Do we like them?

Do we like Blinky Bill?

A character from Blinky Bill: The Quaint Little Australian (1933)

Our score: 7 out of 10. Back him. He's a rascal who gets his comeuppance, but he loves his mum and his mates, and his mischief is never cruel.

Blinky Bill is an anthropomorphic koala created by Australian author and illustrator Dorothy Wall. He first appeared in 1933 and went on to star in a run of books. They include Blinky Bill Grows Up and Blinky Bill and Nutsy. He lives in the Australian bush with his mother and a cast of animal neighbours, and the stories follow his adventures as he gets into trouble.

Blinky is mischievous, bold and always up to something. Much of the humour comes from his naughtiness and from the comeuppances it earns him. Readers are often addressed directly, as if Blinky is chatting to them.

We score him a solid 7 because the mischief comes from a good place. He's known for his love for his mother, and he's a loyal friend. The stories also carry a gentle conservation message. He isn't a saint, and he can be a handful. But he's the kind of scamp you'd happily back.