When five siblings – Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane and their baby brother, the Lamb – discover a sand-fairy in their gravel pit, they are jolly surprised and a little delighted. Even better, the Psammead is able to grant them wishes, although the magic wears off at the day’s end. Unfortunately, all of the wishes the children make go hilariously wrong and they soon learn that their foolish desires are more likely to get them into trouble than get them what they want!

‘I wasn’t usually very keen on fantasy, but Five Children and It was different: it was funny but somehow still true to life. I reread it as a special comfort book whenever I was ill or hunhappy.’ – Jacqueline Wilson

‘I love E.Nesbit – I think she is great and I identify with the way that she writes. Her children are very real .’ – J.K. Rowling

‘She speaks to the reader, and it’s almost as if you couldhear her voice.’ – Quentin Blake