This was mysteriously missing from my shelves, so it got added to my Christmas wishlist and reread accordingly. Still wonderful even after 100 years; few people have ever written children as convincingly as Edith Nesbit (notably, btw, her children are seldom orphans, although the parents tend to be conveniently absent for whatever reason), who also throws in a little social of her own social conscience for the adults: "If grown-ups got hold of me," says the Psammead, "… they'd ask for a graduated income-tax, and old-age pensions, and manhood suffrage, and free secondary education and dull things like that, and get them and keep them, and the whole world would be turned topsy-turvy." ( )

Nesbit, E. (2004). Five Children and It. New York: Puffin Books.



9780140367355



Five children (thus the first part of the title of this book—although one of the five kids is a baby and is not involved in all of the events) leave their London home with their mother visit the countryside for a week. Within hours of their arrival they discover an ancient sand fairy living in a gravel-pit. The grumpy fairy grants the children one wish each day. The catch? The wishes only last one day and the kids never quite get what they expect.



While I liked the premise of the book, the actual execution was a little too preachy or didactic for me. I like my lessons to be subtle and reached gradually, instead of shark-shaped and biting me. Don’t get me wrong, I too believe the wee children of the Earth should enjoy being ugly, being aware that an abundance of coins are heavy, loving their whiney little baby brothers, planning ahead when they’re gifted with magical wings for the inevitable moment when those wings disappear, etc. I just like to feel I’m realizing these important lessons myself.



I still liked the narrator, who occasionally interrupted the narrative to speak in the first person and refer to aspects of the story (mmmm, metafiction).



I struggled with the way this book defined class. In similar fashion to Peter Pan, “poverty” means only having a few servants instead of many. Poor nineteenth century British kids. Life is pain.





Activities to do with the book:



If I were to use this book, it would probably be as a read aloud or individual recommendation. It would be especially good for a child who is addicted to fantasy, along with this book they could also explore the works of Lewis Carroll, J.R.R. Tolkien, L. Frank Baum and C.S. Lewis.

If a student needed to do a presentation or short paper based off of this book, they could research fairy lore.



Favorite Quotes:



“The house was three miles from the station, but before the dusty hired fly had rattled along for five minutes the children began to put their heads out of the carriage window and to say, ‘Aren’t we nearly there?’” (p. 1).



“For London is like prison for children, especially if their relations are not rich” (p. 2).



“I feel that I could go on and make this into a most interesting story about all the ordinary things you do yourself, you know—and you would believe every word of it; and when I told about the children’s being tiresome, as you are sometimes, your aunts would perhaps write in the margin of the story with a pencil, ‘How true!’ or ‘How like life!’ and you would see it and very likely be annoyed. So I will only tell you the really astonishing things that happened, and you may leave the book about quite safely, for no aunts and uncles either are likely to write ‘How true!’ on the edge of the story. Grown-up people find it very difficult to believe really wonderful things, unless they have what they call proof. But children will believe almost anything, and grown-ups know this. That is why they tell you that the earth is round like an orange, when you can see perfectly well that it is flat and lumpy; and why they say that the earth goes round the sun, when you can see for yourself any day that the sun gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night like a good sun as it is, and the earth knows its places, and lies as still as a mouse” (pp. 4-5).



“Almost everyone had Pterodactyl for breakfast in my time! Pterodactyls were something like crocodiles and something like birds—I believe they were very good grilled” (p. 14).

For more of my reviews, visit sjkessel.blogspot.com.

This classic child's fantasy, much in the style of C.S. Lewis, has all the elements of a truly delightful children's book. It is imaginiative, entralling, and easy to relate to. The children get into just the right amount of mischief to make them likable and believable. When five children find a sand fairy that grants wishes in an old gravel pit, their dull life gets turned upside-down. None of their wishes seem to be coming out quite as they intended, and all of the wishes get them into bundles of mischief. Luckily, their wishes expire at dusk, which got them out of many near-disasters. In one of my favorites, one of the children accidentally wishes that everyone would want their baby brother, so that they wouldn't have to look after him. The end up spending the day rescuing him from the adoring masses, and, if it wasn't for nightfall, he would be taken off by the gypsies. In another adventure, The children ask for wings and spend the day flying, and fall asleep ontop of a church. Night falls, and their wings are gone... In the end, each wish is a wild adventure and an important lesson learned.

This story is about five children and one fairy that was finded in sand. When the children dug a hole in the gravel-pit, they were very surprised at a Psammead.
I dont like this. ( )

Five Children And It is one of Nesbit's more famous stories. It's the only one I've read thus far, so I have no idea how it compares to her other books. I really enjoyed the characters and Nesbit's quirky humor.

Five siblings — Cyril, Robert, Anthea, Jane, and the Lamb (the baby) — go to spend the summer at a beach cottage. While attempting to dig a hole to China to ascertain whether or not the people there really do walk around upside down, the children uncover a Psammead (or "Sammyadd," as they call it) in the sand. A Psammead is an ancient creature that can grant wishes to children. This particular Psammead is very grumpy about giving wishes, and only grudgingly agrees to give the children a wish. This starts a whole string of adventures, during which the children learn the dangers of careless wishing.

Even the children's well-thought-out wishes somehow lead to disaster every time. It is, for instance, delightful to have wings, but it is less delightful to fall asleep on top of a church steeple and not wake up till after sundown with no wings and no way of getting down (the effects of the children's wishes end at sunset). It's the same when you wish for Red Indians to come and terrorize the house to make life more interesting, or when you wish your baby brother would grow up right away, or when you wish to be as beautiful as the day.

I think the Psammead knew exactly what he was doing when he granted the children's wishes. I'm not sure if he had an active interest in helping them learn to make better decisions, or if he was just plain spiteful and malicious because of how they pestered him. Perhaps it's a little of both.

The writing was quite good. It didn't take much for Nesbit to give the reader a good feel for each of the characters (even Martha), and her ability to get into the heads of children is still fresh and original. Nesbit was one of the first authors for children who didn't take a moralizing tone in her books. My copy has an afterword by Lloyd Alexander, and he says that the children's fiction genre owes Nesbit a huge debt. It's significant that her books are still very funny and fresh today, despite her countless imitators.

The book started off very funny indeed, but toward the middle it started to drag a bit, and then it ended rather abruptly. I guess that's what should be expected with an episodic storyline like this. Still, I can see why Nesbit is considered a classic author for children, and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books. Recommended. ( )

This was a curious little tale - silly children who don't seem to know how to make wise wishes. It was funny to see the scrapes they got themselves into, and instructive as well. The wisest wish for what they need and not much more. The foolish never seem to think through the consequences of all that they may think they want. ( )

When four brothers and sisters discover a Psammead, or sand-fairy, in the gravel pit near the country house where they are staying, they have no way of knowing all the adventures its wish-granting will bring them.

excellent

A family moved to London.
The family contains five children-Robert,Anthea,Jane,Cyril,and baby.
When the children dug a hole in the gravel-pit,they were very surprised at
what they found. That is "IT". A sand-fairy,thousands of years old.
"IT"is fat and furry, and with eyes on long stalks.
IT said the children to grant their wishes when every time they found IT.
They were glad. They said,"I wish we were very beautiful." "Gold,pldase."
"Wings please."....
IT granted all things they wished easily,but they caused trouble many times.
The book is a story with a happy ending, and easy to understand.
But I was a little bored. ( )

Four children and their baby brother stumble upon a Sand Fairy and learn from It that he can grant them one wish a day but the wish will only last until sunset. They quickly learn that making and getting wishes is not as easy as it seems. They wish for the wrong things at the wrong time and even when they get it right it never turns out as they thought it would. Such as when they wish they were all beautiful and return home to find that the servants don't know who they are and turn them away. And when they wish the baby was grown up, and all grown up he does become, even older than they and what a stuffy, snobby man he turns out to be. Some wishes so do turn out fun such as when they wish for wings, only they forget to get home in time and at sunset find themselves stuck on the top of a church roof. Lot's of fun!

E. Nesbit is credited with creating modern fantasy where fantastical creatures or elements become a part of the 'real' world. Even with having been written over a hundred years ago the writing and style is immensely readable. The 7yo loved this book very much. He found it quite all very exciting and wants to continue on with the series. This is an old-fashioned type of story (all the horse and carriages for instance) and it is very British plus this time period in England was very class conscious which makes it a bit hard for a modern North American child to comprehend at times but most of it was a non-issue. I loved these books when I was a kid and loved this just as much this time as an adult. The 7yo boy is anxious to read more about this group of children and their magical adventures. Recommended. ( )

This is a fun, but thought provoking fantasy novel about five siblings who find a fairy who gives them a wish a day, that lasts for a day only. Worth reading, as are other books by this 19th century author.

Five Children and It is a thoroughly delightful book chronicling the adventures of four young English children and their little brother "Lamb." Told splendidly by Nesbit this book deserves to be read again and again and again. ( )

When the children dug a hole in the gravel-pit, they were very surprised at a Psammead.
This story is pure and warm.
I like this story. ( )

I loved this book as a child and really recommend it especially to parents who are trying to get their young children to read more. Its a sweet little fantasy story that has held up over time. ( )

One of my favorites. Lots of British language - hard read-aloud, but worth the time! ( )

Heidi Hauser Green (Children's Literature)
Their first time in the country is filled with magical escapades for five children in this classic tale of adventure. Cyril, Athena, Robert, Jane, and baby brother, Lamb, are exploring the land around the house their parents have rented for the summer when they find the sandpit. They decide to dig a hole straight through to Australia. Their plan is interrupted when Athena discovers a magical creature hiding in the sand. It is a Psammead, and it can grant wishes. In fact, it must grant wishes, but it is a crabby creature and limits itself to one each day. Worse, none of the wishes seem to turn out right. When the children want to be beautiful, they are ... but their maid can't recognize them and refuses to feed them lunch. When the children want to be rich, they are ... but they can't spend the outdated coins. And so it goes. Luckily for the children, the Psammead's magic wears off at sunset. Even the worst results can be borne out until sunset ... or can they? Paul O. Zelinsky's delicate watercolor plates are a good match for E. Nesbit's humorous story about magic in the real world. An Afterward by Peter Glassman explains the influence this work had on subsequent children's literature. 1999, Books of Wonder/William Morrow, ( )

What would YOU wish for, if you could wish for anything? Everyone has probably wondered what he or she would wish for if given the opportunity. Robert, Cyril, Anthea, and Jane, along with their baby brother, the Lamb, get the chance. While spending the summer in the country, the five children discover a Psammead (a Sand-fairy). The Sammyadd (as the children call him) grants their wishes, one per day. However, their wishes never turn out the way the way the children plan, but do provide some extraordinary adventures. Originally published in 1902, this 1999 deluxe gift edition features full color illustrations by award winning artist Paul O. Zelinsky. There is a full-page watercolor illustration for each wish. This classic children’s fantasy inspired other authors and was groundbreaking in its day. E. Nesbit’s magic appears to ordinary children, who argue with each other and get in trouble, in ordinary places, like their own yard, which was something new and unusual during that period. There are two more stories about these same children, The Phoenix and the Carpet and The Story of the Amulet. This story would appeal most to ages 9 – 12. Children who enjoyed this book might also enjoy The Enchanted Castle by the same author, or Edward Eager’s books, Half Magic, Magic by the Lake or Seven Day Magic. ( )

I adore E. Nesbit's fantasies. They are very Edwardian, very British and invoke a world that doesn't exist any more (if it ever really did). ( )

What I like about E. Nesbit, and Five Children and It in particular, is the sense of reality that pervades the books in contrast to the plot. Despite having found a wish-granting entity, the kids are always hungry and tired, and they get mad at each other, and they forget lessons they should have learned in the last chapter, and they're afraid of getting in trouble. ( )

A bunch of kids in England move from the big smoke to the country. After they get there, they discover a bizarre grumpy weird looking supernatural guy.

Due to various rigmarole, this discovery means that said oddity grants them a bunch of wishes. Being kids, they generally wish for kids adventure type stuff.

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/778

http://freesf.blogspot.com/2007/01/fi... ( )

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2... ( )

I'm waiting to rate this until I've re-read it, but this was one of my favorite books when I was a kid. I think I liked the sequel, The Phoenix & the Carpet, even better.

A delightful story about four English children who discover a sand fairy. He grants them various wishes, each of which, of course, goes wrong. After the children wish to be made "beautiful as a summer's day," their maid refuses to allow them into the house, mistaking them for a group of Italians! **** ( )