Noddy in Toyland

Noddy

Cover of the first Noddy story Noddy Goes To Toyland, published in 1949
Noddy Goes to Toyland Hurrah for Little Noddy Noddy and His Car Here Comes Noddy Again! Well Done Noddy! Noddy Goes to School Noddy at the Seaside Noddy Gets into Trouble Noddy and the Magic Rubber You Funny Little Noddy Noddy Meets Father Christmas Noddy and Tessie Bear Be Brave, Little Noddy! Noddy and the Bumpy-Dog Do Look Out, Noddy You're a Good Friend, Noddy Noddy Has an Adventure Noddy Goes to Sea Noddy and the Bunkey Cheer Up, Little Noddy! Noddy Goes to the Fair Mr. Plod and Little Noddy Noddy and the Tootles Noddy and the Aeroplane
Author	Enid Blyton
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre	Children's literature
Published	1949–63
No. of books	24

Noddy is a fictional character created by English children's author Enid Blyton, originally published between 1949 and 1963. Noddy was illustrated by the Dutch artist Eelco Martinus ten Harmsen van der Beek from 1949 until 1953. Television shows based on the character have run on British television since 1955 and continue to appear to this day.

Noddy is a little wooden puppet, who is a boy, who lives in his own little House-for-One in .

The first book explains Noddy's origins. He was made by a woodcarver in a toy store but ran away after the man began to make a wooden lion, which scared Noddy. As he wanders through the woods, with no clothes, money or home, he meets Big Ears, a friendly brownie. Big Ears decides that Noddy is a toy and takes him to live in Toyland. He generously provides Noddy with a set of clothing and a house. While Noddy is quite happy to be a toy, the citizens of Toyland are not sure that he actually is one. They put Noddy on trial and examine whether he is a toy or an ornament. Eventually, Noddy is declared a toy, but still has to convince the court that he is a good toy. The judge accepts that Noddy is good after a doll tells the court that he saved her little girl from a lion, and he is allowed to stay in Toyland. Noddy gets his car in the second book. It is given to him after he helps solve a local mystery.

As a self-employed taxi driver, Noddy loves driving his friends around Toyland in his little red and yellow taxi. The other toys can hear him coming by the distinctive "Parp, Parp" sound of his taxi's horn and the jingle of the bell on his blue hat. Often he uses his car to visit all of the places in Toyland. When his taxi business is not doing so well, or when he needs help, Noddy turns to Big Ears. Big Ears will often lend him what he needs. On occasion, Noddy will allow people to make his head nod, in exchange for small items, like his morning milk.

Noddy's constant companion and household pet is the exuberant "Bumpy Dog". Bumpy accompanies Noddy on almost all his adventures.

Noddy is kind and honest, but he often gets in trouble, either through his own misunderstandings, or because someone (usually the naughty goblins Sly and Gobbo) has played a trick on him. He is very childlike in his understanding of the world and often becomes confused as a result. For example, in the first Noddy book, Noddy and Big Ears are building Noddy's house for one. Noddy suggests that they build the roof first, in case it rains. With no understanding of gravity or of the need for roof supports, this is perfectly logical to him. As the series continues, Noddy becomes wiser but without losing his charm and lovable naivety.