Who's Who in Enid Blyton by Eva Rice (Orion Books, £12.99)

ESCAPE to long sunny days of summer packed full of adventures, lashings of ginger beer and the company of old friends you haven't thought about for years... decades.

Blyton, with her extraordinary gift for storytelling, was the JK Rowling of her time, encouraging millions of children around the world to pick up a book and read.

During her lifetime she wrote more than 700 books, 100s of short stories, pantomimes, plays and magazine articles. Still thought of, in some areas, as politically incorrect, her relentless portrayal of life in cosy, middle class families cut through the social barriers of 40s and 50s England.

There couldn't have been many children growing up in that era who didn't long to be a member of The Famous Five or The Secret Seven.

Author Rice, the daughter of Sir Tim, first published this engaging compilation of more than 1,000 of Blyton's characters in 1997. This revised edition, complete with original drawings, adds the Mystery books and Farm novels to the collection.

There were six Mystery stories involving Roger and Diana Lynton, their snub-nosed cousin Snubby (possibly the greediest Blyton character ever) his cocker spaniel Loony, their friend Barnabus Hugo Lorimer and his monkey Miranda.

Blyton wrote three Cherry Tree Farm and Willow Farm books and two about the six cousins at Mistletoe Farm and Holly Farm, the latter, probably some of the author's most sharply observed writing.

Dip into Who's Who and re-acquaint yourself with the twinkly-eyed, bald-headed Bill Smugs and Kiki, the parrot with attitude, from the Adventure books; Elizabeth Allen, the naughtiest girl in the school and the Malory Towers triumverate of Darrel Rivers, Alicia Johns and Gwendoline Mary Lacey.

But fondest memories of all will surely be for Julian, Dick, George, Anne and Timmy the dog... The Famous Five, who had the amazing ability to attract adventure wherever they went.

Boyish and Kirrin Island-owning Georgina (George) was based on Blyton herself and George's father, Uncle Quentin, was so important a scientist he was regularly kidnapped by gangs eager to get their hands on his work.

Observes Rice: "Famous Five adventures always take place in the school holidays and appear to span 12 years, though if this were strictly the case, the oldest member, Julian, would have been 24 by the last adventure."

... and he was still wearing short trousers. Ripping stuff.

David Chapman