The Children of Willow Farm by Enid Blyton is a continuation of the story of the four children Rory, Sheila, Benjy and Penny featured in The Children of Cherry Tree Farm. While in the previous book the four children were on holiday on their Uncle Tim and Aunt Bessie’s Cherry Tree Farm, in this book the children move from London to Willow Farm in the country with their parents. This book focuses on life on a farm in the beautiful English countryside.
The novel begins with a description of Rory, Sheila, Benjy and Penny’s experience of moving house from London to Willow Farm which is near Cherry Tree Farm. The children enjoy the transition from city life to country life and find Willow Farm more warm and cosy than their home in London. They enjoy life in the country and participate enthusiastically in the daily activities of farming. Rory and Benjy milk the cows and look after the horses. Sheila helps in the dairy and Penny who loves babies feeds a baby lamb named Skippetty and takes care of the calves.
The children make friends with the shepherd Davey, the cook Harriet and her niece the domestic help Fanny who teach them about farm life. The children also meet their friend Tammylan the hermit whom they made friends with on Cherry Tree Farm.
The children begin schooling soon and learn to manage their time between studying and working on the farm.
Enid Blyton’s brilliant writing once again creates a vivid picture of farm life and takes you on a happy journey to an idyllic setting in the beautiful English countryside.
Reviewed by Hannah George