Famous Five Annual 2016

[Wolfgang]

I also feel like I'm the only Society member who has no interest whatsoever in Famous Five annuals, old or new!

Nobody's perfect, Courtenay.

[Lucky Star]

Wise words from Tony as always. Perhaps though, for 2017, they could do an Enid Blyton annual. One that encompasses all her work. There would certainly be no shortage of variety and ideas in that one.

[Courtenay]

Ah yes, but who to aim it at - considering Enid wrote everything from Noddy, the Faraway Tree and the Wishing-Chair through the Secret Seven, Five Find-Outers, Famous Five and so on, up to the school stories, Barney mysteries and the Adventure series... such a huge range of genres covering audiences of all different tastes from preschool to about age 12??

[Anita Bensoussane]

The Big Enid Blyton Book (Hamlyn) covered everything from Noddy and Bom to the Adventure series and The Six Bad Boys, and my sister and I absolutely loved it as children - probably between the ages of 7 and 10. Hodder might have to miss Noddy out of a mixed annual anyway (what a pity! ) as they don't own the copyright to Noddy. So the contents of such an annual might be most magical for children aged 7-10, but if older illustrations were used (perhaps colourised with care where necessary) alongside a few more modern ones, it would also appeal to nostalgic adults.

[Poppy]

I think an Annual devoted to Enid Blyton in general would be a great idea. It would attract a huge range of ages, I'm sure, because Enid wrote for such a variety of age groups. Also, I think it would introduce readers to new Blyton books that they have never heard of - because, as Courtenay said earlier, some readers would probably buy the annual only having known about a few series inside. But a Blyton annual could potentially bring new readers to some of Enid's lesser-known work.

[Chrissie777]

There are 9 Purnell Famous Five Annuals from the 1970s-80s, Chrissie.
There's also a 1996 Famous Five Annual published by Grandreams and (as you know) there are two recent Famous Five Annuals (2014 and 2015) published by Hodder, with a 2016 annual on the way.

Thank you, Anita, those links are really helpful. I'll order the missing 4 FF annuals next year .

[Chrissie777]

I think an Annual devoted to Enid Blyton in general would be a great idea. It would attract a huge range of ages, I'm sure, because Enid wrote for such a variety of age groups. Also, I think it would introduce readers to new Blyton books that they have never heard of - because, as Courtenay said earlier, some readers would probably buy the annual only having known about a few series inside. But a Blyton annual could potentially bring new readers to some of Enid's lesser-known work.

Sounds like a wonderful idea!

[Chrissie777]

I know what John means with the 2016 Annual cover - but I will be buying it to add to the set.
I expect the contents to be as excellent and informative as the other two.

Same here, I will order it and hope that inside it will be as good as the others.

[John Pickup]

Oh, I shall definitely be buying it despite not been overly keen of the cover. It will be a shame if the 2016 annual is the last.

[Chrissie777]

It will be the last? I hope not.

[John Pickup]

That is what Tony said may be the case earlier in this thread, Chrissie.

[Chrissie777]

Oh, I must have missed that.

[Chrissie777]

...Even with all this material available the cupboard is virtually empty now and I think that the 2016 Annual will be the last. In order to put enough variety and interest into an annual it was quite difficult to come up with ideas to fill this one.

So sorry to find this out, Tony .
How about an article on the FF locations in Dorset with photos or would that not fit with the Annual rules and regulations?
Could you possibly add FF continuation stories from enidblyton.net with Keith's permission? Some of them are not very long.
Also you could have an article on the making of the 1957 movie (which would increase the sale of the DVD) and the 1964 movie plus the Danish films (or was it just one?).

I still haven't read all 9 annuals that I ordered, so some of these suggestions might already have been used.

Other forumites might have more ideas for the 2017 annual.

[Chrissie777]

Interesting that there is a demand for Famous Five annuals but not for Adventure or Mystery series annuals.

In thought the same, Francis. Especially with the many Adventure series continuation stories in existence.

[Anita Bensoussane]

I think an Annual devoted to Enid Blyton in general would be a great idea. It would attract a huge range of ages, I'm sure, because Enid wrote for such a variety of age groups. Also, I think it would introduce readers to new Blyton books that they have never heard of - because, as Courtenay said earlier, some readers would probably buy the annual only having known about a few series inside. But a Blyton annual could potentially bring new readers to some of Enid's lesser-known work.

Good point, Poppy. As a child I sought out certain books (e.g. the Secret series, the Adventure series and The Six Bad Boys) after reading exciting extracts in The Big Enid Blyton Book.