One of Enid Blyton's most recognizable characters, Noddy is a wooden toy whose many adventures are chronicled in The Noddy Library, a series of twenty-four simple chapter-books for young readers. Beginning with Noddy Goes to Toyland (1949), in which Noddy is befriended by Big Ears the brownie, and comes to live in Toyland, and running through Noddy and the Aeroplane (1963), each book relates a brief adventure, and concludes happily.

Well Done Noddy! is the fifth book in the series, and follows Noddy as he cares for an injured Big Ears, and struggles to earn the money necessary to repair Big Ears' bicycle, destroyed in a crash with Jumbo the toy elephant. When Noddy is given a job to transport some sacks from the Sailor Doll's house, he finds himself in trouble with Mr. Plod, the policeman! Can Noddy sort it all out...?

Although not the first Noddy book, this was my introduction to the character and the series. Having recently become interested in Blyton's work, and having the opportunity to borrow a few of these titles, I decided to make an exception to my usual rule, and read them out of order. I understand that there is some controversy attached to them, due to the inclusion of black-faced wooden dolls - called golliwogs - in the original editions. My copy was printed in 1996 however, and must be a revised edition, as there were no golliwogs.

Although relieved that modern children will not have egregiously racist images and themes inflicted upon them, I nevertheless found Well Done Noddy!, as well as the three subsequent titles I have read thus far, cloyingly sentimental and saccharine, and would be unlikely to recommend them to any young reader of my acquaintance. ( )