
FIVE CHILDREN - AND IT - BY - E. NESBIT
ILLUSTRATIONS
CHAPTER I - BEAUTIFUL AS THE DAY
CHAPTER II - GOLDEN GUINEAS
CHAPTER III - BEING WANTED
CHAPTER IV - WINGS
CHAPTER V - NO WINGS
CHAPTER VI - A CASTLE AND NO DINNER
CHAPTER VII - A SIEGE AND BED
CHAPTER VIII - BIGGER THAN THE BAKER'S BOY
A restless band of five siblings—Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril, and the baby—arrive at a sprawling white house set amid a garden, orchard, and tangled thicket, each eager to explore every hidden nook. Their mother, practical and unfazed, watches the children tumble out of the carriage while she tends to the moving boxes, oblivious to the sense of adventure already sparking in the youngsters.
Soon the children stumble upon a mysterious, ancient sand‑fairy—the Psammead—resting in the garden’s dry fountain. Curious and bold, they awaken the creature, whose cryptic warnings hint at the strange power it holds. As the first curious wish slips from their lips, the ordinary world begins to tilt, promising mischievous magic and unexpected consequences that will test their imaginations and bond.
The story blends gentle humor with a vivid Edwardian backdrop, inviting listeners to share in the thrills of youthful curiosity and the wonder of a wish‑granting genie whose very presence turns everyday moments into unforgettable escapades.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (292K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jason Isbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Library of Congress) Character set for HTML: ISO-8859-1
Release date
2005-12-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1858–1924
Best known for The Railway Children and the magical adventures of Five Children and It, this pioneering English writer helped reshape children's fiction by mixing everyday family life with wit, warmth, and wonder. Her stories still feel lively and modern, with children who sound and act like real kids.
View all books
by E. (Edith) Nesbit, William Shakespeare

by E. (Edith) Nesbit

by E. (Edith) Nesbit

by E. (Edith) Nesbit

by E. (Edith) Nesbit

by E. (Edith) Nesbit

by E. (Edith) Nesbit

by E. (Edith) Nesbit