Worzel Gummidge Series

Spending their summer holidays with Farmer Braithwaite and his wife in Scatterbrook, John and Susan come across a particularly lifelike scarecrow in a nearby field. That evening, much to the children’s surprise, the scarecrow makes an appearance in the Braithwaites’ kitchen to warm himself by the fire. He is Worzel Gummidge and he is no ordinary scarecrow. His tendency to cause mayhem wherever he goes sees a series of mishaps and adventures, often with hilarious results. This is the first of the Worzel Gummidge novels written by Barbara Euphan Todd and was first published in 1936. The Worzel Gummidge stories were broadcast on the popular Children's Hour on British radio and two of them were featured in TV’s Jackanory. 1979 saw the birth of a successful television series based on Worzel Gummidge and other characters from the books, with Jon Pertwee playing the eponymous scarecrow, which still has a dedicated following to this day. The book is read by the multi-talented Jessica Martin, who infuses the stories with verve and excitement.

With his turnip head and broomstick legs Worzel Gummidge, now married to Earthy Mangold, is back for another series of adventures. In his own inimitable way, Worzel takes on roles as a schoolteacher, handyman and policeman, each with a chaotic outcome. The second of the Barbara Euphan Todd Worzel novels, Worzel Gummidge Again was first published in 1937. • The Worzel Gummidge stories were broadcast on the popular Children's Hour on British radio and two of them were featured in TV’s Jackanory. 1979 saw the birth of a successful television series based on Worzel Gummidge and other characters from the books, with Jon Pertwee playing the eponymous scarecrow, which still has a dedicated following to this day. • The book is read by the multi-talented Jessica Martin, who infuses the stories with verve and excitement.

John and Susan are back at Scatterbrook for the Easter holidays. Worzel, temporarily resident in the orchard, is up to his old tricks once again. Together the scarecrow and children embark on all sorts of escapades, which include Worzel getting stuck in a chimney and becoming a star attraction at the visiting circus. First published in 1938, More About Worzel Gummidge is the third of the Worzel novels

John and Susan are back at Scatterbrook – this time in May, though that makes little difference to the havoc caused by Worzel Gummidge and his fellow scarecrows, Earthy Mangold and Hannah Harrow. Unfortunate results ensue from their antics, including a swarm of bees invading the living room of Mrs Bloomsbury-Barton. Worzel also has a go at flying before coming down to earth with a crash. First published in 1949, this is the fifth in the series of Barbara Euphan Todd’s Worzel Gummidge novels.