The Enid Blyton Society

Katharine wrote:I have been listening to Reception class children reading for the past 7 years, and I don't think I've come across one, let alone two who would be capable of reading a book like that.

I agree! When I was teacher training in 2006 - 2007 I heard a lot of children read - 7 year olds - and none of them could have independently read 'Tales of Long Ago' - or many other similar books.

Personally, I think this is one big problem with Enid's books - they were aimed at certain age-groups - but now, many 7 year olds wouldn't even be able to read an original Noddy book, or an Amelia Jane book - at least, not in my experience. By the time they can read well enough, they are often 'too old' for such themes and stories.

Rob Houghton wrote:Personally, I think this is one big problem with Enid's books - they were aimed at certain age-groups - but now, many 7 year olds wouldn't even be able to read an original Noddy book, or an Amelia Jane book - at least, not in my experience. By the time they can read well enough, they are often 'too old' for such themes and stories.

I agree! We tried to get André's grandson interested in the FF when he was about 9 years old, but all he reads is Harry Potter and spy books. He never read FOATI.
Well, he has no clue what wonderful adventure he's missing. Maybe his younger brother will discover it in a few years.

Rob Houghton wrote:

Katharine wrote:I have been listening to Reception class children reading for the past 7 years, and I don't think I've come across one, let alone two who would be capable of reading a book like that.

I agree! When I was teacher training in 2006 - 2007 I heard a lot of children read - 7 year olds - and none of them could have independently read 'Tales of Long Ago' - or many other similar books.

Personally, I think this is one big problem with Enid's books - they were aimed at certain age-groups - but now, many 7 year olds wouldn't even be able to read an original Noddy book, or an Amelia Jane book - at least, not in my experience. By the time they can read well enough, they are often 'too old' for such themes and stories.

I should think that might be more a problem with the way the children are taught (or not), rather than a problem with Enid's books! Seriously, I'm shocked at the thought that an average 7-year-old wouldn't be able to read something at the level of Noddy or Amelia Jane. I know I was certainly reading the Famous Five and the Five Find-Outers (and many other books) independently by the time I was 7, as was my older sister when she was that age.

Rob Houghton wrote:I've just posted a photo on facebook of some daffodils we saw today on a walk in our local park.

They look lovely. I'm reminded of Enid Blyton's 'From My Window' article in the Journal, in which she describes daffodils so beautifully: "They are the most cheerful flowers, like little splashes of sunshine tied on to a long green stalk. Nobody could be sad when they see them, for they are happiness itself."

She doesn't approve at all of daffodils that have flowers of white, green or any other colour except yellow: "Daffies should be yellow, yellow, yellow, and nothing but yellow."

I like Enid's 'Country Letter' too. It's warm and chatty and makes life at Old Thatch and in the surrounding countryside sound idyllic. It's nice to hear about Sandy's puppies. I've often seen birds pecking at buds on trees and hadn't realised they were removing grubs from the buds. Forty-odd years after first picking up an Enid Blyton book, I'm still learning new things from her!

Katharine wrote:It was very interesting to read Anita's thoughts on the Dean book [Tales of Long Ago]. I only read it as a couple of years ago, and it didn't appeal to me much, but it was interesting to read the classic tales - I'd only come across a couple as a child. I certainly think that Enid's delicate way of dealing with some of the more gruesome parts of the originals is better than me reading them in their original form. Once again I was in awe of Anita's reading ability at such a young age, and for her to have a friend of a similar ability. I have been listening to Reception class children reading for the past 7 years, and I don't think I've come across one, let alone two who would be capable of reading a book like that.

Funnily enough, I think it was the sad stories that appealed to me most - along with the adventurous ones in which truly horrific things happened. They made such a change from tales with "happily ever after" endings!

My sister was an early reader too. Reading was like breathing as far as we were concerned - we simply couldn't live without it! Before encountering Enid Blyton we were crazy about Ladybird books and also liked Miffy books.

Anita Bensoussane wrote:Funnily enough, I think it was the sad stories that appealed to me most - along with the adventurous ones in which truly horrific things happened. They made such a change from tales with "happily ever after" endings!

My sister was an early reader too. Reading was like breathing as far as we were concerned - we simply couldn't live without it! Before encountering Enid Blyton we were crazy about Ladybird books and also liked Miffy books.

I think I could read fairly early, but not sure what I read. I've never really liked things that don't have a happy ending. Fortunately Enid Blyton could mostly be relied on to make all end well.

Courtenay wrote:
I should think that might be more a problem with the way the children are taught (or not), rather than a problem with Enid's books! Seriously, I'm shocked at the thought that an average 7-year-old wouldn't be able to read something at the level of Noddy or Amelia Jane. I know I was certainly reading the Famous Five and the Five Find-Outers (and many other books) independently by the time I was 7, as was my older sister when she was that age.

Don't forget that in Birmingham, where I live, quite a few parents can't read very well, either. so their offspring are probably at an unfair disadvantage. In the UK, apparently, 20% of secondary school pupils leave school without being able to read fluently - which in my opinion is absolutely disgusting.

Saying that though, I always had a reading age of five years older than I was (when I was 9, I had a reading age of 14) but I didn't start to read the Find Outers or even the Secret Seven until I was around 8 or 9. I always feel amazed when people say they were reading them at the age of 7. I was still reading things like Binkle and Flip and The Faraway Tree aged 7 and 8.

I must admit that there probably was a time when I would have assumed that all children ought to be at a certain reading level by the time they are a particular age. However, as I've got older I've changed and think it's probably unfair of the current education system to assume that a children (or school) is failing if a certain level isn't reached. Mozart I believe was composing at the age of 5, Roger Bannister broke the 3 minute mile - something that the vast majority of people will never come close to achieving. Why therefore should we expect all children to grasp reading at a young age? It's slowly being recognised that some people struggle with reading because of conditions such as dyslexia - maybe in time it will be discovered that some people just aren't genetically designed to read (and enjoy books) easily? Possibly never will, but they may well have other talents that don't involve decoding a lot of black shapes on paper with spaces in between.

I agree with Rob about reading ages. At the age of 11 I had the reading age of a 14/15 year old, however I certainly wasn't reading books for that age group - I was still thoroughly enjoying the Famous Five and even the Faraway Tree.

Tony Summerfield wrote:

sixret wrote:Who's that person? Norman Wright?

If I had wanted to say I would have done, but it isn't Norman Wright who is a Famous Five expert.

Thank you, Tony.

Chrissie777 wrote:

sixret wrote:Who's that person? Norman Wright?

Check this book out, sixret:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Famous-Five-Ev ... sr=1-2-ent" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's one of the finest in my EB collection and highly recommendable.

Thank you, Chrissie. I already have the book in my collection.

Courtenay wrote: Seriously, I'm shocked at the thought that an average 7-year-old wouldn't be able to read something at the level of Noddy or Amelia Jane. I know I was certainly reading the Famous Five and the Five Find-Outers (and many other books) independently by the time I was 7, as was my older sister when she was that age.

I suppose you'd be shocked by the German education system then. I started school when I was 7 years old, and I lernt to read then. When I was 8 I struggled to read "Das Schiff der Abenteuer" (Ship of adventure), it was the first or second book I got as a present when I was able to read.

I agree with Rob and Wolfgang. In one class of 30 pupils aged 7, I would say, on average, only 5 pupils or even less than that could read the first year of the school even in Malaysia. But in the end of that same year, the pupils who could read will increase to 29 out of 30. Or 30 out of 30. Lucky to those who could read at 7 or below. Meaning that, their parents have taught the basic 3R at home.

Wolfgang wrote: I suppose you'd be shocked by the German education system then. I started school when I was 7 years old, and I lernt to read then.

My grandson could read before he started 'proper' school, aged 6. Don't parents teach their children to read in Germany?

Incidentally, I have been away since my Journal arrived, and hopefully will star reading it later. I must say though, I have found the posts in this thread extremely interesting. It is good to see some meat on some bones!

I could also read before I started school. My mom taught me. As my birthday is in January, I started school in September, 4 months before I was five. I could read fairly complex sentences by then, which my mom would make up using 'flashcards' plus simple books.

But many children nowadays can't read that well at 7 or 8.

Our mother taught us to read too, and I also taught my own children to read before they started school.

My parents taught me to read before I reached the age of five. Chick and I also taught our daughter and son to read before they started school. Both our grandsons were also taught to read by their parents before they became infant school pupils.