Toppsta - Childrens Books – Reviews

Famous Five Series

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  • (147 reviews)

    Generations of children have grown up in the company of the Famous Five - one of the best-selling children’s book series of all time. The Five’s adventures, solving mysteries with the help of lashings of ginger beer, have enthralled youngsters since the 1940s and continue to be reinvented with new illustrations and numerous TV and film adaptations. Toppsta's founder Georgina grew up on the Famous Five books, devouring them under the covers with a torch and still treasures her Famous Five collection to this day.
     
    Enid Blyton’s first Famous Five book Five On a Treasure Island was published in 1942; the series quickly became a smash hit and she would go on to write twenty more between 1942 and 1963. More than two million copies of the books are still sold every year and Enid Blyton's books are firm favourites with people of all ages with the series was even voted British adults’ favourite childhood books of all time in 2010.
     
    The Famous Five characters - adventure-seeker siblings Julian, Dick and Anne, their tomboy cousin George and Timmy the dog - spend their summer holidays together camping, hiking, swimming and picnicking. Somehow though, wherever they are, every holiday seems to produce a mystery to solve and a wild adventure to be had. Thanks to their courage, determination and loyalty, the band of friends find themselves outsmarting thieves and smugglers, finding hidden treasure, navigating dark caves and secret passages and cracking crimes.
     
    Parents love these books for their old-fashioned charm but for children the key is the thrilling stories, the secrets that are uncovered and the sense of adventure. Boys and girls aged 7 and over will be totally absorbed by the Five’s daring exploits and will love trying to solve the mysteries themselves. The books are well suited to independent readers although they can also be read aloud. You can start anywhere so why not try the first book Five On a Treasure Island where the children find a shipwreck off Kirrin Island or the ever popular Five Go to Smuggler’s Top where the children discover underground tunnels and secret signalling out to sea.

    All the Famous Five books in order:-

    Book 1: Five On A Treasure Island (1942)
    Book 2: Five Go Adventuring Again (1943)
    Book 3: Five Run Away Together (1944)
    Book 4: Five Go To Smuggler's Top (1945)
    Book 5: Five Go Off In A Caravan (1946)
    Book 6: Five On Kirrin Island Again (1947)
    Book 7: Five Go Off To Camp (1948)
    Book 8: Five Get Into Trouble (1949)
    Book 9: Five Fall Into Adventure (1950)
    Book 10: Five On A Hike Together (1951)
    Book 11: Five Have A Wonderful Time (1952)
    Book 12: Five Go Down To The Sea (1953)
    Book 13: Five Go To Mystery Moor (1954)
    Book 14: Five Have Plenty Of Fun (1955)
    Book 15: Five On A Secret Trail (1956)
    Book 16: Five Go To Billycock Hill (1957)
    Book 17: Five Get Into A Fix (1958)
    Book 18: Five On Finniston Farm (1960)
    Book 19: Five Go To Demon's Rocks (1961)
    Book 20: Five Have A Mystery To Solve (1962)
    Book 21: Five Are Together Again (1963)

    Book 1
    Book 1

    Famous Five: Five On A Treasure Island: Book 1

    Celebrate 80 years of the Famous Five with this fabulous edition of the first book featuring a cover by Sir Quentin ... MoreFamous Five: Five On A Treasure Island: Book 1

    (31 reviews)
    Review
    Book 2
    Book 2

    Famous Five: Five Go Adventuring Again: Book 2

    Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog find excitement and adventure wherever they go in Enid Blyton's most po... MoreFamous Five: Five Go Adventuring Again: Book 2

    (7 reviews)
    Review
    Book 3
    Book 3

    Famous Five: Five Run Away Together: Book 3

    Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog find excitement and adventure wherever they go in Enid Blyton's most po... MoreFamous Five: Five Run Away Together: Book 3

    (9 reviews)
    Review
    Book 4
    Book 4

    Famous Five: Five Go To Smuggler's Top: Book 4

    Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog find excitement and adventure wherever they go in Enid Blyton's most po... MoreFamous Five: Five Go To Smuggler's Top: Book 4

    (12 reviews)
    Review
    Book 6
    Book 6

    Famous Five: Five On Kirrin Island Again: Book 6

    Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog find excitement and adventure wherever they go in Enid Blyton's most po... MoreFamous Five: Five On Kirrin Island Again: Book 6

    (5 reviews)
    Review
    Book 7
    Book 7

    Famous Five: Five Go Off To Camp: Book 7

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five Go Off To Camp: Book 7

    (4 reviews)
    Review
    Book 9
    Book 9

    Famous Five: Five Fall Into Adventure: Book 9

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five Fall Into Adventure: Book 9

    (5 reviews)
    Review
    Book 10
    Book 10

    Famous Five: Five On A Hike Together: Book 10

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five On A Hike Together: Book 10

    (5 reviews)
    Review
    Book 11
    Book 11

    Famous Five: Five Have A Wonderful Time: Book 11

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five Have A Wonderful Time: Book 11

    (2 reviews)
    Review
    Book 12
    Book 12

    Famous Five: Five Go Down To The Sea: Book 12

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five Go Down To The Sea: Book 12

    (2 reviews)
    Review
    Book 13
    Book 13

    Famous Five: Five Go To Mystery Moor: Book 13

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five Go To Mystery Moor: Book 13

    (4 reviews)
    Review
    Book 14
    Book 14

    Famous Five: Five Have Plenty Of Fun: Book 14

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five Have Plenty Of Fun: Book 14

    (13 reviews)
    Review
    Book 15
    Book 15

    Famous Five: Five On A Secret Trail: Book 15

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five On A Secret Trail: Book 15

    (2 reviews)
    Review
    Book 16
    Book 16

    Famous Five: Five Go To Billycock Hill: Book 16

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five Go To Billycock Hill: Book 16

    (1 review)
    Review
    Book 17
    Book 17

    Famous Five: Five Get Into A Fix: Book 17

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five Get Into A Fix: Book 17

    (2 reviews)
    Review
    Book 18
    Book 18

    Famous Five: Five On Finniston Farm: Book 18

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five On Finniston Farm: Book 18

    (3 reviews)
    Review
    Book 19
    Book 19

    Famous Five: Five Go To Demon's Rocks: Book 19

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five Go To Demon's Rocks: Book 19

    (5 reviews)
    Review
    Book 20
    Book 20

    Famous Five: Five Have A Mystery To Solve: Book 20

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five Have A Mystery To Solve: Book 20

    (1 review)
    Review
    Book 21
    Book 21

    Famous Five: Five Are Together Again: Book 21

    Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventur... MoreFamous Five: Five Are Together Again: Book 21

    (3 reviews)
    Review
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