With A Contemporary New Look And A Sensitively Revised Text

The iconic Famous Five books have been refreshed in response to research carried out with children and mums, that showed the books were strongly endorsed by parents, but needed to be adapted in order to make them relevant for today’s young readers. Editing has been kept to a minimum to ensure the narrative of Blyton’s thrilling mystery adventures remains intact. Hodder continue to publish the ‘classic’ editions, with unchanged text and featuring artist Eileen Soper’s original Famous Five illustrations. These editions will continue to be published alongside the revised ‘contemporary’ editions, offering real choice to new readers and Blyton fans alike. Famous Five contemporary editions will launch this August with new cover designs to appeal to today’s generation of readers. Inside, changes to the text have been carried out to make the books timeless, rather than 21st century: so gone are dated expressions and language that may distance readers from the page-turning adventure of Blyton’s brilliant stories. All changes have been carried out sensitively and carefully to make the stories as appealing and accessible to today’s young readers as they were to readers when Blyton first published them. In particular, the text changes are focused on the dialogue, while the narrative is left untouched. Blyton herself felt it was very important for her readers to be able to relate to her characters, especially in dialogue, saying of her own childhood reading; “There was no lively conversation in the books, telling exactly what the speakers were like, just as a conversation does in real life …”*.

Anne McNeil, publishing director of Hodder Children’s Books says; “Blyton was passionate in her advocacy of child literacy, and was spurred to create books that she knew children would love to read. She is one of the best-loved children’s writers of all time, selling over 500 million books and, in the process, creating many millions of readers around the world. In ensuring that her Famous Five books continue to appeal to today’s generation of young readers, we hope we are upholding her legacy to get as many children to read as possible.”

Esra Cafer, vice president of brand management and marketing at Chorion, adds; “Mums told us that they wanted their children to enjoy Blyton as much as they had, but they felt that the language and look of the books were no longer relevant. We put that into research and children said the same thing. Blyton did what she did to get kids to read, so we feel duty-bound to take that legacy on board. So, we’ve focused on revising the dialogue to ensure the characters are ones that today’s children can relate to – just as readers were able to in Blyton’s day. And these new editions are available alongside the classic editions, which feature the classic text and covers – so there’s genuine choice out there for new readers and Blyton fans alike.”

Blyton’s granddaughter, Sophie Smallwood, has read the edited text and enthusiastically welcomed these new editions for today’s generation of readers. To show her support she has written a foreword to be printed in all the new editions. Smallwood says; “I was very pleased to be asked to write the foreword to the new editions of my grandmother Enid Blyton's Famous Five series. They have been gently polished to make them fit for the 21st century. No! I hear you scream. It's okay, there are no artificial additives, mobiles or computers. They are the same four children and dog saving the world and finding treasure.”

To celebrate this launch Hodder have devised an exciting marketing campaign. In the spirit of the mystery and adventure at the heart of Blyton’s books, an online treasure hunt will take place this summer. The first ten Famous Five books will be stickered to direct consumers to the Famous Five Treasure Hunt Competition. There will be five clues hidden on five partner websites offering readers the chance to win five amazing prizes. Partner websites include The Science Museum, Fun Kids Radio, NG Kids and First News. Each site will host a hidden ginger beer bottle top and a landing page which will redirect participants back to the Famous Five website and the original treasure hunt landing page. Banner advertising on all partner sites will tag WHSmiths.

London’s Science Museum will be hosting Famous Five branded sleepovers this summer as part of their Science Nights programme. Fun Kids Radio will include fun holiday camping tips and Famous Five audio clips as part of their summer on air programme.

Enid Blyton died in 1968 but remains one of the best-known and best-loved writers of children’s stories ever. She is consistently voted a children’s favourite in author polls, with the Famous Five and Magic Faraway Tree books regularly cited as top reads for children. She has almost 800 children’s books to her credit, including the Famous Five, Secret Seven, and Naughtiest Girl series, all published by Hodder, and the Malory Towers and St Clare’s series, as well as the global preschool phenomenon, Noddy. Five On A Treasure Island is the very first Famous Five adventure, featuring Julian, Dick, Anne, tomboy George and her beloved dog, Timmy. The Five first come together over the mystery of a shipwreck off Kirrin Island - but where is the treasure? The Famous Five are on the trail - looking for clues - but they're not alone! Someone else has got the same idea... Unable to resist a mystery, the Five are always ready to dive headlong into adventure!