Enid Blyton’s Enchanted World series (Egmont, 2008) reintroduces Silky the fairy and her magical friends to young readers. Fans of the original Blyton series will not find many of the original characters in the new series, but the books will still find their market in girls aged 7 to 9 years.
Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree Series
Originally published in 1939, the Faraway Tree series began with the introduction of children Jo, Bessie and Fanny in The Enchanted Wood. The series revolves around a magic tree in the wood, which serves as a ladder to magical lands. The children and their friends (including Moonface, Silky and the Saucepan Man) have wonderful adventures exploring the many lands (good and bad) that come to the top of the tree.
The books in the original Blyton series are:
- The Enchanted Wood
- The Magic Faraway Tree
- Folk of the Faraway Tree
- Up the Faraway Tree
It is worth noting that in modern adaptations of the Faraway Tree books, the children’s names have been changed to Joe, Beth and Frannie. In addition, any references to “smacking” or “slapping” have been changed to “scolding”.
Enchanted World Number 1: Silky and the Rainbow Feather
Faraway Tree fans will already be familiar with Silky, the pretty fairy who makes her home in the magical tree in the Enchanted Wood. In the beginning of this first story in the Enchanted World series, the evil troll Talon has stolen the magic talismans that are the life-force of the Faraway Tree. Silky and her friends must help Witch Whisper restore the talismans to the vault, in order to save the tree and prevent Talon from gaining control of the Enchanted Worlds.
The series continues with
- Melody and the Enchanted Harp
- Petal and the Eternal Bloom
- Bizzy and the Bedtime Bear (due January 2009)
- Pinx and the Ring of Midnight (due January 2009)
Comparisons with the Original Faraway Tree Series
While some of the characters of the original series remain in the Enchanted World books, it is mainly Silky who takes on the action of the story, along with her fairy friends. The fairies in this series all have different magical powers in keeping with modern children’s fantasy stories.
Without the addition of human children, the stories are much more based in the fairy world and as such will perhaps appeal less to young boys who could enjoy the character of Jo in the original series as well as Moonface and the Saucepan Man. The plot contains more action than the original books, with a definite danger to be faced more along the lines of modern children’s film villains. The fairies’ quest continues throughout the series, rather than the episodic chapter-by-chapter feel of Blyton’s originals.
The Enchanted World series will certainly have an appeal for young girls, especially those that are already fans of books like the Magic Ballerina series and the popular Rainbow Magic fairies. Despite the Blyton name attached, these books are not destined to become children’s classics, but they will be well-received by their intended readership.
Silky and the Rainbow Feather [ISBN: 978-1-4052-4254-7, 150 pages]
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