Blyton's Noddy, about a little wooden boy from Toyland, first appeared in the Sunday Graphic on 5 June 1949, and in November that year Noddy Goes to Toyland, the first of at least two dozen books in the series, was published. The idea was conceived by one of Blyton's publishers, Sampson, Low, Marston and Company, who in 1949 arranged a meeting between Blyton and the Dutch illustrator Harmsen van der Beek. Despite having to communicate via an interpreter, he provided some initial sketches of how Toyland and its characters would be represented. Four days after the meeting Blyton sent the text of the first two Noddy books to her publisher, to be forwarded to van der Beek. [49] The Noddy books became one of her most successful and best-known series, and were hugely popular in the 1950s. [50] An extensive range of sub-series, spin-offs and strip books were produced throughout the decade, including Noddy's Library, Noddy's Garage of Books, Noddy's Castle of Books, Noddy's Toy Station of Books and Noddy's Shop of Books. [51]

I shut my eyes for a few minutes, with my portable typewriter on my knee– I make my mind a blank and wait– and then, as clearly as I would see real children, my characters stand before me in my mind's eye... The first sentence comes straight into my mind, I don't have to think of it– I don't have to think of anything. [68] Miss Pink Cat is organising a Top Toy Award in Toyland. When Noddy borrows a map from Mr. Tubby Bear and discovers it leads to hidden treasure, he finds himself with a surprise entry. Thompson, A. H. (1975), Censorship in Public Libraries in the United Kingdom during the Twentieth Century (Firsted.), Bowker (R.R.) (UK) Ltd, pp.137–157, ISBN 978-0-8593-5019-8 Mr. Milko (voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the United Kingdom dub, and Michael Stark in the American/Canadian dub) is Toyland's local milkman. Milko sometimes can be gloomy and sad, but Noddy's bell on his hat always cheers him up. Why do kids like Noddy? A case could be made for the fact that, in a way, he's very similar to your typical small child — a little spoilt, rather selfish, he bursts into tears every now and again and he loses his temper quite badly at times. He has bouts of enthusiasm and gets into trouble occasionally which calls for a punishment of some kind and furthermore, another attraction could be that although Noddy gives the impression of being a little boy, he's actually a Grown-Up. He has his own car and house and he works to earn money so this gives him an adult's independence. "What a great life he has. He can do what he likes and yet he acts just like us. Noddy Rules O.K!"

Publication Order of The O'Clock Tales Collection Books

In 1954 Blyton adapted Noddy for the stage, producing the Noddy in Toyland pantomime in just two or three weeks. The production was staged at the 2660-seat Stoll Theatre in Kingsway, London at Christmas. [163] Its popularity resulted in the show running during the Christmas season for five or six years. [164] Blyton was delighted with its reception by children in the audience, and attended the theatre three or four times a week. [165] TV adaptations of Noddy since 1954 include one in the 1970s narrated by Richard Briers. [166] In 1955 a stage play based on the Famous Five was produced, and in January 1997 the King's Head Theatre embarked on a six-month tour of the UK with The Famous Five Musical, to commemorate Blyton's centenary. On 21 November 1998 The Secret Seven Save the World was first performed at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff. [1] Review by Terry Gustafson This monotonously infantile character, who is frequently heard to say that he doesn't like being sensible but would far rather be silly, seems to have been put together from the weakest and least desirable attributes of childhood. It is hard to explain the persistent popularity of these trivial, repetitive stories with their small, retarded, masochistic hero. Adams, Stephen (15 November 2009), "BBC Banned Enid Blyton For 30 Years", The Telegraph , retrieved 20 January 2014 A time comes in peoples' lives when they have to make great decisions and this is one of them. What's to be done? Well. .. the answer seems obvious to us and it’s also apparent to wise old Big-Ears. They have no tent and their money's all finished so: Since her death and the publication of her daughter Imogen's 1989 autobiography, A Childhood at Green Hedges, Blyton has emerged as an emotionally immature, unstable and often malicious figure. [27] Imogen considered her mother to be "arrogant, insecure, pretentious, very skilled at putting difficult or unpleasant things out of her mind, and without a trace of maternal instinct. As a child, I viewed her as a rather strict authority. As an adult I pitied her." [112] Blyton's eldest daughter Gillian remembered her rather differently however, as "a fair and loving mother, and a fascinating companion". [112]

There's a burglar on the loose in Toytown. The only clue to his identity is the jingling sound Noddy makes, so everyone thinks it's Noddy. Can Noddy and Tessie Bear catch the real thief? Noddy offers to do Mr. Milko's milk round for him, but Milko's also supposed to be looking after Bumpy Dog, and Noddy may have taken on more than Noddy can handle. In her leisure time Blyton led the life of a typical suburban housewife, gardening, and playing golf or bridge. She rarely left England, preferring to holiday by the English coast, almost invariably in Dorset, [72] where she and her husband took over the lease of an 18-hole golf course at Studland Bay in 1951. [73]Seven Stories: Enid Blyton Collection Highlights", Seven Stories Collections Department , retrieved 22 June 2014 A synopsis:— Noddy searches for work, finds it then accidentally discovers that the cars housed in a garage where he was briefly employed have been stolen. He and his pal Big-Ears are instrumental in the recovery of the vehicles and there is a very happy ending. For a far more detailed account minus the conversations and the many bright pictures and lots of other details which add positively to the story, read below: