The Enid Blyton Society

Hi

I was wondering if anyone could help me. My mum remembers a book of stores being read to her as a child which she believed was an Enid Blyton book. She was born in 1954 so the book from was either before or sometime after this year. She said the cover was red and there were short stories. One included a house being cleaned and the other where children made a walking stick and had to take it round to a scary/grumpy man. The book was given away when her mother passed and she has fond memories of her mother reading it to her.

If anyone knows what the title of this book could be I would be ever so grateful. Thank you

Kind wishes
Caroline

Welcome, Caroline. It's likely that the story about making a walking-stick for a "scary" man (nicknamed Mr. Ugly!) is 'Nobody Liked Him'. It's a lovely tale with a heart-warming ending. There are a number of stories about cleaning houses, but the one that springs to mind is 'I'll Do Them Tomorrow'. Linnie hates housework and lets her cottage get filthy - until Mrs. Redhands comes and teaches her a lesson.

Both these tales can be found in The Tenth Holiday Book (1955), though I've got them in later short story collections:

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book ... liday+Book" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thank you very much. I will definitely look in to this

Caroline

Good luck with your search, Caroline, and I hope it turns out to be the right book. It has red boards beneath the dustjacket:

Hi Anita

Just wanted to thank you so much for letting me know which book I was talking about from the very small description I could give! I took a gamble and bought the book as a surprise for my mum on Christmas day. She was so happy when she saw the book and said that it was the right one. She is looking forward to being able to read this to her grandchildren. Once again thank you very much for your help

I'd love to see Anita on Mastermind. Specialist subject, the short stories of Enid Blyton. 30 points and no passes!

That's lovely, Caroline — so glad Anita was able to help you track down the right book and your mum is happy with it!

Thanks very much for coming back to us on that, Caroline. I know the joy of rediscovering a half-remembered book and I'm delighted that The Tenth Holiday Book is indeed the book your mum remembers.

Moonraker wrote:I'd love to see Anita on Mastermind. Specialist subject, the short stories of Enid Blyton. 30 points and no passes!

A nice thought, though I'm sure I'd have a few passes! And my general knowledge is patchy, so goodness knows how I'd do in that round!