Website Additions

[Rob Houghton]

I much prefer Anita's Chimpanzee verse!

[Anita Bensoussane]

Cheers!

But seriously — Anita, have you ever contributed any "portry" to the EBS Journal?

No, I don't write much poetry really - just the odd bit of light verse on here.

The poor buffalo featured on the cover of Around the Zoo Book has no verse dedicated to him, so I thought I'd write one:

The buffalo live in a herd,
On grasses and leaves they feed.
They're heavy and mighty, my word,
Look out when they stampede!

[Courtenay]

That's excellent too, Anita!

[Poppy]

The Around the Zoo Book is fantastic! Thanks for putting it into the cave, Tony.

Loved reading your poetry too, Anita!

[Spitfire]

What a fabulous book - and a fabulous series, which I hadn't seen before. I love the gorgeous illustrations of each, especially The Wonder Wheel Book.

[Kate Mary]

From the updates link at the top of the homepage, I see that Tony has been beavering away. I'm a dyed in the wool traditionalist but I don't dislike the cover illustrations for the latest FF editions coming next year, they are after all for another generation of Blyton readers and I'm pleased to see the short stories kept alive with another collection of summer stories. Thank you Tony.

[Rob Houghton]

I agree. Although I dislike a few of the covers, like Camp, and Fall Into Adventure, it's interesting to see that the later editions that are being released have covers that at least depict children in the proper proportion, rather than alien like creatures. I really like some of them, although I think it's an odd idea to have each cover illustrated by a different artist - doesn't really make them look like a series in my opinion. But fair do's - they at least look more human!

[walter raleigh]

I agree that the more recent 'Famous Five' re-issues have more sensible cover illustrations. Perhaps they've been listening to the criticism on here! My favourite picture is probably the one from "Mystery Moor", although I can't think what scene in the book it's depicting?

[Moonraker]

From the updates link at the top of the homepage, I see that Tony has been beavering away.

It has been moribund for so long that I never look at it. Thanks, Kate Mary for drawing our attention to it!

[Rob Houghton]

I agree that the more recent 'Famous Five' re-issues have more sensible cover illustrations. Perhaps they've been listening to the criticism on here! My favourite picture is probably the one from "Mystery Moor", although I can't think what scene in the book it's depicting?

Very strange! It doesn't fit with Mystery Moor at all, and looks like it's depicting Kirrin Castle!

[John Pickup]

From the updates link at the top of the homepage, I see that Tony has been beavering away.

Thanks, Kate Mary for drawing our attention to it!

Yes, thanks Kate Mary. I am also guilty of not checking the date on the updates regularly.
If today's generation of children like the covers it doesn't really matter what we think.

[Anita Bensoussane]

Thanks for the recent additions, Tony. Of the latest batch of five Famous Five covers, the one by Michael Foreman (Five on a Secret Trail) appeals to me most because I like the way the viewer's eye is drawn to the ramshackle house looming over the children.

It's also interesting to see the Secret Seven Colour Reads and the other books.

[Rob Houghton]

From the updates link at the top of the homepage, I see that Tony has been beavering away.

Thanks, Kate Mary for drawing our attention to it!

Yes, thanks Kate Mary. I am also guilty of not checking the date on the updates regularly.
If today's generation of children like the covers it doesn't really matter what we think.

I do agree to a certain extent...although I also think that children pretty much accept what is offered to them, and they would love the old style covers just as much! Anyway - these last few are mainly an improvement...which is interesting, as supposedly children prefer the skinny cartoony versions like the short story covers (so I've been told!) - of which there are very few in this new batch!

[Tony Summerfield]

It has been moribund for so long that I never look at it.

It has been 'moribund' as you put it as I haven't actually been sent anything since a review in March. If I add a new illustration I normally just put it in this thread for anyone to look at who wants, but I only put this onto the updates page as I had added several things.

I am sure if I had been sent any of the blurbs that were promised in January I would have put them up, but some were added immediately which I did draw attention to in the forums, whilst other never materialised!

[Rob Houghton]

yeah...I realised the other day that I never did blurbs for The Caravan Family books etc...they will get done presently!