Enid Blyton's Noddy Stories (1949-63) Page at Spirit of America Bookstore

          B I O
          t e x t
          h e r e
Blyton's first full length children's book was published in 1938 and was titled "The Secret Island." After working on the column for years, Blyton quit "Teachers World" in 1945 and also ended her stint as editor of "Sunny Stories" seven years later. In 1953 she started her own children's magazine called "The Edith Blyton Magazine" which featured stories about her characters and news on the clubs formed around them. Her most famous stories were those of the "Famous Five"; the Magazine closed in 1959.
Her second husband burned almost all of her diaries, probably intending to protect her memory (or at least her benign image).
lit agent George Greenfield from 1953 to his retirement in 1986

The London-based entertainment and retail company Trocadero plc purchased Blyton's Darrell Waters, Ltd. in 1995 for Ł14.6 million and established a subsidiary, Enid Blyton Ltd, to handle all intellectual properties, character brands and media in Blyton's works. Trocadero changed its name to Chorion in 1998 but, after increasing financial difficulties, sold off its intellectual assets. The rights to 'Noddy' were sold to Classic Media (now a subsidiary of DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal) in December 2011. Hachette UK acquired the rest of the world rights in the Blyton estate in March 2012, including 'The Famous Five' series.

Noddy appeared in 24 books published between 1949 and 1963, at first illustrated by the Dutch artist Harmsen van der Beek [1897-1953], known as Beek; after Beek died, the work was continued by Peter Wienk [1920-2010] thru 1964 and by Robert Tyndall since 1957. Animated television shows based on the Noddy character have run on British television since 1955.

"Noddy and Big-Ears" [#25 = 1952] - for some reason not included in the main 24 book canon

the author of the 2009 Noddy book is Enid's granddaughter Sophie Smallwood
little is known: Sophie lives in West Sussex, U.K. and teaches at a Montessori-based nursery

Principal Characters
These selected characters are listed on Wikipedia as from the books and the TV series 'franchise'.

Noddy is a human-like wooden doll with a bell on his blue hat; as the book series continues,
Noddy becomes wiser but 'without losing his charm and lovable naivety'.

Big-Ears is a wise, bearded gnome who lives in a toadstool house outside of Toyland and is Noddy's helper and father figure.

Bumpy Dog accompanies Noddy on many adventures; Noddy felt that he was unable to have Bumpy Dog live with him, so Tessie Bear offered to keep him.

Sly and Gobbo are mischievous goblins who usually steal things such as ice cream, coins, or Noddy's car and-or play tricks on Noddy & others.
Sneaky and Stealthy are cousins to goblins Sly and Gobbo.

Noddy's Car is yellow with red fenders; it has a brain of its own and can talk to other characters with its unique sounding horn that says "parp parp!"

Dinah Doll, a black-faced china doll who sells all kinds of everything in the market; a later addition, not in the original books.

Little-Ears is Big-Ears' brother who looks just like Big-Ears, but his ears are much smaller.

Mr. Tubby Bear and Mrs. Tubby Bear are Noddy's next door neighbors; they act like adults.
Teddy Tubby Bear is Mr. Tubby Bear's brother and Master Tubby Bear's uncle.
Master Tubby Bear is Mr. & Mrs. Tubby Bear's son, sometimes called Bruiny; he was naughty
in the books and early television series, but has become better behaved.

Mr. Sparks is Toyland's handyman in the TV series and runs the garage; he can mend anything.

Mr. Golly is a gollywog who in the books was the owner of the Toyland garage; he was replaced by Mr. Sparks
in the TV series in the early 1990s and in the revised editions of the original books.
Gilbert Golly is a gollywog and his companion in mischief is Tricky Teddy, a teddy bear; in later adaptations,
they were replaced as villains by a pair of teddy bears and finally by the goblins Sly and Gobbo.

Miss Harriet the Pink Cat is French and sells ice cream; she is portrayed as fussy and neat with no patience for foolishness.

Martha Monkey is a mischievous tomboy who replaced naughty schoolboy Gilbert Golly.

The Skittles are a family consisting of Sally Skittle and her many children of various sizes; they all love being knocked down and
frequently run out in front of Noddy's car so that he will hit them and knock them over.

Mr. Wobblyman is a funny little man who cannot lie down; he has a round base which he
wobbles about on, rocking back and forth to get around.

Movies & Television
Animated television shows based on the Noddy character have run on British television since 1955,
with some later rerun on U.S. & Canada children's TV networks.
http://www.worldofblyton.com/2016/09/18/a-guide-to-blyton-on-tv-and-in-film/

"The Adventures of Noddy" [ITC/ITV U.K. 1955-56]

The Adventures of Noddy 1955-56 TV series

33 b&w 15-minute episodes using puppets • Produced by A.D. Peters; directors included Quentin Lawrence, Rex Firkin; writers included Enid Blyton; puppetry by Peter Hayes
film or kinescopes may not exist • credits at IMDb

"Noddy In Toyland" [Luckwell Ltd./B.B.C. U.K. July 1957, USA June 1958]

Noddy In Toyland 1957 animated color TV movie

87-minute animated color TV movie; story not found, but character list includes several from "Faraway Tree"
Produced by Kay Luckwell & Derek Winn; directed by Maclean Rogers; written by Bill Luckwell & Michael Luckwell, based on storiess by Enid Blyton; voice actors include Colin Spaull, Bobby Kerrigan, Gloria Johnson, Leslie Sarony, Peter Elliott, David Brierly, Graeme Harper, Richard Huggett
B.B.C. Region 2 color DVD [6/2006] import/used in PAL format only
B.B.C. color VHS [6/2006] out of prodn/scarce
credits at IMDb

"Noddy Goes To Toyland" [Arthur Humberstone Films 1963]

'Noddy Goes To Toyland' color animated short film

2-D color animated short film • Exec producer Victor Broadribb; made by Arthur Humberstone Films & Caravel Film Studios; story by Enid Blyton, adapted for the screen by Peter Lee; music by Burnell Whibley, Noddy theme by Tony Day & Al Zeffertt
VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • not listed on IMDb
watch short film [3/2021 upload; 12:24] online at YouTube

"Noddy In Toyland" TV series [April 2009] /tt1423559/
The Enid Blyton character has been computer animated for a new series which will air on Five's Milkshake! broadcast from April 20. In a statement, Five's director of children's programmes Nick Wilson said: "Following on from the success Milkshake! had with Make Way for Noddy, The remastered series will see the wooden boy joined by some new characters, including a fairy apprentice called Linden Berry and a robot named Whiz, who runs the garage. Viewers will also watch Noddy exploring some of the lesser known areas of Toyland with his new methods of travel - a helicopter, a monster truck and a submarine. The 52 new 10-minute episodes are scheduled to air every morning at 7.20am.

	"Enid Blyton's Noddy Happy Families" card game [1955] includes deck of cards and book of rules in a card-sized box Sampson Low, Marston & Co. card deck [1955] out of prodn/scarce
	"Noddy In Toyland: Enid Blyton's Book of Her Famous Play" [1956] a stageplay in three acts 80-page Sampson Low, Marston & Co. hardcover [1956] out of print/scarce
	"Noddy by Enid Blyton" stageplay [1993] Adapted by David Wood, 'the acclaimed children's dramatist' Based on Enid Blyton's characters, a mix of tales from the 24 Noddy books 86-page Samuel French, Ltd. 8½x5½ pb [5/2015] for $12.95 "optional incidental music composed by Peter Pontzen for the original production is available from Samuel French, Ltd." - however, not found on either Samuel French or Amazon websites (2021)
	"Enid Blyton's Toy Town: A Novelty Playset" [1997] an amazing array of paper pop-ups and press-outs of Noddy, his little car, and all of your other favorite Toy Town characters; also a special booklet about Noddy's busy life for you to read HarperCollins/Picture Lions 13½x13½ paper playset [1997] out of prodn/scarce

Visiting this webpage from outside the U.S.A.? It is possible to make purchases from these coded Amazon (USA) links
via other Amazon sites: just follow these instructions.

	"The Big Noddy Book" [1952] by Enid Blyton, Pictures by Beek red cover Purnell hardcover [8/78] out of print/used Purnell hardcover [1976] out of print/used blue cover Purnell hardcover [8/70] out of print/used yellow cover Sampson Low, Marston & Co. hardcover [1956] out of print/used red cover Sampson Low, Marston & Co. hardcover [1952] out of print/used
	"The New Big Noddy book" [1953] by Enid Blyton, Pictures by Beek Sampson Low, Marston & Co. hardcover [1956] out of print/used Sampson Low, Marston & Co. hardcover [1955] out of print/used Sampson Low, Marston & Co. hardcover [1954] out of print/used Sampson Low, Marston & Co. hardcover [1953] out of print/used Sampson Low, Marston & Co. hardcover [wrong date] out of print/used
	"Noddy's New Big Book" [1956] by Enid Blyton Sampson Low, Marston & Co. hardcover [1965] out of print/used Sampson Low, Marston & Co. hardcover [1956] out of print/used
	"Noddy's Broken Chimney Pot (Pop-up Books)" [1969] by Enid Blyton 12-page Purnell Bancroft hardcover [1969] out of print/used 12-page Purnell Bancroft hardcover [1969] out of print/used
	"Noddy's Big Picture Book" [1970] by Enid Blyton Sampson Low, Marston & Co. pb [1970] out of print/used
	"The St. Michael Book of Noddy Favourites" [1977-80] First: Purnell hardcover [1977] out of print/used 2nd: Purnell/Darrell Waters, Ltd. hardcover [1978] out of print/used 3rd: Purnell hardcover [1979] out of print/used 4th: Purnell hardcover [1980] out of print/used
	"The New St. Michael Book of Noddy Stories" [1982] by Enid Blyton Purnell Publrs Ltd. hardcover [1982] out of print/used
	"The Noddy Treasury: 5 Books In 1" [1984] by Enid Blyton Littlehampton Book Services, Ltd. hardcover [1984] out of print/used
	"Noddy Story Book Treasury: 3 Stories In 1" [1997] by Enid Blyton B.B.C. Colour Library Direct pb [1999] out of print/used B.B.C. Consumer Publng pb [9/97] out of print/used Picture Lions hardcover [1998] out of print/used
	"Noddy Big Book of Small Stories: 4 Stories In 1" [2011] by Enid Blyton Egmont/Euro Books 11x8½ hardcover [2011] for $21.59 "Noddy Big Book of Short Stories: 4 Stories In 1" [2011] by Enid Blyton Egmont Publrs 8x5½ pb [2/2011] out of print/used "Noddy Big Book of Little Stories: 4 Stories In 1" [2014] by Enid Blyton Egmont/Euro Books 11x8½ hardcover [2014] out of print/used

	"Noddy Classics Little Library" Box Set [2013] published in Australia; four mini-sized board books in slipcover case; not found on Amazon or publisher website (2021); the four stories are "Noddy Lends A Hand", "Noddy On Holiday", "Noddy's Taxi Adventure", and "Noddy At School" Five Mile Press Pty. Ltd. board mini-books [6/2013] out of print/source not found
	"Enid Blyton Noddy Classic Collection 10 Books Set" [2018] includes the first nine Noddy books and then Book #12 "Noddy and Tessie Bear" Hodder Children's Books pb set [2018] 10 books - out of print/used

Spirit of America Bookstore

Enid Blyton'sNoddy Stories (1949-63)

Enid Blyton's
Noddy Stories (1949-63)