The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton, Illustrations by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone

Book of the week The Enchanted wood by Enid Blyton
The timeless classic that introduces Moon-Face, Silky the Fairy, the Saucepan Man and the magical world of the Faraway Tree. Originally published in 1939 this is a later edition with illustrations by

Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone

"I feel as if there are adventures about," said Jo. "Come on! Over the ditch we go - and into the Enchanted Wood!" One by one the children jumped over the narrow ditch. They stood beneath the trees and peered about. Small freckles of sunshine lay here and there on the ground, but not very many, for the trees were so thick. 

"What's happening over there?" said Fanny. All three watched in silence. And then they saw what it was. Six big toadstools were growing quickly up from the ground, pushing their way through, and rising up steadily! "I've never seen that happen before!" said Jo, in astonishment. "Sh!" said Bessie. "Don't make a noise. I can hear footsteps." The others listened. Sure enough they heard the sound of pattering feet and little high voices. "Let's get quickly behind a bush," said Bessie suddenly.
 "There's magic happening here, and we want to see it!"

I have to agree with Bessie - this is a magical story with enchanting illustrations.

These are a few of my favourites

They climbed up again, and soon had another surprise. They came to a broad branch that led to a yellow door set neatly in the big trunk of the Faraway Tree. It had a little knocker and a brightly polished bell. "I wonder who lives there?" said Fanny.

Mother and the children stared at the queer Old Saucepan Man as he came in at the gate. He wore an extra-large-sized saucepan for a hat, and, as he came, he knocked two pans together, and sang a queer nonsense song that went like this;

Two beans for a pudding,
Two cherries for a pie,
Two legs for a table,
with a hi-tiddle-hi!

Jo waited. Then they all three slipped down the creaky stairs and out into the moonlit garden. The shadows were very black indeed, just like ink. There was no colour anywhere, only just the pale, cold moonlight. They were soon in the Enchanted Wood. But, dear me, it was quite, quite different now! It was simply alive with people and animals! In the very dark parts of the wood little lanterns were hung in rows.

Enid Blyton's The enchanted wood deluxe edition illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone

I'm a big fan of Janet and Anne and judging from comments left on previous posts I'm not alone! Please feel free to leave a comment - and pop back to read the replies.

Previous Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone post here

This book is now sold, thank you for your interest.