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The Children of Cherry Tree Farm #2
أطفال مزرعة الصفصاف
This is a story about children living on a farm, feeding the animals, and helping with all the jobs that need doing around Willow Farm. Its simple storyline and animal interest should make it appealing to children.
250 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1942
17 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Enid Blyton
5,132 books6,299 followersSee 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 16, 2022
The second of the series, I liked this one much better than the first one. The Children of Cherry Tree Farm focused on teaching about wild animals in the English countryside. It had it's moments but felt a bit too 'educational' and stilted. The Children of Willow Farm flows more easily and is coherently held together by little happenings on the farm.
So now the children and their parents are running a farm called ... yes, indeed ... Willow Farm! The children are given duties, which they perform admirably. The farm prospers and everyone is happy. There is little friction in this, but it is very restful to read. I especially liked how the father admits that the money belongs to the children as well since they worked hard to make it a success as well.
It was interesting to see how farms were run in the 1940s. It was especially funny when everyone was enamoured by the 'latest technology' of cooling box with water pipes. :D All said and done, worth a read! Aside from being a really restful children's book, it works well as a snapshot in time with respect to farming.
So now the children and their parents are running a farm called ... yes, indeed ... Willow Farm! The children are given duties, which they perform admirably. The farm prospers and everyone is happy. There is little friction in this, but it is very restful to read. I especially liked how the father admits that the money belongs to the children as well since they worked hard to make it a success as well.
It was interesting to see how farms were run in the 1940s. It was especially funny when everyone was enamoured by the 'latest technology' of cooling box with water pipes. :D All said and done, worth a read! Aside from being a really restful children's book, it works well as a snapshot in time with respect to farming.
May 2, 2021
A perfect evening time read for relaxing into sleep. Wish fulfilment, certainly--just look how "the farmer's" (the father's) fields yield much better than Uncle Tim's, though Father is younger and less experienced. Yes he grew up on a farm but that's not the same as running the operation, even with the help of experienced hands. Perhaps the fields lay fallow for several years, which would help, but it's all a bit wonderful, especially uprooting the whole family because Father's business is doing badly, and yet having all that money to lay out on stock and machinery after a single good harvest.
Originally published in 1942, it probably encouraged kids to "save and serve" and contribute to the war effort by helping parents with victory gardens (or whatever they were called in the UK)--though of course in Blyton's universe the war is never mentioned. All that butter and cream and eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables--no rationing down on the farm!
I did get tired of Penny aged 8 being the butt of all jokes, being called "butterfingers" when she drops one apple after the older kids have already dropped several, etc but perhaps that's because as the youngest of many siblings I know how it hurt.
Originally published in 1942, it probably encouraged kids to "save and serve" and contribute to the war effort by helping parents with victory gardens (or whatever they were called in the UK)--though of course in Blyton's universe the war is never mentioned. All that butter and cream and eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables--no rationing down on the farm!
I did get tired of Penny aged 8 being the butt of all jokes, being called "butterfingers" when she drops one apple after the older kids have already dropped several, etc but perhaps that's because as the youngest of many siblings I know how it hurt.
December 1, 2020
The kids and I loved this ❤️
June 30, 2014
As the second book of the series, I think that I liked this one ever so slightly more. The children get their own farm and move in to what I consider to my dream home. Some of the things written in this book, I have never forgotten and hold close to my heart. I feel that this series of book was the most well written of all Enid Blyton's books and this one in particular I feel was written close to her own heart. The adventures the children have and the way it was written made me as a child feel like I was there and part of it. Even though it is only a story, the occurrences that happen in it are the type of things that can actually happen and also taught me a lot of things because of this reason. Just the day to day farm life that happens in it has influenced my love of farming life even more and made me appreciate what I have, because they didn't have heaps but always had so much fun.
December 10, 2017
The second book in the series is probably not as good as the first. The children basically get everything right the first time and work hard the entire book. No wonder as achild I believed that if you worked hard, were kind, never complained etc then your life would be perfect, and perfect things like getting donkeys to ride to school for Christmas would happen (it didn't happen lol)
But still, these are innocent enough fun. I should drag out a copy of the third book, but I'm not sure I can handle the sickly sweetness. Three stars.
But still, these are innocent enough fun. I should drag out a copy of the third book, but I'm not sure I can handle the sickly sweetness. Three stars.
January 28, 2023
This is such a sweet story about a family transitioning to life on a farm. There is so much to learn in this simple story; my kids and I even learned some things and we are a farming family ourselves! I think it would be a great read for children with little to no farming experience.
October 29, 2022
A wealthy family from the city buys a farm and immediately makes an unqualified success of it. That's it, that's the plot. It seems a bit rough on all the tradies and various working-calss experts that they work so hard (one of them even helps with the chickens on her days off) and they don't get to share in the profits, but as the book portrays the wealthy people ar just more important and brilliant.
I gave it three stars because this conflict-less, sanitised info-dump of a kids book was oddly relaxing to read. A bit boring but in a relaxing way, like meditating. They all "love" the animals so much and of course we don't get to see them killing off the male chickens or anything that would take away the idea that farming is just a wholesome lifestyle where you become "brown as a berry" doing hard work for fun and never getting bored. This farm has sheep, hens, ducks, cows, pigs, horses, donkeys, dogs, corn, wheat and vegetables....they certainly know how to diversify. Perhaps this sort of thing was possible in the mid-20th century I don't know. In this book machines are only just coming in and the farm still sells its produce on its own, not to a wholesaler.
Idyllic propaganda but I grew up believing this and being very jealous of farm kids. LOL
I gave it three stars because this conflict-less, sanitised info-dump of a kids book was oddly relaxing to read. A bit boring but in a relaxing way, like meditating. They all "love" the animals so much and of course we don't get to see them killing off the male chickens or anything that would take away the idea that farming is just a wholesome lifestyle where you become "brown as a berry" doing hard work for fun and never getting bored. This farm has sheep, hens, ducks, cows, pigs, horses, donkeys, dogs, corn, wheat and vegetables....they certainly know how to diversify. Perhaps this sort of thing was possible in the mid-20th century I don't know. In this book machines are only just coming in and the farm still sells its produce on its own, not to a wholesaler.
Idyllic propaganda but I grew up believing this and being very jealous of farm kids. LOL
August 8, 2020
This was such a great book to read with my 6yo. She's loved every minute of it and is even more determined that we'll be buying and running a farm (if only!)
March 19, 2024
Good to see the children again and this time they have their own farm with loads of hard work to do and many animal friends
March 20, 2017
It's not as adventurous as in the first book. I live in a village where people grow cattle, milk them and sell the cows. So it's nothing new to me.
The good thing about this book is everything went smoothly, without much problems and father was successful in his first try as a farmer. Well I don't know that's a good thing or not that this book just like go with the flow and everyone had a happy ending.
The good thing about this book is everything went smoothly, without much problems and father was successful in his first try as a farmer. Well I don't know that's a good thing or not that this book just like go with the flow and everyone had a happy ending.
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April 23, 2024Considering I've overhead my daughter's audiobook of this and the sequel three times in a row over the past week, I think I can consider myself having "read" this one.
It's interesting hearing a childhood classic again and I realise all my childhood knowledge of farm animals came from these books.
Also realising it describes a farm in the 1930's-40's, so it'd be a contemporary of James Herriot.
It's interesting hearing a childhood classic again and I realise all my childhood knowledge of farm animals came from these books.
Also realising it describes a farm in the 1930's-40's, so it'd be a contemporary of James Herriot.
November 27, 2014
This book is nice to read as a continuation of Cherry Tree Farm series. But reading about farm animals is somehow not exciting as reading about Wild animals. And Tammylan's role in the story is very limited. Somehow the wild man is the crux of the series. There is hardly any conflict and everything goes well. It almost read like a farming text book written in Enid Blyton's delicious language. Also one begins to feel the disconnect between the protagonists love for their animals and the fate that awaits the animals. While Enid Blyton describes in detail on how apples are picked, straw is made, corn is reaped, cows are milked, eggs are collected, sheep are sheared, she conveniently avoids where the meat is coming from and how the animals the children profess to love so much end up on their dining table. But still I loved Enid Blyton's usual feel good tone.
August 18, 2012
One of the best Enid Blyton books I've ever read. I could just read it again and again..
Very heartwarming tale. :)
Very heartwarming tale. :)
June 3, 2017
Read it over 40 years ago and still love it!
July 27, 2018
I read the previous book children of Cherry Tree Farm as a child and it was one of my favourites. I would agree with other reviewers this book isn't quite as exciting as the first book (which I must re-read). However one thing that strikes me and that is a sad reflection of how times have changed since this book was written is their interactions with Tammylan an old wild man who lives in a cave and is trusted by the children and the parents a like, these days sadly children are taught to fear strangers especially those who are homeless.
October 5, 2024
It was a fascinating journey to see Tammylan and the children transition so seamlessly into domestication. He feels out of place in the farm, or out of character. Is his endorsement of farming working to naturalise a relationship of dominion over the land? It’s always odd reading these English children’s books from a colony. The land there feels so densely, heavily worked — I struggle to see the “nature” through it, and feel restless as I read, like I can’t breathe.
ANYWAY it was a fun cosy read, would recommend
ANYWAY it was a fun cosy read, would recommend
November 10, 2024
Enid Blyton is such a wonderful author. I can't believe I missed all my childhood years not reading wonderful stories like these. But I think everything is supposed to happen when they happen. . .
The second book of the series is not quite interesting like the first one. It slows down a bit.
Farm life is wonderful. I wish I could live on a farm. Life was so good those days. I hope we can go back to those good old farm days. I learnt a few things about farming too.
Cheers
The second book of the series is not quite interesting like the first one. It slows down a bit.
Farm life is wonderful. I wish I could live on a farm. Life was so good those days. I hope we can go back to those good old farm days. I learnt a few things about farming too.
Cheers
July 22, 2025
for many years this story haunted me
i could not remember the name of this book
it was so vivid as a kid, i followed the adventures of the kids, learned about the farm life how sheep's fur was harvested
today as i cleaned my old novels i found it
whew decades of wondering and finally
thank you for this wonderful story
i could not remember the name of this book
it was so vivid as a kid, i followed the adventures of the kids, learned about the farm life how sheep's fur was harvested
today as i cleaned my old novels i found it
whew decades of wondering and finally
thank you for this wonderful story
January 24, 2020
A better one of Blytons. Sweet and whimsical, what life is like on a farm where the weather and animals behave, through the eyes of the children who live there. Very formulaic, but fun instead of wearing.
August 7, 2020
I enjoyed its prequel, The Children of Cherry Tree Farm, and see how CofWF follows similar format but with farming rather than wildlife, but it sent me to sleep. Sadly it did not send my 6 year old daughter to sleep - she enjoyed it and wants to read the next one 🤦🏻♀️
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March 25, 2023In need of comfort reading so turned to this childhood favourite. The children have moved with their parents to their own farm. The first book focused more on the wild animals around but this has a lot of the children welcoming and learning about their animals for the farm.
November 10, 2017
An innocent book filled with childlike wonder. Thoroughly enjoyable even after all these years!
July 13, 2019
I love it it was so good I love Skiperttiy and penny
July 26, 2020
I think I preferred the first book because it was about animals living in the wild and Tammylan but this book was more focused on farm life and looking after domesticated animals.
October 24, 2020
The perfect comfort read! I loved this book as a child and it’s still so good to read now.
May 17, 2021
It was like escape to the country. Learning all about working on a farm. Everyone was so happy to help out
December 13, 2022
I liked this one better than Cherry Tree farm - less of Tammylan and more about the workings of the farm, which was all very interesting!
May 31, 2023
I lost interest a bit at half point. Still a decent read tho.
April 8, 2024
Pure nostalgia - a favourite from my childhood. Re-read it to rate its suitability for my son - a very gentle and sweet contender.
December 28, 2019
A childhood favourite
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews