The Faraway Tree: A Childhood Spent Squinting for Magic

There are two reasons I wear glasses, and one of them is the works of Enid Blyton. Reading the Magical Faraway Tree late into the night, way past my bedtime, straining my eyes with the dim light of the hallway, keeping an ear out for my mother coming down to check on me, the pile of books under my pillow stacking comically tall. Driving long nights between Melbourne and Ballarat for Saturday school, waiting for the street lamps to illuminate the page so I could read just that little bit more. The other is probably just a genetic predisposition.

Reading The Magical Faraway Tree in my formative years is one of my most distinct and fondest memories. I loved the idea of such a wondrous and ever-changing place with its cast of delightful characters, creating a safe space of cosy adventure. I poured over those books innumerable times, until the spine was well-worn and but each precious page remained as perfect as the imprint on my memory (Which, for a clumsy 11 year old is quite a feat). 

What Enid Blyton gave me in glasses and poor vision, she made up for in imagination. And with the new movie for the Magical Faraway Tree coming out around Australia on 26 March 2026, I can feel my inner child taking me by the hand for another sunny, carefree romp in the Enchanted Wood.

My physical eyes may be -5, but my inner eye is 20/20 for seeing the joy, whimsy, and magic in seeking adventures and new experiences. And both sets of eyes cannot wait to see the world, previously only in my mind played out on the big screen.

Check out the trailer for The Magic Faraway Tree HERE to get a first glimpse into the magical world of the Enchanted Wood and the film’s cast which includes Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlan, Nonso Anozie, Jessica Gunning, Rebecca Ferguson, Mark Heap, Oliver Chris, Jennifer Saunders, Sir Lenny Henry, Sir Michael Palin and Sir Simon Russell Beale. 

Written by Susan Craggs