Thanks, Courtney. That is the very book, and I remember now, the otter story was called 'The Whistler'. Looking at he list of contents, it seems just like yesterday, and I remember all the stories!
I must see if I can get a copy of it on ebay.

In 1961. I was given 'Enid Blyton's Big Book' which was a red book similar in size to the Holiday Annuals, and one story I loved was about a family of otters. Their pond was drying up and they were all having to go their own separate ways-- each otter said its own goodby to the pond where they had b...

I also think Miss Theobald's speech to Bobby Ellis in Summer Term at St Clare's is memorable, and always reminds me of my old headmistress who had high standards and was straight-talking. Bobby has been slacking and messing about although she is a bright girl, and Miss Theobald accuses her of 'cheat...

Another very moving moment which is all the better for what is not said, is at the end of 'Shock for Secret Seven' when Shadow, the shepherd's faithful collie who has been stolen, is recovered and straightaway, like an arrow, heads for the hills and the cottage where his bereft master is sitting alo...

I would also add the moment in The O'Sullivan Twins when Mr. Fenworthy, the father of Margery whom he has neglected because the step-mother had three boys, comes to St Clare's after her accident, takes her in his arms and loves her and praises her. Also the moment in the Secret Island when the child...

Merged with an existing topic. The Times has, today, published a short story by Enid Blyton called 'A Christmas Wish' which was first published in1926, and is now part of 'The Enchanted Shoes and Other Stories (Bounty Books) There is a lovely colour photo of Enid dated 1962' and also a copy of a Ch...

Merged with an earlier topic. If you can access page 34 of the Times, or look under Enid Blyton on the website, there is an interesting colour article about the four boys who were the real-life inspiration for Mary Gernat's 1960s illustrations of Blyton books such as The secret of Killimooin. I wou...

Merged with an older topic. I have been re-reading the first St Clare's book, and am surprised that the twins are 14 when they join the first form. Are not most children around about 12 when they go into first form? At that rate, after six years at St Clare's, the twins will be 20 when they leave!!...

Yes, it is worrying that young children are being taken seriously about thinking they are the opposite sex, and that pre-puberty children--like the girl I saw on CBees--are being given hormones to delay puberty so that they can decide what they want to be. Who know the effects this will have on thei...

Merged with an older topic. In Waterstones today while waiting for the bus, I was flicking through 'Five go off in a Caravan' which I last read about 50 years ago. I loved the old Soper illustrations and noted the various little updates the editors have given. However, one phrase caught my eye. Geo...

Thank you.

Merged with an older topic. Sorry if this has been covered before but I have just been watching these on youtube, and wonder what people think of the plots and characterisation, given that each episode had to be squeezed into 25 mins? I thought they kept fairly well to the plots. One or two things ...