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Shadow the Sheepdog
180 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1942
About the author
Enid Blyton
4,540 books5,559 followersSee also:
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Енід 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)
Енід 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 45 reviews
August 2, 2011
The book which got me addicted to reading- i must have read it at least 20 times and enjoy flipping pages thru it even now! also the book reponsible for my love for k9 tales! shadow, love u!
October 22, 2012
My Grand-parents gave me this book for Christmas, when I think I was about six or seven years old. My first ever to read by myself book, I loved it, so much that by the age of ten, I could repeat whole chapters off-by-heart.
March 10, 2018
This is the first book I ever remember reading and I love it. I always wanted a dog because of this book. It's loveable and endearing and full of important messages for kids growing up. Shadow and the gang are the best. Fond memories.
August 5, 2012
I adored this book as a child and read it over and over again. It was one of mum's childhood favourites too. Enid Blyton at her best.
March 22, 2017
Uma excelente história para a faixa etária para a qual foi escrita.
June 6, 2019
What a treat to read this book again for the first time in about 45 years! I was obsessed with this book as a small child, I read it over and over. I drove my parents nuts wanting a collie! And now, at the same time as reading this book I finally do have my own border collie (unlike the breed used throughout the book's illustrations). I found myself enjoying Johnny and Shadow's adventures, it's all very jolly and upbeat and even when Johnny is faced with major problems everything comes up roses. Shame about the display of outdated and intolerant views of travellers, but Blyton was said to be a bit of a bigot (not something that struck me when I was 5) and you can't help but spot these things as an adult reader. I tried to remember the innocent magic experienced the first time I read this book, and I found myself indulging in memories of a simpler time.
January 3, 2019
This was the first chapter book I ever read. Our landlady in Harrow, UK gave it to me as a Christmas gift in 1959 -- it was my favorite book for the longest time. A dear, dear friend found a copy in a London bookstore a few years ago and gave it to me as a Christmas present -- best gift I ever received.
January 11, 2022
My mother vividly remembers being read this as a child in school so she found a copy and sent it to me to read to the kids. The story of the relationship between dog and kid is great but be warned, the depiction of travellers is totally outdated. Some of it is also quite matter of fact about death occurring in a farmyard environment.
March 18, 2008
this was my first chapter book and i have read it many times. it never looses excitement and i will love it forever.
November 23, 2012
My English Grandma gave me this book for my birthday in the 60's. I still have it. Very sweet story and helped me along the road to my love of reading. Nothing like getting lost in a book.
January 9, 2014
Childhood favorite. Read it a gazillion times and never tired of it.
February 3, 2022
Excellent old fashioned dog story. Great relationship between dog and boy, each has the opportunity to save the other. Can't go wrong with Enid Blyton.
April 6, 2022
This was Michael's favourite childhood book. I'd never read it before as I was more a fan of Famous Five as a child. I've really enjoyed it though!
October 28, 2020
“Shadow The Sheepdog” was my favourite stand alone novel by Enid Blyton. Originally published in 1942 it is the tale of young farm boy and his faithful sheepdog.
A typical Blyton story with lots of adventures full of life lessons and values for young readers (and probably a few older readers also) to learn such as being honest, respectful, working hard to achieve your goals, the strong bonds of friendship, and being humble.
Even though this book is nearly 70yrs old it’s still a lovely book for parents to read to their kids, younger readers to read for themselves, and even older readers to reminisce fondly a favourite book from their childhood.
“Shadow The Sheepdog” gets 5 wonderful trips down memory lane out of 5.
A typical Blyton story with lots of adventures full of life lessons and values for young readers (and probably a few older readers also) to learn such as being honest, respectful, working hard to achieve your goals, the strong bonds of friendship, and being humble.
Even though this book is nearly 70yrs old it’s still a lovely book for parents to read to their kids, younger readers to read for themselves, and even older readers to reminisce fondly a favourite book from their childhood.
“Shadow The Sheepdog” gets 5 wonderful trips down memory lane out of 5.
September 24, 2008
Feel good story about intelligent loyal English Sheepdog (like Lassie) and his sheep-farm boy owner Johnny. Shadow gets up to all sorts of adventures and incurs the jealousy of his fellow working dogs but continues to save Johnny from nasty gypsies and his bravery culminates in saving newborn lambs from vicious Golden Eagles which he kills thereby making this magnificent species extinct in England, incurring a £5,000 fine from the RSPB and being put down. Oh well c'est la vie. (only joking)
December 2, 2018
I may turn 26 in just over a week, but I can still enjoy a good children’s story. This was my first time reading Shadow the Sheep Dog, I found it on a second-hand bookshelf at work and thought it was worth trying. Having read a number of Enid Blyton books growing up, this one was just as fun. Easy to read, full of adventure and a happy ending.
November 30, 2014
it not true what Missis Blighton said what we kilt the eagle no we never Shadow just find it with super strong nose show Johhny Johhny say let take eagle home it die natral corses dont care wot Orris Peaby say was true about gypsies mind Shadow see gypsy Shadow bite
January 24, 2023
I read this book over and over as a child and loved it. I recently borrowed the book from my mother (it is an early edition that she bought with her pocket money when she was a child) and read it with my eight year-old son. It was a complete delight to revisit this story and my son throughly enjoyed it too. It is like stepping back in time to a quintessential rural England, to simple farm life, to the work of sheepdog, to the love of a boy for his dog. My son was particularly curious about sheepdog trials so we ended up watching some videos of present day sheepdog trials on YouTube. Yes, there are parts of the story that are no longer politically correct - mostly surround the chapters about the travelers - but, for the most part, this is a gorgeous tale of love, loyalty and adventure.
October 4, 2021
Wzruszająca opowieść (chociaż bez fabuły) o życiu na farmie z perspektywy psa. Bardzo dobrze opisane etapy nauki do przygotowania do życia przy pilnowaniu owiec szczeniaka o imieniu "Shadow". Cudowny psiak i bardzo inteligentny, od razu przypada do serca każdemu miłośnikowi zwierząt.
Książka napisana jest w bardzo przyjemny i lekki sposób, jednak, u mnie nie trafiła na odpowiedni czas, chyba ten styl jest już daleko za mną... niemniej jednak polecam, język prosty i lekki, szczególnie dobry dla dzieci.
Książka napisana jest w bardzo przyjemny i lekki sposób, jednak, u mnie nie trafiła na odpowiedni czas, chyba ten styl jest już daleko za mną... niemniej jednak polecam, język prosty i lekki, szczególnie dobry dla dzieci.
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March 13, 2022I've loved this book since I was a child, and my dad managed to get the book back for me after years! Aside from one chapter which had very dated ideas and it was very horrible to read. But aside from those chapters then it was still amazing. They did continue to use a word that shouldn't be said, but that can of course be expected for old books. As long as you ignore those parts it's still a good book, and it fills me with nostalgia.
June 2, 2017
My boys (6&3) absolutely loved this one! A 1952 version of the book was being passed around my wider family and all the nieces and nephews ended up talking like dogs when recounting the tales and adventures of Johnny and Shadow.
It is a little dated (like most Enid Blighton books these days) but I am not sure why this one hasn't been re-printed like all the others.
It is a little dated (like most Enid Blighton books these days) but I am not sure why this one hasn't been re-printed like all the others.
June 2, 2019
I am 68 yrs.
I had this book when i was 7yrs old.
I read and read it 20 times or more.
Drove my mum mad reading same book. Loved it.
A lovely story.
Often think of it especially if i see a w Welsh Collie dog. Thought the book would have been long forgotten by people
Recomend children reading it.
Would read again if i had a copy.
Well worth reading.
I had this book when i was 7yrs old.
I read and read it 20 times or more.
Drove my mum mad reading same book. Loved it.
A lovely story.
Often think of it especially if i see a w Welsh Collie dog. Thought the book would have been long forgotten by people
Recomend children reading it.
Would read again if i had a copy.
Well worth reading.
February 10, 2022
Oh how I love this book. Shadow is what made me love dogs so much. I even have a cuddly toy dog named Shadow that I’ve had since I was very small. Johnny’s adventures with his clever collie are just lovely, and I come back to this story again and again. One of the best stories about the love between a person and their best friend.
October 2, 2021
A great tale of a dog and his boy master. It did feel as though the story ended mid-stride and left me feeling I’d missed the last chapter. Other than that it was yet another Blyton adventure well worth reading.
June 8, 2018
Remember being read this one at school. then I liked it so much that I went and bought it from a 2nd hand book shop. Was probably the first Blyton book I ever read.
September 4, 2022
Very good
January 12, 2023
My favourite childhood read. And it was my dad's too.
March 1, 2023
My first and most favourite book ever.
March 25, 2015
I began this book before I started school. It belonged to my elder brother (4 years older than me) and I felt very grown up having a go at it. I don't think I got to the end, but I was fond of it. I finished it this evening, so, at somewhere around about 52 years, it stands as the book that has taken me longest to read. I'm still fond of it but I can't say that it is without flaws. I would guess that it was written in a couple of weeks and that the drafting process was to Blyton unknown.
The book is really a collection of (almost) stand alone stories. They would have held my attention as a young boy growing up on a hill farm. They hold my attention now. The understanding of collies is good. The admiration of the breed, excellent. The laying down of a personal morality is unsubtle. Life is hard, and sometimes unfair, but that is no reason not to respect your elders and betters. Oh, and make sure your dog doesn't attack anyone without your express permission.*
The drawings are wonderful and actually capture the growing relationship and the maturing of both boy and dog better than the words.
Enid Blyton is an oddity. She isn't a particularly good writer. But she was remarkably successful. And there is a reason for her success that snooty scholars like me would be advised to acknowledge. She tells a good story.
*Students of children's literature of a sociological leaning may wish to compare the way child raising advice is given here with a selection of more recent novels.
The book is really a collection of (almost) stand alone stories. They would have held my attention as a young boy growing up on a hill farm. They hold my attention now. The understanding of collies is good. The admiration of the breed, excellent. The laying down of a personal morality is unsubtle. Life is hard, and sometimes unfair, but that is no reason not to respect your elders and betters. Oh, and make sure your dog doesn't attack anyone without your express permission.*
The drawings are wonderful and actually capture the growing relationship and the maturing of both boy and dog better than the words.
Enid Blyton is an oddity. She isn't a particularly good writer. But she was remarkably successful. And there is a reason for her success that snooty scholars like me would be advised to acknowledge. She tells a good story.
*Students of children's literature of a sociological leaning may wish to compare the way child raising advice is given here with a selection of more recent novels.
August 10, 2016
This is a sweet story (as you might expect from Enid Blyton). It only takes a few hours to read, too.
It's from the point of view of Shadow, the sheep dog, for the most past, but occassionally from Johnny's too. Shadow belongs to Johnny and they adore each other.
To me, it seems like this is almost a collection of short stories, which are fitted together along a chronological timeline. The stories (chapters) build on each other nicely, though the plot is rather *ahem* relaxed. This, however, really doesn't matter. The bigger, more dramatic stories are also saved for the last few chapters, so it climaxes nicely.
It has lots of decent, moral advice (e.g. being respectful, obeying your parents, not being boastful, being responsible, controlling your anger) scattered throughout, and all of it is integrated into the story nicely, adding to it rather than detracting from it.
Beware of giving it to your child! They will probably desperately want their own sheep dog after reading this! I certainly do, but my husband is disinclined to consider my pleas. Living in a unit with no yard also work against me...
I will defintely read this again, and lend it to friends so their children can read it too. It's a fun, cute, uplifting story with good values.
It's from the point of view of Shadow, the sheep dog, for the most past, but occassionally from Johnny's too. Shadow belongs to Johnny and they adore each other.
To me, it seems like this is almost a collection of short stories, which are fitted together along a chronological timeline. The stories (chapters) build on each other nicely, though the plot is rather *ahem* relaxed. This, however, really doesn't matter. The bigger, more dramatic stories are also saved for the last few chapters, so it climaxes nicely.
It has lots of decent, moral advice (e.g. being respectful, obeying your parents, not being boastful, being responsible, controlling your anger) scattered throughout, and all of it is integrated into the story nicely, adding to it rather than detracting from it.
Beware of giving it to your child! They will probably desperately want their own sheep dog after reading this! I certainly do, but my husband is disinclined to consider my pleas. Living in a unit with no yard also work against me...
I will defintely read this again, and lend it to friends so their children can read it too. It's a fun, cute, uplifting story with good values.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews