Five Children and It

When five children move to a white house in the country, they discover a grumpy, ancient sand-fairy buried in a gravel pit. The Psammead will grant them a wish a day, but each wish lasts only until sunset, and it always comes true in the most inconvenient way possible. What follows is a summer of adventures: wings, a besieged castle, gold, a giant and Red Indians, all in the quiet Kent countryside.

E. Nesbit's story, first published in 1902, is one of the founding books of modern children's fantasy. It is funny, warm and sharply observed, and it treats its young readers as intelligent people who can spot a bad idea when they see one. The five brothers and sisters bicker, boast and look after each other, while the Psammead grumbles and grants wishes it knows will end badly.

This edition contains the complete text of Five Children and It, a new introduction for first-time readers, a character guide, a summary of the story, notes on the book's themes, a glossary of old and unusual words, and questions for discussion. It is designed for readers of all ages, for students and for book clubs who want to enjoy the story and talk about it afterwards.