladybird book about Samuel Pepys but I've read his diaries (or two volumes containing selections of the diaries) and...

Whatever the problem is, it's affecting the Cave of Books as well. We let Keith know about it last night so I'm sure that all will be well soon. In the meantime, sorry for any inconvenience. Jack, I've deleted your duplicate post on the Jennifer Thanisch thread but you're able to delete a post yours...

I didn't enjoy Mr Twiddle books as much as most of EB books because I felt really sorry for him. He was trying his best but always made mistakes and then people either laughed at him, or were cross. Yes, I know they were meant to be funny, but I found them quite sad. I feel sorry for Mr. Twiddle to...

Lotta had been completely wild, but Pongo and Chump felt that they had trained her well.

That gives you a bit of time to build yourself a boat and acquire a map of the Scottish isles!

I enjoyed reading 'The Bunch of Carrots', which is a simple tale with a clear moral. The poem 'Spring' is lovely, painting a vivid picture of the season. Unlike Enid Blyton, we're having a cold April in the UK this year and there's little danger of getting sunburnt like Imogen! Enid's cowslips sound...

Some publishers do, and the violent characters don't necessarily have to be outright baddies - or even baddies at all. I recently read a children's book called Evie's Ghost by Helen Peters, published in 2017 by Nosy Crow. Evie, aged thirteen, is walloped by the housekeeper and slapped by a sixteen-y...

I've just read your excellent summary of Sea of Adventure, Anjalli and I now want to read it again myself. I don't think I've read it since I was at school which was a lonnnnnnng time ago. This is the perfect time of the year to read The Sea of Adventure , John. It'll soon be May, and the book begi...

I imagine that the publishers wanted to remove references to adults using physical violence against children. Some years ago, Dame Snap was substituted for Dame Slap in the Faraway Tree books. One result is that characters like Aunt Harriet and Dame Slap/Snap are no longer as menacing. Scenes involv...

Good spot, Bertie! I expect Enid Blyton intended readers to be amused by Pip's contradictory statements - if they noticed them, which I don't think I ever did! Pip strikes me as a little less likeable than the others at times, e.g. when he's scornful of Bets.