A Christmas message as provided by Duncan McLaren

Dear Toyland Friends,

The door of Toadstool House flew open and in walked Noddy. "Happy Christmas, Big-Ears," said the little nodding boy, handing the white-bearded old brownie a copy of 'LOOKING FOR ENID'.

"You're supposed to wrap Christmas presents in special Rudolf the Reindeer wrapping paper, Noddy," said Big-Ears, frowning.  "Besides, this is a copy of your own book and it's very rude to give out copies of your own book as Christmas presents."

Still scowling, Big-Ears opened the book and read the hand-written inscription: 'To Big-Ears. A Wonderful Book for you at Christmas. With Love from Noddy.'

"This is not a wonderful book!" scoffed Big-Ears. "Haven't enough people told you how stupid it is yet?"

"It's n-n-not a s-s-s-s-s-stupid book," said Noddy, his head nodding in time with his stuttering. "And if you don't believe me, you can read what the clever woman at The Independent has to say about it by clicking the link:
http://arts.independent.co.uk/books/reviews/article3096891.ece

'I'll click you on the link, little Noddy. I wouldn't even eat my fish-and-chips out of a grown-up newspaper like that. Isn't The Toyland Times good enough for you any more?"

'I'm afraid I can't waste time talking to you about contemporary standards of journalism, Big-Ears, I've got a car full of Christmas presents to deliver all round Toyland. There's a copy of my book for Tessie Bear, one for the Wobbly Man, one for Mr. Sparks at the garage, and one that Mrs. Skittle and all her little Skittles will have to share between them. It's just a shame I can't make a Christmas present of the book to EVERY SINGLE TOY living in Toyland."

Big-Ears was standing with his hands on his hips, shaking his head at the naïvety of his fresh-faced friend.

Noddy went on: "The copy I'm most looking forward to delivering is for Mr. Plod at the police station. I'll have to deliver it when he's out on his rounds because inside the front cover I've written: 'To THEOPHILUS GOON. A Wonderful Book for you at Christmas. With Love from Fatty.'"

'Oh, Noddy, you've written a coded message inside Mr. Plod's book!"

'Yes, and once you've broken the code you'll see what a brilliant joke it is!" said Noddy, beaming. "One of about a million jokes and insights to be found within the beautiful hard-covers of 'LOOKING FOR ENID', all just waiting for those who have the eyes to see them."

As Noddy said this, he sauntered towards the door to Toadstool House, his head nid-nodding and the bell on the end of his hat jingle-jangling, in a way that seemed to say:""Happy Christmas to Big-Ears; Happy Christmas to all those with ears and eyes in Toyland, whatever size they might be."

With lashings of love to you all from,
Enid Blyton