Five Children and It (Puffin Classics) Summary and Reviews

Five Children and It (Puffin Classics)
by E. Nesbit

Five Children and It (Puffin Classics)
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Book Summary Information

Author: E. Nesbit
Illustrator: H. R. Millar
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1996-12-01
ISBN: 0140367357
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Puffin

Book Reviews of Five Children and It (Puffin Classics)

Book Review: A 100 year old wish come true - It wont disappoint you!
Summary: 4 Stars

I have to admit that this book has an odd title. The "Five Children" part is easy enough to figure out - that refers to Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril, and their adorable young brother who has the pet name "the Lamb". But what on earth is "It"? As it turns out, "It" is a Sand-fairy, or Psammead. And like the title, the Psammead is odd. "It" is small, round and furry with snail-like eyes and bat-like ears. But the Psammead's odd-ness is matched by its extraordinary potential. It has the power to grant one wish a day, lasting until sunset. And so when the five children stumble across this magical Psammead while playing in a gravel-pit, they quickly learn that wishes can come true!

But the children soon discover that having your wishes come true is not always as pleasant as it might seem. Wishes for beauty and wealth result in an unexpectedly bitter after-taste that confirms that these much coveted wishes are not as grand as most people think. Other wishes lead to harrowing adventures, such as being in a beseiged castle, and being stalked by Indians. Still other wishes result in rather bizarre scenarios, such as having wings, being the size of a giant, or being grown-up. But in each case the children soon end up yearning for time of day when the wish will come to an end, as one of them remarks: "We're getting into the habit of longing for sunset."

But as a reader of this tale, you'll find yourself quickly wishing for day-break, and for another exciting day to begin with another exciting wish to be fulfilled. This book may have been written about 100 years ago in 1902, but it hasn't lost any of its charm. When Edith Nesbit wrote this book (her first "magic" book) it was an instant success. It is equally beloved today - and with good reason! The magical adventures are full of charm and excitement. Yet they convey important moral lessons, such as the transitory nature of beauty and wealth - "neither had exactly made them happy." Generally speaking each chapter features a new wish and a new adventure that lasts until sunset. It's a great read-a-loud book for young children, guaranteed to enthral and please with its wonderful blend of magic, adventure, and humor. I must warn you that when the book does come to an end, you will be disappointed. But only because it means the end of the children's enthralling magical adventures! To have a book that can have such an effect - now that is a wish come true!

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