The Story of the Amulet

Four siblings—Cyril, Robert, Anthea and Jane—spend a carefree summer in a white house perched between a sandpit and a chalkpit. One afternoon they uncover a strange, spider‑like creature with snail‑like eyes and a voice full of ancient wonder: the Psammead, a sand‑fairy that can grant wishes. Their first wishes bring delightful surprises, but the children quickly learn that getting what they want is often more complicated than they imagined, and a single careless wish lands them in a tight spot that only the Psammead can untangle.

When the Psammead departs, the children are left with a tiny, unfinished amulet that begins to pulse with strange energy. Its odd half‑glow promises hidden powers and a glimpse into worlds far beyond their English countryside—ancient Babylon, forgotten Atlantis, even the courts of queens and pharaohs. As the summer fades and their families are scattered, the four brave children set out to discover what the amulet can do, discovering that wishes are only the start of a far larger adventure.