I loved Enid Blyton as a child.
The Magic faraway Tree was the first 'proper' book I ever read. It was a truly eureka moment for me, I realised I could read all by myself and I realised that books were totally absorbing.
I became a total bookworm.
Only Enid Bylton for a few years, I loved Malory Towers, St. Clares and The Secret seven, but then eventually progressed onto Roald Dahl, then little Women, and basically anything I could get my hands on.
AS a teenager I read Sweet valley High, then Jackie Collins, alongside all Austen and the Brontes and went on to do english at Uni.
I owe Enid Blyton a debt of gratitude for leading me into the world of books and a love of reading that I found in one moment and have never lost.
Those on this thread who critise her literary skills are missing the point. The simple vocab, linera storylines, formulaic plots combined with an imagination that speaks to children, is exactly what young children need to introduce them to the wonder of books.
If you have a reluctant reader and won't let them try EB, you need to think really hard about that imo.
About the racism element, I thought most/all had been removed and therefore suspect that the 'chinky' name was deemed not to be a reference to race and so left in. Maybe.
If so, write to the publisher, edit it yourself, chat about the issue but don't dent them EB on that basis alone. There is so much more on offer.