Raymond Sheppard and Enid Blyton's 6th Holiday Book

I previously mentioned Enid Blyton's Holiday Books (4th and 5th) and being logical here is the next one: Enid Blyton's Sixth Holiday Book. Like all things Enid Blyton we have to remember views from the 1950s may not be reflected in our 21st century world.  

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book was published by Sampson, Low & Marston in 1951. The two stories Raymond Sheppard illustrated was called "The Cuckoo in the Clock" (pages 123-128) and "The Wrong Bus" (pages 154-160).

 

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p123
The goblins are shocked by Cuckoo

The story is about two naughty thieving goblins, Snap and Grab! The toys are all asleep and from the Golliwog, they steal a brooch; the fairy doll, a silver crown; Pam's thimble and scissors. Although Cuckoo's appearance at three in the morning shocked the thieves, and he'd seen the thieves in the night, all he could say in the morning was "Cuckoo". But the next night Cuckoo decides to carry on cuckoo-ing and that alerts the toys when Snap and Grab are at their naughty work.  They send one goblin to fetch all their hoard and when Grab returns they are suddenly interrupted by Pam who has awoken due to the cuckoo. The toys rush with the goblins into the doll's house and the door is locked. Pam discovers the key on the floor and wonders what's happening.

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p124
The teddy bear was leaning against the golliwog dreaming of buns

Interestingly the caption and story don't match Sheppard's illustration here. Teddy is actually near dolly!

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p125
"Look at her silver crown", whispered Snap, "I'll take that".

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p126
They took the toy cat's blue ribbon

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p126
"Cuckoo. Did you seen anyone here last night?"

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p127
Caught hold of them by the scruff of their necks

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p128
She saw the tiny key of the doll's house

The second story is quite interesting, having an other-wordly quality. "The Wrong Bus" tells the tale of two children, Colin and Sue who having visited Aunt Phyllis. the latter reminds them to wait for the bus at the old oak tree, but something strange happens after the children turn down the wrong lane and approach a different oak tree. We find that the children barge their way onto the bus which is very busy. Someone suggests strongly that Colin give up his seat for an elderly woman, but he insists he paid for it and will stay there. Sue is no better. When a baby drops its rattle, Colin is not going to help. When an old man's purse falls from his pocket though, Colin grabs it only to be given away by a parrot. The passengers all turn on Colin and Sue accusing them of needing new parents who can teach them manners. The children defend their parents but are taken to the "Wise Woman". Colin begins to realise these are peculiar people and they might have got on the wrong bus. The Wise Woman looking in a mirror sees that indeed Colin and Sue's parents are good and kind but "too gentle and too trustful", trusting their children. She allows them another chance and the children run back to the bus stop, getting on the next one. When a woman gets on later, Colin has changed and gives up his seat!.

 

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p154
The Wrong Bus

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p155
The children set off to catch the bus

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p156
Colin took no notice. He wasn't going to pick up a baby's rattle

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p157
He bent down to pick up the purse

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p158
"I see badness and unkindness in them!" she said

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p159
The children fled away at once

Enid Blyton (6th) Sixth Holiday Book p160
Colin stood up and offered her his seat

UPDATE 5 December 2022

Christine Sheppard has kindly written, and I think I should have spotted this too:

"Recognise myself, my brother as the children & my grandmother, Annie Gale, with the shopping bag!"

Sheppard drew illustrations for one more of the Holiday books which I'll cover in a later post.