Five Children and It

“Five Children and It” is the enduringly popular children’s tale by English author Edith Nesbit, also well-known for her classic story “The Railway Children”. First published in 1902 in “Strand Magazine”, “Five Children and It” is a magical story that cleverly illustrates the wisdom of the saying “be careful what you wish for”. The novel begins when five siblings, who have recently moved from London to a house in the country, discover Psammead, a sand fairy, in a gravel pit where they are playing. Psammead is a strange looking and grumpy creature who has the power to make wishes come true. He promises to grant the children one magical wish per day with the rule that each wish ends at sunset. The children soon discover that their wishes never turn out exactly as they had imagined, as their choices often lead to unexpected mishaps and adventures, including dangerous encounters with wild people, kidnapping attempts, a narrow escape from a besieged castle, and humorous changes in their appearance and size. “Five Children and It” has inspired many adaptations and sequels and remains an entertaining and enduring classic tale of fantasy and adventure. This edition includes a biographical afterword.