Bimbo and Topsy

by Enid Blyton

Gillian and Imogen are delighted with their new pets - Bimbo, an elegant Siamese kitten, and Topsy, a greedy fox terrier. The kitten and the puppy get on like a house on fire but cause all sorts of chaos as they get settled into their new home.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Classics, Animals

185 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 1969

About the author

See also:
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)

Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.

Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.

Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.

According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.

See also her pen name Mary Pollock

Reviews

[Auz · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite childhood books that I have since lost. It's a shame, after all that trouble stealing it from the doctor's office :(

[Felix · Rating 2 out of 5]

WHAT I FOUND DISTURBING: a dog giving chocolate to his owners for Christmas and then eats some of it, I don't care if this is a children's story, everyone knows chocolate is bad for dogs.
Starving your cat when they scratch the furniture.
Enid blyton writes as if animals have no brains.
There is a story were topsy misses his tail that was probably docked when he was born.


I'm not a huge fan of the writing ether, but this was writing in the 40s (I think ) so maybe that says something. and the animals talk to the people too, which I think is also weird, but tipsy and bimbo are adorable, and that counts for something.

[Father Dougal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that will amuse young children for hours. Topsy is the star turn here with her thinking that Bobs ( the older dog ) melts, thinking that she can see the moon in a pail of water, and a full chapter on her teasing activities. She is an adorable little puppy who is a mirror image of my wife who is also called Topsy.

[Peta Yaxley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first 'novel' I ever read on my own.

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 3 out of 5]

An episodic book about two cute animal friends with unfortunate names. Mildly entertaining, but I don't imagine that the middling story would retain much appeal beyond the nostalgic.

[Tanmayi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is sooo adorable 🥹

[Georgina Willetts · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom read this when she was a little girl and wanted me to read it aswell as we both love animals. My mom didnt have a dog or cat when she read this book and neither do I.

Bimbo is a male kitten and Topsy is a female puppy. Although the pictures of them on the cover appear to look like Bimbo is the girl and Topsy is the boy !

The new pets both get up to mischief in their new homes. For example they thought the soap was a cake because Gillian said that mom had brought a new cake of soap. When Topsy ate it she started blowing bubbles.

I am looking forward to having a kitten of my own, a black stripy one called Sparkle !

This was my first Enid Blyton book and I would like to read more of her books because they sound exiting.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story that can make you an animal-lover! The innocence of animals, their conversations and their love for each other - all make for an excellent read.
I read and re-read this as a child, well into my teenage years, just to experience that simplicity of life and relationships again.

A great gift for children.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will always hold a special place in my heart. My mum read it when she was a kid and handed it down to me when I was younger. She read it to me first, and then I proceeded to read it multiple times over. This is one of my favourite childhood books. 100% recommend reading this to your child, or giving it to your child to read.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without ant shadow of doubt, this particular Blyton book was the individual childhood favourite of both of my girls.

The stories of Bimbo and Topsy are timeless classics and are absolutely delightful. We are all truly fortunate to have such books available to share with our children.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful and uplifting collection of stories about friendship and getting up to mischief, I still enjoy reading this now, it hysterical and amusing and will have you laughing out loud. You will also start looking at your own pets in a completely different light

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mum had this book when she was little she gave it to me to read all by muself now. I am 7 years old and I love this book because i love kittens and it is cute when they go in the pantrey and eat the custard and all the food! :) Liam

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have actually read this several times...it was the first real book that I read while we were over in Europe for several months when I was about 5 years old...It is absolutely adorable!!

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a favourite, but I did quite enjoy this when I was younger :)

[Gina G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as a child, used to get so excited reading the christmas chapter :)

[Penny Dunbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite childhood books too and couldn't wait to buy it for my son to read. Shame it didn't last for longer, but a delightful book nevertheless!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of all time! This book is so funny I could read it again and again! So happy to have got in primary school! :-)

[Amanda Hannah n hubby · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favourite books when i was a little girl :)

[MissNYix · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is still one of my favourites.

[Aidan Robins]

Read this in one day. great book

[J.P. Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still love this old classic. I fell in love with Bimbo the Siamese in these stories and swore I would have Siamese cats when I grew up. My old boy and his sister never miss their supper... unlike poor Bimbo.

[Jitendra Chauhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book ever. I don't remember what this book was about. But it was good enough to keep me interested in reading books. Thank you Enid Blyton. You introduced me to this reading hobby.

[Samantha Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved this book ❤️

[Michelle Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this book is great , it is funny , short and easy to read. It was passed down to do I read it and couldn't stop.😆

[Horror_Reader1973 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another memorable one from my childhood.

[Kiara Khemani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it because of the mischievous Bimbo and Topsy … it was very funny

[Mariam]

And here I was introduced to Siamese cats.

[vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first English novel that I had read all by myself! :D I felt comfort and fun in my heart when I read this. <3

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. Bimbo and Topsy cause all kinds of chaos through their bright ideas as they learn about how the world works.

[Caroline Brailsford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book as a child. I have since re read my original copy with both my children who also loved it