NAOMI WILKINSON:Just reading one of my favourite stories, The Magic Faraway Tree. It's a book about three children, Joe, Beth and Franny, who take their cousin, Rick, to an enchanted wood near their home, to show him the most amazing tree you will ever read about. The Faraway Tree is so tall, you can't see where it ends.
NAOMI WILKINSON:But if you clamber all the way to the top, you'll arrive at strange and magic lands. A different one each time you visit.
NAOMI WILKINSON:The children are experts at the climb. On the way up, they know to avoid Dame Washalot who's always doing her dirty washing, and emptying the water down the tree. Phew.
NAOMI WILKINSON:They meet lots of other people, like Silky the Fairy, and The Saucepan Man Who've all made their homes inside the trunk.
NAOMI WILKINSON:The tree is stuffed full of funny characters, like Mr. Watzisname, that's his actual name, because even he can't remember what he's called. Then there's Moon-Face, who has a big round face like the moon, with a huge smile on it.
NAOMI WILKINSON:And his best friend is The Saucepan Man, who's covered in pots and kettles. Can you imagine the noise he makes when he moves around? I've always been really adventurous, so I loved reading about the incredible things that happened in this book. It's a bit like dreaming, because there's loads of magical things that go on
NAOMI WILKINSON:that you would never be able to do or see in real life. There was a big tree near where I lived, and I used to climb it, look up, and imagine the sort of adventures, I might like to have. On Rick's first visit, the Land of Topsy-Turvy, is at the end of the Faraway Tree.
NAOMI WILKINSON:As they climb higher and higher, Rick can't wait to see it. "A huge, white cloud floated above them, but just nearby, was a hole right through the cloud. 'That's where we go, up that hole', said Joe. 'See that branch, that goes up the hole? Come on!'
NAOMI WILKINSON:They all went up the last and top-most branch of the Faraway Tree. It went up, and up, through the purple hole in the cloud, at the very end of the branch, was a little ladder. Joe climbed the ladder, and suddenly, his head poked out into the Land of Topsy-Turvy
NAOMI WILKINSON:Then one-by-one, all of the others followed and soon, all seven of them, stood in the curious land.” And what do you think they saw when they got there? Well the great thing is, you don't have to guess, because the writer, Enid Blyton,
NAOMI WILKINSON:takes you to the different worlds at the top of the tree too. So you'll see what it's like to be Topsy-Turvy, with policemen walking around on their hands. Or how about spending a day, in the land of toys. Or even better, the Land of Goodies, where chocolate muffins grow on trees.
NAOMI WILKINSON:Of course, the magical lands don't stay at the top of the tree for long, so you've got to know how to get home. In one story, when the children have rescued The Saucepan Man from a fortress, in the Land of Toys, they almost don't make it.
NAOMI WILKINSON:"Quick, run! Run!', cried Joe. And they all ran, fast. Soldiers poured out of the fort after them. Teddy bears and dolls joined in the chase, and animals patted behind, on four feet. 'To the hole in the cloud!', shouted Joe. 'Run Beth! Run Franny! Oh I hope we get there in time!'. How the children and the others ran.
NAOMI WILKINSON:They knew well that if they were caught, they would be put into the toy fort. And then the Land of Toys would move from the Faraway Tree, and goodness knows how long they might have to stay there. So they ran at top speed. Franny fell behind a little, and Joe took her hand to help her along.
NAOMI WILKINSON:Panting and puffing, they raced down the streets of the Land of Toys, trying to remember where the hole was that lead down through the cloud, to the Faraway Tree. Joe remembered the way. He lead them all to the hole, and there was the ladder. Thank goodness."
NAOMI WILKINSON:You know there are so many books out there that can make your head explode with new ideas, and take you to places you've never imagined before. I'll bet you can find a book that can really get your head spinning and make your brain go Topsy-Turvy.
NAOMI WILKINSON:You know, I could read about the adventures of the Faraway Tree all day. Are you alright? And if I can stay dry, I will.
Video summary
TV presenter Naomi Wilkinson reads extracts from 'The Magic Faraway Tree' by Enid Blyton (illustrated by Mark Beech).
She explains why it’s her favourite children’s book, how it captured her imagination and why she loves to read.
The Magic Faraway Tree tells the story of three children: Joe, Beth and Frannie, who take their cousin Rick to see an enchanted tree near their home.
As the children climb the tree, they discover many strange and wonderful places.
They also encounter colourful characters along the way including Dame Washalot, Silky the Fairy, the Saucepan Man and Moon-face.
This clip is from the series Bringing Books to Life 1.
The Magic Faraway Tree Teacher Notes
KS1 and KS2 English Discussion Questions
Before watching the video:
- Do you enjoy reading books with magical adventures? Why or why not?
- Can you name some magical lands or places you've read about in other books?
- Have you ever climbed a tree? What are some of your other favourite outdoor activities?
While watching the video:
- Pause at 02:47 - Why does Naomi say reading this book is like dreaming?
- Pause at 02:57 - How does the book remind Naomi of her own childhood experiences?
- Pause at 05:25 - How did the children manage to escape from the soldiers?
After watching the video:
- Would you like to climb the Faraway Tree? Why or why not?
- If you could climb a magical tree like the one in the book, what kind of magical land would you want to visit?
- How do you think books can inspire our imagination and take us to new places, even if we can't go there?
KS1 and KS2 English Activity Suggestions
- Design a New Land: Have the children brainstorm, name and draw their own imaginative magical lands that could be at the top of the Faraway Tree, sharing their ideas with the class afterwards.
- Tree Climb Simulation: Set up a pretend Faraway Tree in the classroom or hall using PE equipment like benches. Allow the children to take turns pretending to climb and share what magical land they would like to visit.
- Tree Observations and Journaling: Take the children outside to observe trees. Provide notebooks for them to sketch and write about what they see – the size, shape, colour and any animals or insects they notice living on it.
Take a look at our 500 Words resources for further inspiration around story writing.
These videos contribute to the current national curriculum requirements in:
- England - KS1/KS2 English: Develop positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they read.
- Northern, Ireland - KS1/KS2 Language and Literacy: Extend the range of their reading and develop their own preferences.
- Scotland - 1st and 2nd Level Literacy and English: Reading - Enjoyment and choice.
- Wales - Progression Step 2/3 Languages, Literacy and Communication: Literature fires imagination and inspires creativity.
These discussion questions and activity suggestions provide opportunities to develop english, science and art and design knowledge and skills in meaningful contexts across all UK curricula, as well as physical activity and play.
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