The story of the Enchanted Wood is a perfect example of how amazing childhood adventures can come from such experiences as having fun with silly stories, following arbitrary rules, and embracing the excitement of new places, characters, and things as you enter the unknown. The Enchanted Wood begins with three children who find themselves in a forest located behind their house that is very different from what they would expect it to be, and a large magical tree serves as a “transit” vehicle to transport the children to yet another magical place. The magical adventures the children experience in the Enchanted Wood take place in magical worlds that reflect a magical way of living, such as silly, fun, playful things; icy, cold places; and wonderful birthday celebrations. Each of the worlds has its own movement, which is done in a magical manner that adds an element of surprise.
To conclude, Enid Blyton was a very prolific author with many titles to her credit and earned great respect for her ability to create diverse plots and stories that resonate with a child’s love for adventure. The Enchanted Wood has been created with the adventurous and curious child in mind, and the authors utilize the Faraway Tree as both a setting and a storytelling tool to explore the rules of storytelling, the types of stories that feature unexpected surprises at the end, and the limitations of magic (e.g., lands can appear and disappear, lost items cannot be recovered, and animals used as guides can serve their own interests). Together these elements are foundational to the exploration of the fantasy realm; in addition to being able to visit different areas of the world or different realms through fantasy, you must also keep in mind the disclaimer that accompanies any type of fantasy magic.
The characters in The Enchanted Wood elevate this book from just a whimsical fantasy story to a rich place for imaginative play and exploration. Moon-Face is a friendly guide and keeper of the eccentric rules in his world. Silky brings a kind heart along with her wonderfully delicious biscuits; the bustling and forgetful Saucepan Man is pure chaos but also provides loyalty. The characteristics of these personalities are simple and memorable because Blyton uses just one or two defining characteristics per character and one recurring joke to establish each character as a companion for young readers. Each of these characters is described and has stories told throughout the chapters of the book.
The book sends a very indirect message. It encourages friendship and responsibility and defines the limits of greed. Blyton also uses humor to illustrate how, when Biff and his friends are in the land of Take-What-You-Want, careless wishing creates further difficulties, but also how the characters perform acts of courage and then use good common sense. The book’s main message is to be happy but cautious, as shown in the chapter and episode summaries.
The characters might not resonate with contemporary readers. Occasionally they reflect the era they lived in; there are some elements of the writing style that may seem dated or old-fashioned. This trait means that this book can serve both as an example of historical fiction and also as a source for discussion on how literature has evolved over the years.
When you read THE ENCHANTED WOOD, you will find that it possesses all the qualities of a great children’s book—a delightful smell, clear rules/laws for the story’s development, and plenty of time-tested methods of encouraging a child to jump right into the adventure of visiting a new and exciting place, like THE FARAWAY TREE!
