Five Children and It

While exploring the environs of their summer home, five brothers and sisters find a Psammead, or Sand-fairy, in a nearby gravel pit: Its eyes were on long horns like a snail’s eyes, and it could move them in and out like telescopes; it had ears like a bat’s ears, and its tubby body was shaped like a spider’s and covered with thick soft fur; its legs and arms were furry too, and it had hands and feet like a monkey’s.” The Psammead is magical and, every day, the ancient and irritable creature grants each of them a wish that lasts until sunset. Soon, though, they find their wishes never seem to turn out right and often have unexpected—and humorous—consequences. But when an accidental wish goes terribly wrong, the children learn that magic, like life, can be as complicated as it is exciting.

Edith Nesbit (1858-û1924) was born in London. Her prolific literary career began with poetry and other ephemera for newspapers and magazines, but she finally found success when she began to write stories for and about children. Her books include The Story of the Treasure Seekers (1899), The Wouldbegoods (1901), and The Railway Children (1906). Gillian Avery is a historian of children-'s books.