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The Phoenix and the Carpet
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 Customer Reviews
The Phoenix and the Carpet, 01 Aug 2008
Great C.D. my Son (aged 7)has listened to it several times ands loves the story! will be buying more from this collection.
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Customer Reviews
The Phoenix and the Carpet, 01 Aug 2008
Great C.D. my Son (aged 7)has listened to it several times ands loves the story! will be buying more from this collection. MAGICAL!!!, 25 Mar 2008
This book is a Puffin Classic. The children in this book are the same ones in `the Five Children and It' & `The Amulet'. Their names are Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or as called in `the Five Children and It' - Lamb. If you don't know the story or have forgotten it, then I will jog your memory: It is about a second hand carpet that was bought for the nursery which had magical powers; it could transport them to wherever they wanted to go; also, a strange egg dropped out of it and it was the egg of a phoenix...
I thought that this book was ok. It was a bit boring at parts but some of the bits were more thrilling than going to the circus or even to Alton Towers! I would rate the book, overall, 8/ 10 and would recommend it to all!
Somewhat overlooked - this is a magical classic., 01 Jul 2003
I agree with the 5-star review - this is suitable for modern children. It's restrictive, and unnecessary to assume that children only want to read contemporary stories. Children's imaginations are timeless, and classics that endure like Alice In Wonderland, Narnia Tales, and this book, do so because they capture and encourage imagination. Indeed, the current trend for Harry Potter surely shows that a book doesn't need to be contemporary to appeal to young readers. In fact, I'd say the opposite is often true. I discovered Phoenix and the Magic Carpet when I was about 8 - I can remember seeing the wonderfully stagey BBC adaptation, and nagging my Mum for the book. It's a fantastical tale - of flying carpets, magic lands, and mythical creatures. Back then, I was also hugely taken with the Edwardian setting of grand houses and nurseries. It added to the sense of mystery and other-worldliness. I still have my old copy - a little dog-eared but much-loved - and I'm really looking forward to sharing it with my niece as she discovers books. I'm sure she'll love it as much as I did. Highly recommended, 20 Apr 2000
This is a fabulous tale, excellently written. I take issue with the last reviewer on two points: it is set in Edwardian not Victorian England; and it is very suitable for modern children: how boring for children if they have to read grim 'realist' books all the time! Bob, Cyril, Anthea and Jane are endearing characters who have great fun with a magic carpet they find, taking cook to a desert island where she becomes queen, visiting far-off lands, getting marooned in an oriental tower and so on, all under the watchful eye of a wise and ancient phoenix. I read this book several times as a child and would recommend it highly, as well as its sequels, 'Story of the Amulet' and 'Five Children and It'. A BLEND OF PRESIAN AND ORIENTAL LORE, 22 May 1998
Children might be tempted to believe that there are Wish Granters floating about, if one can just find them! This fanciful tale is set in Victorian England--an era of gas jets, scullery maids and coal hobs. Four children (as in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE) discover a special fire egg which hatches in their nursery fireplace. Then their mother purchases a Persian carpet, which provides the vehicle for Space (if not Time) Travel. It even responds to written commands and obeys instructions without a human pilot. All this magical flying about in response to wishes reminds me of the cloak in THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE and Mary Norton's THE MAGIC BEDKNOB. Nesbit's style also reminds me of Beatrix Potter, with many asides, advice or explanations directed to the reader. The setting returns us to the ingenuous nursery days of AA Milne's stuffed animal world. The story takes place around Christmas and the children wrestle with their consciences over moral issues concerning the unexplained acquisition of wealth, curios, toys and pets. How much to reveal to skeptical parents and how ethical it is to whisk unsuspecting adults away to a remote island or to allow rational people to assume they are insane or just dreaming. How can the siblings plus their baby brother (called the Lamb) ever return to the status quo, since they can only enjoy their carpet rides and conversations with the Phoenix in secret? This book is too naive for the elementary kids of the 90's, but it would be a good selection to read aloud, one chapter a night before bedtime to younger children. The more you have read of Children's Literature, the more you will recognize from other books. This one may have been the inspiration for the others...!
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Customer Reviews
The Phoenix and the Carpet, 01 Aug 2008
Great C.D. my Son (aged 7)has listened to it several times ands loves the story! will be buying more from this collection. MAGICAL!!!, 25 Mar 2008
This book is a Puffin Classic. The children in this book are the same ones in `the Five Children and It' & `The Amulet'. Their names are Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or as called in `the Five Children and It' - Lamb. If you don't know the story or have forgotten it, then I will jog your memory: It is about a second hand carpet that was bought for the nursery which had magical powers; it could transport them to wherever they wanted to go; also, a strange egg dropped out of it and it was the egg of a phoenix...
I thought that this book was ok. It was a bit boring at parts but some of the bits were more thrilling than going to the circus or even to Alton Towers! I would rate the book, overall, 8/ 10 and would recommend it to all!
Somewhat overlooked - this is a magical classic., 01 Jul 2003
I agree with the 5-star review - this is suitable for modern children. It's restrictive, and unnecessary to assume that children only want to read contemporary stories. Children's imaginations are timeless, and classics that endure like Alice In Wonderland, Narnia Tales, and this book, do so because they capture and encourage imagination. Indeed, the current trend for Harry Potter surely shows that a book doesn't need to be contemporary to appeal to young readers. In fact, I'd say the opposite is often true. I discovered Phoenix and the Magic Carpet when I was about 8 - I can remember seeing the wonderfully stagey BBC adaptation, and nagging my Mum for the book. It's a fantastical tale - of flying carpets, magic lands, and mythical creatures. Back then, I was also hugely taken with the Edwardian setting of grand houses and nurseries. It added to the sense of mystery and other-worldliness. I still have my old copy - a little dog-eared but much-loved - and I'm really looking forward to sharing it with my niece as she discovers books. I'm sure she'll love it as much as I did. Highly recommended, 20 Apr 2000
This is a fabulous tale, excellently written. I take issue with the last reviewer on two points: it is set in Edwardian not Victorian England; and it is very suitable for modern children: how boring for children if they have to read grim 'realist' books all the time! Bob, Cyril, Anthea and Jane are endearing characters who have great fun with a magic carpet they find, taking cook to a desert island where she becomes queen, visiting far-off lands, getting marooned in an oriental tower and so on, all under the watchful eye of a wise and ancient phoenix. I read this book several times as a child and would recommend it highly, as well as its sequels, 'Story of the Amulet' and 'Five Children and It'. A BLEND OF PRESIAN AND ORIENTAL LORE, 22 May 1998
Children might be tempted to believe that there are Wish Granters floating about, if one can just find them! This fanciful tale is set in Victorian England--an era of gas jets, scullery maids and coal hobs. Four children (as in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE) discover a special fire egg which hatches in their nursery fireplace. Then their mother purchases a Persian carpet, which provides the vehicle for Space (if not Time) Travel. It even responds to written commands and obeys instructions without a human pilot. All this magical flying about in response to wishes reminds me of the cloak in THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE and Mary Norton's THE MAGIC BEDKNOB. Nesbit's style also reminds me of Beatrix Potter, with many asides, advice or explanations directed to the reader. The setting returns us to the ingenuous nursery days of AA Milne's stuffed animal world. The story takes place around Christmas and the children wrestle with their consciences over moral issues concerning the unexplained acquisition of wealth, curios, toys and pets. How much to reveal to skeptical parents and how ethical it is to whisk unsuspecting adults away to a remote island or to allow rational people to assume they are insane or just dreaming. How can the siblings plus their baby brother (called the Lamb) ever return to the status quo, since they can only enjoy their carpet rides and conversations with the Phoenix in secret? This book is too naive for the elementary kids of the 90's, but it would be a good selection to read aloud, one chapter a night before bedtime to younger children. The more you have read of Children's Literature, the more you will recognize from other books. This one may have been the inspiration for the others...!
Wonderfully written, sweet story, 11 Jul 2008
The brilliance of the Railway Children is that E Nesbit refuses to talk down to her readers - she handles a variety of complicated emotions, and she does so in a way that enables us to see things we wouldn't have worked out for ourselves about the character, but that are very true and beautifully observed. Okay, a few too many things happen to these kids - even the film removed one or two sensational twists too many - but those things all bring new insights and emotional rewards. It's a great book.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!, 17 May 2008
This story is about some children who are shattered after the disappearance of their father but the railway line is always there to lift their sad spirits; so are the Old Gentleman and the porter, Perks. Nevertheless, how will they ever find out the reason of their dear father went missing?
I think that this book is a bit old fashioned but it is still very, very, very good; the author is the next (or actually the previous) Agatha Christy!
E Nesbit is the author of this book and many, many others. Some of the titles of her other works include: `The Amulet', `The Phoenix and the Carpet', and `The Five Children and It'
Why am I out of step?, 19 Mar 2006
This is, for me, by far the poorest of E. Nesbit's works - and possibly the most currently popular? All her books, of course, are outstanding; it seems that I prefer the more imaginative ones. If you have not done so, miss reading none of them! While her social awareness is never missing, she does recall for us a world which had its flaws ... but in which one longed to have grown up, however mistakenly!
A classic writer's classic book, 06 Jan 2006
Before J.K.Rowling and Roald Dahl, there was E.E.Nesbitt; the most prolific and inventive children's author of all time, even if the inventor of Harry Potter may be close to usurping that title. Even though her books were written a century ago, such was the universal appeal of her themes and the ease with which children could identify with her characters that she has remained in print to this day and the stories are just as good now as they were then. As with any children's classic - and "The Railway Children" is both a classic and most probably her best book - its appeal lies in a cracking plot, good character development and adult accessibility; parents are as keen to read as their children are to listen. The plot is simple: well-to-do-kids living ideal life in London suddenly have to "play at being poor" in the country after Daddy mysteriously disappears. After a series of adventures, all based around the railway that runs near their house, events coalesce into a satisfying finale. The story centres on Roberta (Bobbie), the eldest daughter through whose eyes the story is narrated. She is one of my own favourite literature heroines and, as she suffers loss and hardship; and gains friendship and love, I would challenge even the most hard-boiled cynic not to shed the odd tear. The story is not, however, nearly as fluffy as all this may intimate. Like Rowling, Nesbitt loved to include magic and enchantment in her stories (it is, perhaps, ironic that her best tale contains none although it is certainly enchantING). Like Rowling, her stories also tend to have a dark side: many contain, and even hinge around, an absent, idealised father, reflecting the loss of the writer's own parent when she was just six. I've worn my way through two copies already!). Buy dozens! Spread them around your own children, their friends, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, neighbours ... any child who can manage joined-up writing will be enchanted by this story - and so will their parents
A fabulous book to remember forever., 17 Mar 2001
This is an enchanting book for people who love to read. I read the book in four days for it was so good I couldn't put it down. Adults will love this just as much as children and the good thing is everyone can relate to the children in the book.
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Customer Reviews
The Phoenix and the Carpet, 01 Aug 2008
Great C.D. my Son (aged 7)has listened to it several times ands loves the story! will be buying more from this collection. MAGICAL!!!, 25 Mar 2008
This book is a Puffin Classic. The children in this book are the same ones in `the Five Children and It' & `The Amulet'. Their names are Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or as called in `the Five Children and It' - Lamb. If you don't know the story or have forgotten it, then I will jog your memory: It is about a second hand carpet that was bought for the nursery which had magical powers; it could transport them to wherever they wanted to go; also, a strange egg dropped out of it and it was the egg of a phoenix...
I thought that this book was ok. It was a bit boring at parts but some of the bits were more thrilling than going to the circus or even to Alton Towers! I would rate the book, overall, 8/ 10 and would recommend it to all!
Somewhat overlooked - this is a magical classic., 01 Jul 2003
I agree with the 5-star review - this is suitable for modern children. It's restrictive, and unnecessary to assume that children only want to read contemporary stories. Children's imaginations are timeless, and classics that endure like Alice In Wonderland, Narnia Tales, and this book, do so because they capture and encourage imagination. Indeed, the current trend for Harry Potter surely shows that a book doesn't need to be contemporary to appeal to young readers. In fact, I'd say the opposite is often true. I discovered Phoenix and the Magic Carpet when I was about 8 - I can remember seeing the wonderfully stagey BBC adaptation, and nagging my Mum for the book. It's a fantastical tale - of flying carpets, magic lands, and mythical creatures. Back then, I was also hugely taken with the Edwardian setting of grand houses and nurseries. It added to the sense of mystery and other-worldliness. I still have my old copy - a little dog-eared but much-loved - and I'm really looking forward to sharing it with my niece as she discovers books. I'm sure she'll love it as much as I did. Highly recommended, 20 Apr 2000
This is a fabulous tale, excellently written. I take issue with the last reviewer on two points: it is set in Edwardian not Victorian England; and it is very suitable for modern children: how boring for children if they have to read grim 'realist' books all the time! Bob, Cyril, Anthea and Jane are endearing characters who have great fun with a magic carpet they find, taking cook to a desert island where she becomes queen, visiting far-off lands, getting marooned in an oriental tower and so on, all under the watchful eye of a wise and ancient phoenix. I read this book several times as a child and would recommend it highly, as well as its sequels, 'Story of the Amulet' and 'Five Children and It'. A BLEND OF PRESIAN AND ORIENTAL LORE, 22 May 1998
Children might be tempted to believe that there are Wish Granters floating about, if one can just find them! This fanciful tale is set in Victorian England--an era of gas jets, scullery maids and coal hobs. Four children (as in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE) discover a special fire egg which hatches in their nursery fireplace. Then their mother purchases a Persian carpet, which provides the vehicle for Space (if not Time) Travel. It even responds to written commands and obeys instructions without a human pilot. All this magical flying about in response to wishes reminds me of the cloak in THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE and Mary Norton's THE MAGIC BEDKNOB. Nesbit's style also reminds me of Beatrix Potter, with many asides, advice or explanations directed to the reader. The setting returns us to the ingenuous nursery days of AA Milne's stuffed animal world. The story takes place around Christmas and the children wrestle with their consciences over moral issues concerning the unexplained acquisition of wealth, curios, toys and pets. How much to reveal to skeptical parents and how ethical it is to whisk unsuspecting adults away to a remote island or to allow rational people to assume they are insane or just dreaming. How can the siblings plus their baby brother (called the Lamb) ever return to the status quo, since they can only enjoy their carpet rides and conversations with the Phoenix in secret? This book is too naive for the elementary kids of the 90's, but it would be a good selection to read aloud, one chapter a night before bedtime to younger children. The more you have read of Children's Literature, the more you will recognize from other books. This one may have been the inspiration for the others...!
Wonderfully written, sweet story, 11 Jul 2008
The brilliance of the Railway Children is that E Nesbit refuses to talk down to her readers - she handles a variety of complicated emotions, and she does so in a way that enables us to see things we wouldn't have worked out for ourselves about the character, but that are very true and beautifully observed. Okay, a few too many things happen to these kids - even the film removed one or two sensational twists too many - but those things all bring new insights and emotional rewards. It's a great book.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!, 17 May 2008
This story is about some children who are shattered after the disappearance of their father but the railway line is always there to lift their sad spirits; so are the Old Gentleman and the porter, Perks. Nevertheless, how will they ever find out the reason of their dear father went missing?
I think that this book is a bit old fashioned but it is still very, very, very good; the author is the next (or actually the previous) Agatha Christy!
E Nesbit is the author of this book and many, many others. Some of the titles of her other works include: `The Amulet', `The Phoenix and the Carpet', and `The Five Children and It'
Why am I out of step?, 19 Mar 2006
This is, for me, by far the poorest of E. Nesbit's works - and possibly the most currently popular? All her books, of course, are outstanding; it seems that I prefer the more imaginative ones. If you have not done so, miss reading none of them! While her social awareness is never missing, she does recall for us a world which had its flaws ... but in which one longed to have grown up, however mistakenly!
A classic writer's classic book, 06 Jan 2006
Before J.K.Rowling and Roald Dahl, there was E.E.Nesbitt; the most prolific and inventive children's author of all time, even if the inventor of Harry Potter may be close to usurping that title. Even though her books were written a century ago, such was the universal appeal of her themes and the ease with which children could identify with her characters that she has remained in print to this day and the stories are just as good now as they were then. As with any children's classic - and "The Railway Children" is both a classic and most probably her best book - its appeal lies in a cracking plot, good character development and adult accessibility; parents are as keen to read as their children are to listen. The plot is simple: well-to-do-kids living ideal life in London suddenly have to "play at being poor" in the country after Daddy mysteriously disappears. After a series of adventures, all based around the railway that runs near their house, events coalesce into a satisfying finale. The story centres on Roberta (Bobbie), the eldest daughter through whose eyes the story is narrated. She is one of my own favourite literature heroines and, as she suffers loss and hardship; and gains friendship and love, I would challenge even the most hard-boiled cynic not to shed the odd tear. The story is not, however, nearly as fluffy as all this may intimate. Like Rowling, Nesbitt loved to include magic and enchantment in her stories (it is, perhaps, ironic that her best tale contains none although it is certainly enchantING). Like Rowling, her stories also tend to have a dark side: many contain, and even hinge around, an absent, idealised father, reflecting the loss of the writer's own parent when she was just six. I've worn my way through two copies already!). Buy dozens! Spread them around your own children, their friends, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, neighbours ... any child who can manage joined-up writing will be enchanted by this story - and so will their parents
A fabulous book to remember forever., 17 Mar 2001
This is an enchanting book for people who love to read. I read the book in four days for it was so good I couldn't put it down. Adults will love this just as much as children and the good thing is everyone can relate to the children in the book.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!, 02 May 2008
This book's author, E. Nesbit, has written other stories including `The Railway Children', `The Enchanted Castle' and `The Phoenix & the Carpet'. This is her most well-loved, well-known and best-selling book.
She was born in London in the year of 1858, which is about 150 years ago now. The illustrator was H. R. Millar; here is a bit about him:
After studying art for a while, he began illustrating for magazines in Birmingham. Soon, he was invited to London by the editor of the Graphic, and worked for many periodicals, including the English Illustrated Magazine, Punch, and Good Words, and being a frequent artist on the Strand Magazine, where amid other work and he illustrated fiction by E. Nesbit.
This book is very famous. It is about five children called Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or called by everyone - Lamb. The find a sand-fairy, which is the `It'.
lots of intresting twists, 13 Sep 2006
This is the story of 5 children who, while digging in the sand find a sand fairy that will grant them 1 wish a day. Sounds simple enough but the fairy never grants the wish in the way you think he will. A funny light hearted story with lots of intresting twists . The plot of the story is very good and unique and doesn't slows down for a second.
Spellbinding and hilarious, 18 Aug 2005
Kept my five-year-old and ten-year-old entranced for a whole journey to the Lake District and back, and we enjoyed it too. It was funny and suspenseful and wise, and the Psammead's voice was brilliantly done - brought out all its grumpy cat qualities.
An extremely enjoyable book for young readers, 19 Aug 2004
"Five Children and It" is Edith Nesbit's enchanting novel about four naughty children and a cute baby who find a fairy that will grant them a wish a day. The story is ingenious and well-plotted and is written in a fresh, modern style that will hugely entertain the young reader. Moreover, he or she will be able to extract from this book several sweet messages about goodness, generosity and the value of reflection.
The first child friendly book of the 20th century, 07 Nov 2001
E. Nesbit may have written this 100 years ago but her writing has retained it's freshness and humour because she saw children as people, not as empty vessels waiting to be filled with life deadening facts. Not so usual in 1901.
Social realism and humour abound in her books and like her laws of magic, there are no set rules to how she wrote her books. She established new territory that all subsequent good writers for children have had the freedom to explore.
National Curriculum Literacy strategists take note. Nesbit did not learn to write by investigating non-fictional texts. She had a vivid and exciting childhood, free of of academic constraints.
Read this book and all the Nesbits. Her books of full of the true magic of childhood.
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Customer Reviews
The Phoenix and the Carpet, 01 Aug 2008
Great C.D. my Son (aged 7)has listened to it several times ands loves the story! will be buying more from this collection. MAGICAL!!!, 25 Mar 2008
This book is a Puffin Classic. The children in this book are the same ones in `the Five Children and It' & `The Amulet'. Their names are Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or as called in `the Five Children and It' - Lamb. If you don't know the story or have forgotten it, then I will jog your memory: It is about a second hand carpet that was bought for the nursery which had magical powers; it could transport them to wherever they wanted to go; also, a strange egg dropped out of it and it was the egg of a phoenix...
I thought that this book was ok. It was a bit boring at parts but some of the bits were more thrilling than going to the circus or even to Alton Towers! I would rate the book, overall, 8/ 10 and would recommend it to all!
Somewhat overlooked - this is a magical classic., 01 Jul 2003
I agree with the 5-star review - this is suitable for modern children. It's restrictive, and unnecessary to assume that children only want to read contemporary stories. Children's imaginations are timeless, and classics that endure like Alice In Wonderland, Narnia Tales, and this book, do so because they capture and encourage imagination. Indeed, the current trend for Harry Potter surely shows that a book doesn't need to be contemporary to appeal to young readers. In fact, I'd say the opposite is often true. I discovered Phoenix and the Magic Carpet when I was about 8 - I can remember seeing the wonderfully stagey BBC adaptation, and nagging my Mum for the book. It's a fantastical tale - of flying carpets, magic lands, and mythical creatures. Back then, I was also hugely taken with the Edwardian setting of grand houses and nurseries. It added to the sense of mystery and other-worldliness. I still have my old copy - a little dog-eared but much-loved - and I'm really looking forward to sharing it with my niece as she discovers books. I'm sure she'll love it as much as I did. Highly recommended, 20 Apr 2000
This is a fabulous tale, excellently written. I take issue with the last reviewer on two points: it is set in Edwardian not Victorian England; and it is very suitable for modern children: how boring for children if they have to read grim 'realist' books all the time! Bob, Cyril, Anthea and Jane are endearing characters who have great fun with a magic carpet they find, taking cook to a desert island where she becomes queen, visiting far-off lands, getting marooned in an oriental tower and so on, all under the watchful eye of a wise and ancient phoenix. I read this book several times as a child and would recommend it highly, as well as its sequels, 'Story of the Amulet' and 'Five Children and It'. A BLEND OF PRESIAN AND ORIENTAL LORE, 22 May 1998
Children might be tempted to believe that there are Wish Granters floating about, if one can just find them! This fanciful tale is set in Victorian England--an era of gas jets, scullery maids and coal hobs. Four children (as in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE) discover a special fire egg which hatches in their nursery fireplace. Then their mother purchases a Persian carpet, which provides the vehicle for Space (if not Time) Travel. It even responds to written commands and obeys instructions without a human pilot. All this magical flying about in response to wishes reminds me of the cloak in THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE and Mary Norton's THE MAGIC BEDKNOB. Nesbit's style also reminds me of Beatrix Potter, with many asides, advice or explanations directed to the reader. The setting returns us to the ingenuous nursery days of AA Milne's stuffed animal world. The story takes place around Christmas and the children wrestle with their consciences over moral issues concerning the unexplained acquisition of wealth, curios, toys and pets. How much to reveal to skeptical parents and how ethical it is to whisk unsuspecting adults away to a remote island or to allow rational people to assume they are insane or just dreaming. How can the siblings plus their baby brother (called the Lamb) ever return to the status quo, since they can only enjoy their carpet rides and conversations with the Phoenix in secret? This book is too naive for the elementary kids of the 90's, but it would be a good selection to read aloud, one chapter a night before bedtime to younger children. The more you have read of Children's Literature, the more you will recognize from other books. This one may have been the inspiration for the others...!
Wonderfully written, sweet story, 11 Jul 2008
The brilliance of the Railway Children is that E Nesbit refuses to talk down to her readers - she handles a variety of complicated emotions, and she does so in a way that enables us to see things we wouldn't have worked out for ourselves about the character, but that are very true and beautifully observed. Okay, a few too many things happen to these kids - even the film removed one or two sensational twists too many - but those things all bring new insights and emotional rewards. It's a great book.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!, 17 May 2008
This story is about some children who are shattered after the disappearance of their father but the railway line is always there to lift their sad spirits; so are the Old Gentleman and the porter, Perks. Nevertheless, how will they ever find out the reason of their dear father went missing?
I think that this book is a bit old fashioned but it is still very, very, very good; the author is the next (or actually the previous) Agatha Christy!
E Nesbit is the author of this book and many, many others. Some of the titles of her other works include: `The Amulet', `The Phoenix and the Carpet', and `The Five Children and It'
Why am I out of step?, 19 Mar 2006
This is, for me, by far the poorest of E. Nesbit's works - and possibly the most currently popular? All her books, of course, are outstanding; it seems that I prefer the more imaginative ones. If you have not done so, miss reading none of them! While her social awareness is never missing, she does recall for us a world which had its flaws ... but in which one longed to have grown up, however mistakenly!
A classic writer's classic book, 06 Jan 2006
Before J.K.Rowling and Roald Dahl, there was E.E.Nesbitt; the most prolific and inventive children's author of all time, even if the inventor of Harry Potter may be close to usurping that title. Even though her books were written a century ago, such was the universal appeal of her themes and the ease with which children could identify with her characters that she has remained in print to this day and the stories are just as good now as they were then. As with any children's classic - and "The Railway Children" is both a classic and most probably her best book - its appeal lies in a cracking plot, good character development and adult accessibility; parents are as keen to read as their children are to listen. The plot is simple: well-to-do-kids living ideal life in London suddenly have to "play at being poor" in the country after Daddy mysteriously disappears. After a series of adventures, all based around the railway that runs near their house, events coalesce into a satisfying finale. The story centres on Roberta (Bobbie), the eldest daughter through whose eyes the story is narrated. She is one of my own favourite literature heroines and, as she suffers loss and hardship; and gains friendship and love, I would challenge even the most hard-boiled cynic not to shed the odd tear. The story is not, however, nearly as fluffy as all this may intimate. Like Rowling, Nesbitt loved to include magic and enchantment in her stories (it is, perhaps, ironic that her best tale contains none although it is certainly enchantING). Like Rowling, her stories also tend to have a dark side: many contain, and even hinge around, an absent, idealised father, reflecting the loss of the writer's own parent when she was just six. I've worn my way through two copies already!). Buy dozens! Spread them around your own children, their friends, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, neighbours ... any child who can manage joined-up writing will be enchanted by this story - and so will their parents
A fabulous book to remember forever., 17 Mar 2001
This is an enchanting book for people who love to read. I read the book in four days for it was so good I couldn't put it down. Adults will love this just as much as children and the good thing is everyone can relate to the children in the book.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!, 02 May 2008
This book's author, E. Nesbit, has written other stories including `The Railway Children', `The Enchanted Castle' and `The Phoenix & the Carpet'. This is her most well-loved, well-known and best-selling book.
She was born in London in the year of 1858, which is about 150 years ago now. The illustrator was H. R. Millar; here is a bit about him:
After studying art for a while, he began illustrating for magazines in Birmingham. Soon, he was invited to London by the editor of the Graphic, and worked for many periodicals, including the English Illustrated Magazine, Punch, and Good Words, and being a frequent artist on the Strand Magazine, where amid other work and he illustrated fiction by E. Nesbit.
This book is very famous. It is about five children called Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or called by everyone - Lamb. The find a sand-fairy, which is the `It'.
lots of intresting twists, 13 Sep 2006
This is the story of 5 children who, while digging in the sand find a sand fairy that will grant them 1 wish a day. Sounds simple enough but the fairy never grants the wish in the way you think he will. A funny light hearted story with lots of intresting twists . The plot of the story is very good and unique and doesn't slows down for a second.
Spellbinding and hilarious, 18 Aug 2005
Kept my five-year-old and ten-year-old entranced for a whole journey to the Lake District and back, and we enjoyed it too. It was funny and suspenseful and wise, and the Psammead's voice was brilliantly done - brought out all its grumpy cat qualities.
An extremely enjoyable book for young readers, 19 Aug 2004
"Five Children and It" is Edith Nesbit's enchanting novel about four naughty children and a cute baby who find a fairy that will grant them a wish a day. The story is ingenious and well-plotted and is written in a fresh, modern style that will hugely entertain the young reader. Moreover, he or she will be able to extract from this book several sweet messages about goodness, generosity and the value of reflection.
The first child friendly book of the 20th century, 07 Nov 2001
E. Nesbit may have written this 100 years ago but her writing has retained it's freshness and humour because she saw children as people, not as empty vessels waiting to be filled with life deadening facts. Not so usual in 1901.
Social realism and humour abound in her books and like her laws of magic, there are no set rules to how she wrote her books. She established new territory that all subsequent good writers for children have had the freedom to explore.
National Curriculum Literacy strategists take note. Nesbit did not learn to write by investigating non-fictional texts. She had a vivid and exciting childhood, free of of academic constraints.
Read this book and all the Nesbits. Her books of full of the true magic of childhood.
Not as good as the puffin audio - pity..., 05 Mar 2008
Yes, a great story, but to manage your expectations, this is not a patch on the Puffin tapes of the book read by Samantha Bond. This abridgement lacks colour compared with the Puffin one - you jump to the Psammead after about 3 minutes, and a lot of the Edwardian charm has been dropped. Anna Bentinck is just not as good either. But as this is the only audio available, I suppose you'll have to get it!
Wonderful - both my children love this CD version, 10 May 2005
My six year old daughter says "It is the most best CD ever!" My 8 year old son says "It's better than watching the film, my heart broke at the end! I'm going to listen to it over and over again" Need I say more, the children love it!
best recording yet - ignore the cover, 04 May 2004
What a pity this recording comes with such a wishy-washy illustration, guaranteed to put children off. It is pure joy, not least because it will keep any child of 8+ completely quiet for 3 hours. Nesbitt's classic tale is being filmed, and perhaps this will encourage more children ot try her wonderful stories, told in the voice of the kindest mother imaginable.
Five children- one of the a baby, known as the Lamb (whose delightful and frightful characteristics are honestly portrayed) leave London for their first holiday in two years at the white house in the country. It isn't long before they discover a "Psammead" in the gravel-pits, a sand-fairy who has not surfaced since dinosaur days (Nesbitt's paleontology a bit shaky here) when children used to ask it for a nice Megatherium for breakfast. Our own children of course ask for all the obvious things - beauty, riches, wings, adventures. They all go hilariously wrong, and if the long-suffering maid Ellen gets a husband out of it, it's only by accident.
There are no tedious moral messages, except perhaps that it isn't wise to try and tell adults the truth, and that you should always have your dinner before you have an adventure, but the freshness of this enchanting book is undimmed. The reading is first-rate, and interspersed with perfectly chosen music from Naxos's archives. Much, much better than the BBC recording. I also recommend the Cover to Cover audiop version of The Phoenix & the Carpet. Let's hope the third book in the trilogy, The Sotry of the Amulet, isn't long in appearing.
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Customer Reviews
The Phoenix and the Carpet, 01 Aug 2008
Great C.D. my Son (aged 7)has listened to it several times ands loves the story! will be buying more from this collection. MAGICAL!!!, 25 Mar 2008
This book is a Puffin Classic. The children in this book are the same ones in `the Five Children and It' & `The Amulet'. Their names are Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or as called in `the Five Children and It' - Lamb. If you don't know the story or have forgotten it, then I will jog your memory: It is about a second hand carpet that was bought for the nursery which had magical powers; it could transport them to wherever they wanted to go; also, a strange egg dropped out of it and it was the egg of a phoenix...
I thought that this book was ok. It was a bit boring at parts but some of the bits were more thrilling than going to the circus or even to Alton Towers! I would rate the book, overall, 8/ 10 and would recommend it to all!
Somewhat overlooked - this is a magical classic., 01 Jul 2003
I agree with the 5-star review - this is suitable for modern children. It's restrictive, and unnecessary to assume that children only want to read contemporary stories. Children's imaginations are timeless, and classics that endure like Alice In Wonderland, Narnia Tales, and this book, do so because they capture and encourage imagination. Indeed, the current trend for Harry Potter surely shows that a book doesn't need to be contemporary to appeal to young readers. In fact, I'd say the opposite is often true. I discovered Phoenix and the Magic Carpet when I was about 8 - I can remember seeing the wonderfully stagey BBC adaptation, and nagging my Mum for the book. It's a fantastical tale - of flying carpets, magic lands, and mythical creatures. Back then, I was also hugely taken with the Edwardian setting of grand houses and nurseries. It added to the sense of mystery and other-worldliness. I still have my old copy - a little dog-eared but much-loved - and I'm really looking forward to sharing it with my niece as she discovers books. I'm sure she'll love it as much as I did. Highly recommended, 20 Apr 2000
This is a fabulous tale, excellently written. I take issue with the last reviewer on two points: it is set in Edwardian not Victorian England; and it is very suitable for modern children: how boring for children if they have to read grim 'realist' books all the time! Bob, Cyril, Anthea and Jane are endearing characters who have great fun with a magic carpet they find, taking cook to a desert island where she becomes queen, visiting far-off lands, getting marooned in an oriental tower and so on, all under the watchful eye of a wise and ancient phoenix. I read this book several times as a child and would recommend it highly, as well as its sequels, 'Story of the Amulet' and 'Five Children and It'. A BLEND OF PRESIAN AND ORIENTAL LORE, 22 May 1998
Children might be tempted to believe that there are Wish Granters floating about, if one can just find them! This fanciful tale is set in Victorian England--an era of gas jets, scullery maids and coal hobs. Four children (as in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE) discover a special fire egg which hatches in their nursery fireplace. Then their mother purchases a Persian carpet, which provides the vehicle for Space (if not Time) Travel. It even responds to written commands and obeys instructions without a human pilot. All this magical flying about in response to wishes reminds me of the cloak in THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE and Mary Norton's THE MAGIC BEDKNOB. Nesbit's style also reminds me of Beatrix Potter, with many asides, advice or explanations directed to the reader. The setting returns us to the ingenuous nursery days of AA Milne's stuffed animal world. The story takes place around Christmas and the children wrestle with their consciences over moral issues concerning the unexplained acquisition of wealth, curios, toys and pets. How much to reveal to skeptical parents and how ethical it is to whisk unsuspecting adults away to a remote island or to allow rational people to assume they are insane or just dreaming. How can the siblings plus their baby brother (called the Lamb) ever return to the status quo, since they can only enjoy their carpet rides and conversations with the Phoenix in secret? This book is too naive for the elementary kids of the 90's, but it would be a good selection to read aloud, one chapter a night before bedtime to younger children. The more you have read of Children's Literature, the more you will recognize from other books. This one may have been the inspiration for the others...!
Wonderfully written, sweet story, 11 Jul 2008
The brilliance of the Railway Children is that E Nesbit refuses to talk down to her readers - she handles a variety of complicated emotions, and she does so in a way that enables us to see things we wouldn't have worked out for ourselves about the character, but that are very true and beautifully observed. Okay, a few too many things happen to these kids - even the film removed one or two sensational twists too many - but those things all bring new insights and emotional rewards. It's a great book.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!, 17 May 2008
This story is about some children who are shattered after the disappearance of their father but the railway line is always there to lift their sad spirits; so are the Old Gentleman and the porter, Perks. Nevertheless, how will they ever find out the reason of their dear father went missing?
I think that this book is a bit old fashioned but it is still very, very, very good; the author is the next (or actually the previous) Agatha Christy!
E Nesbit is the author of this book and many, many others. Some of the titles of her other works include: `The Amulet', `The Phoenix and the Carpet', and `The Five Children and It'
Why am I out of step?, 19 Mar 2006
This is, for me, by far the poorest of E. Nesbit's works - and possibly the most currently popular? All her books, of course, are outstanding; it seems that I prefer the more imaginative ones. If you have not done so, miss reading none of them! While her social awareness is never missing, she does recall for us a world which had its flaws ... but in which one longed to have grown up, however mistakenly!
A classic writer's classic book, 06 Jan 2006
Before J.K.Rowling and Roald Dahl, there was E.E.Nesbitt; the most prolific and inventive children's author of all time, even if the inventor of Harry Potter may be close to usurping that title. Even though her books were written a century ago, such was the universal appeal of her themes and the ease with which children could identify with her characters that she has remained in print to this day and the stories are just as good now as they were then. As with any children's classic - and "The Railway Children" is both a classic and most probably her best book - its appeal lies in a cracking plot, good character development and adult accessibility; parents are as keen to read as their children are to listen. The plot is simple: well-to-do-kids living ideal life in London suddenly have to "play at being poor" in the country after Daddy mysteriously disappears. After a series of adventures, all based around the railway that runs near their house, events coalesce into a satisfying finale. The story centres on Roberta (Bobbie), the eldest daughter through whose eyes the story is narrated. She is one of my own favourite literature heroines and, as she suffers loss and hardship; and gains friendship and love, I would challenge even the most hard-boiled cynic not to shed the odd tear. The story is not, however, nearly as fluffy as all this may intimate. Like Rowling, Nesbitt loved to include magic and enchantment in her stories (it is, perhaps, ironic that her best tale contains none although it is certainly enchantING). Like Rowling, her stories also tend to have a dark side: many contain, and even hinge around, an absent, idealised father, reflecting the loss of the writer's own parent when she was just six. I've worn my way through two copies already!). Buy dozens! Spread them around your own children, their friends, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, neighbours ... any child who can manage joined-up writing will be enchanted by this story - and so will their parents
A fabulous book to remember forever., 17 Mar 2001
This is an enchanting book for people who love to read. I read the book in four days for it was so good I couldn't put it down. Adults will love this just as much as children and the good thing is everyone can relate to the children in the book.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!, 02 May 2008
This book's author, E. Nesbit, has written other stories including `The Railway Children', `The Enchanted Castle' and `The Phoenix & the Carpet'. This is her most well-loved, well-known and best-selling book.
She was born in London in the year of 1858, which is about 150 years ago now. The illustrator was H. R. Millar; here is a bit about him:
After studying art for a while, he began illustrating for magazines in Birmingham. Soon, he was invited to London by the editor of the Graphic, and worked for many periodicals, including the English Illustrated Magazine, Punch, and Good Words, and being a frequent artist on the Strand Magazine, where amid other work and he illustrated fiction by E. Nesbit.
This book is very famous. It is about five children called Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or called by everyone - Lamb. The find a sand-fairy, which is the `It'.
lots of intresting twists, 13 Sep 2006
This is the story of 5 children who, while digging in the sand find a sand fairy that will grant them 1 wish a day. Sounds simple enough but the fairy never grants the wish in the way you think he will. A funny light hearted story with lots of intresting twists . The plot of the story is very good and unique and doesn't slows down for a second.
Spellbinding and hilarious, 18 Aug 2005
Kept my five-year-old and ten-year-old entranced for a whole journey to the Lake District and back, and we enjoyed it too. It was funny and suspenseful and wise, and the Psammead's voice was brilliantly done - brought out all its grumpy cat qualities.
An extremely enjoyable book for young readers, 19 Aug 2004
"Five Children and It" is Edith Nesbit's enchanting novel about four naughty children and a cute baby who find a fairy that will grant them a wish a day. The story is ingenious and well-plotted and is written in a fresh, modern style that will hugely entertain the young reader. Moreover, he or she will be able to extract from this book several sweet messages about goodness, generosity and the value of reflection.
The first child friendly book of the 20th century, 07 Nov 2001
E. Nesbit may have written this 100 years ago but her writing has retained it's freshness and humour because she saw children as people, not as empty vessels waiting to be filled with life deadening facts. Not so usual in 1901.
Social realism and humour abound in her books and like her laws of magic, there are no set rules to how she wrote her books. She established new territory that all subsequent good writers for children have had the freedom to explore.
National Curriculum Literacy strategists take note. Nesbit did not learn to write by investigating non-fictional texts. She had a vivid and exciting childhood, free of of academic constraints.
Read this book and all the Nesbits. Her books of full of the true magic of childhood.
Not as good as the puffin audio - pity..., 05 Mar 2008
Yes, a great story, but to manage your expectations, this is not a patch on the Puffin tapes of the book read by Samantha Bond. This abridgement lacks colour compared with the Puffin one - you jump to the Psammead after about 3 minutes, and a lot of the Edwardian charm has been dropped. Anna Bentinck is just not as good either. But as this is the only audio available, I suppose you'll have to get it!
Wonderful - both my children love this CD version, 10 May 2005
My six year old daughter says "It is the most best CD ever!" My 8 year old son says "It's better than watching the film, my heart broke at the end! I'm going to listen to it over and over again" Need I say more, the children love it!
best recording yet - ignore the cover, 04 May 2004
What a pity this recording comes with such a wishy-washy illustration, guaranteed to put children off. It is pure joy, not least because it will keep any child of 8+ completely quiet for 3 hours. Nesbitt's classic tale is being filmed, and perhaps this will encourage more children ot try her wonderful stories, told in the voice of the kindest mother imaginable.
Five children- one of the a baby, known as the Lamb (whose delightful and frightful characteristics are honestly portrayed) leave London for their first holiday in two years at the white house in the country. It isn't long before they discover a "Psammead" in the gravel-pits, a sand-fairy who has not surfaced since dinosaur days (Nesbitt's paleontology a bit shaky here) when children used to ask it for a nice Megatherium for breakfast. Our own children of course ask for all the obvious things - beauty, riches, wings, adventures. They all go hilariously wrong, and if the long-suffering maid Ellen gets a husband out of it, it's only by accident.
There are no tedious moral messages, except perhaps that it isn't wise to try and tell adults the truth, and that you should always have your dinner before you have an adventure, but the freshness of this enchanting book is undimmed. The reading is first-rate, and interspersed with perfectly chosen music from Naxos's archives. Much, much better than the BBC recording. I also recommend the Cover to Cover audiop version of The Phoenix & the Carpet. Let's hope the third book in the trilogy, The Sotry of the Amulet, isn't long in appearing.
A bit long winded, 07 Aug 2007
Although it has its moments, it has alot of superflous dialogue and can be quite difficult for children to understand at times. It is also quite racist in how it describes particular people, which although obviously acceptable (from a publishers point - not mine)when it was first printed, it is not now, and I was quite disappointed that an author of this calibre felt the need to use such words. Could be a lovely, adventurous story in half the words!
Classic story, 23 Jun 1999
This is a classic book that I read when I was ten and found again recently. Nesbit manages to blend the world of magic with mundane reality in a way that is immensely appealing. Will spark imaginations of children anywhere.
I can't wait to read this to my children!, 18 Jan 1999
This book stands out among all others from my childhood. It stirred my imagination like no other book, and I have often thought of it since. The atmosphere it creates is wonderful and lives on long after reading it. I look forward to my children being of a suitable age to read it to them.
Probably great for 9-12 yr olds, but not me, 28 Nov 1998
I read this as a homeschooled 13 yr old. For me, the reading level was extremely easy--but the story was neat. Nesbit has some cool ideas, but . . . I guess her style just isn't what I like. I think I'd recommend this for a read-aloud to younger children. Nesbit *does* has a wonderfully developed imagination!
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Customer Reviews
The Phoenix and the Carpet, 01 Aug 2008
Great C.D. my Son (aged 7)has listened to it several times ands loves the story! will be buying more from this collection. MAGICAL!!!, 25 Mar 2008
This book is a Puffin Classic. The children in this book are the same ones in `the Five Children and It' & `The Amulet'. Their names are Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or as called in `the Five Children and It' - Lamb. If you don't know the story or have forgotten it, then I will jog your memory: It is about a second hand carpet that was bought for the nursery which had magical powers; it could transport them to wherever they wanted to go; also, a strange egg dropped out of it and it was the egg of a phoenix...
I thought that this book was ok. It was a bit boring at parts but some of the bits were more thrilling than going to the circus or even to Alton Towers! I would rate the book, overall, 8/ 10 and would recommend it to all!
Somewhat overlooked - this is a magical classic., 01 Jul 2003
I agree with the 5-star review - this is suitable for modern children. It's restrictive, and unnecessary to assume that children only want to read contemporary stories. Children's imaginations are timeless, and classics that endure like Alice In Wonderland, Narnia Tales, and this book, do so because they capture and encourage imagination. Indeed, the current trend for Harry Potter surely shows that a book doesn't need to be contemporary to appeal to young readers. In fact, I'd say the opposite is often true. I discovered Phoenix and the Magic Carpet when I was about 8 - I can remember seeing the wonderfully stagey BBC adaptation, and nagging my Mum for the book. It's a fantastical tale - of flying carpets, magic lands, and mythical creatures. Back then, I was also hugely taken with the Edwardian setting of grand houses and nurseries. It added to the sense of mystery and other-worldliness. I still have my old copy - a little dog-eared but much-loved - and I'm really looking forward to sharing it with my niece as she discovers books. I'm sure she'll love it as much as I did. Highly recommended, 20 Apr 2000
This is a fabulous tale, excellently written. I take issue with the last reviewer on two points: it is set in Edwardian not Victorian England; and it is very suitable for modern children: how boring for children if they have to read grim 'realist' books all the time! Bob, Cyril, Anthea and Jane are endearing characters who have great fun with a magic carpet they find, taking cook to a desert island where she becomes queen, visiting far-off lands, getting marooned in an oriental tower and so on, all under the watchful eye of a wise and ancient phoenix. I read this book several times as a child and would recommend it highly, as well as its sequels, 'Story of the Amulet' and 'Five Children and It'. A BLEND OF PRESIAN AND ORIENTAL LORE, 22 May 1998
Children might be tempted to believe that there are Wish Granters floating about, if one can just find them! This fanciful tale is set in Victorian England--an era of gas jets, scullery maids and coal hobs. Four children (as in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE) discover a special fire egg which hatches in their nursery fireplace. Then their mother purchases a Persian carpet, which provides the vehicle for Space (if not Time) Travel. It even responds to written commands and obeys instructions without a human pilot. All this magical flying about in response to wishes reminds me of the cloak in THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE and Mary Norton's THE MAGIC BEDKNOB. Nesbit's style also reminds me of Beatrix Potter, with many asides, advice or explanations directed to the reader. The setting returns us to the ingenuous nursery days of AA Milne's stuffed animal world. The story takes place around Christmas and the children wrestle with their consciences over moral issues concerning the unexplained acquisition of wealth, curios, toys and pets. How much to reveal to skeptical parents and how ethical it is to whisk unsuspecting adults away to a remote island or to allow rational people to assume they are insane or just dreaming. How can the siblings plus their baby brother (called the Lamb) ever return to the status quo, since they can only enjoy their carpet rides and conversations with the Phoenix in secret? This book is too naive for the elementary kids of the 90's, but it would be a good selection to read aloud, one chapter a night before bedtime to younger children. The more you have read of Children's Literature, the more you will recognize from other books. This one may have been the inspiration for the others...!
Wonderfully written, sweet story, 11 Jul 2008
The brilliance of the Railway Children is that E Nesbit refuses to talk down to her readers - she handles a variety of complicated emotions, and she does so in a way that enables us to see things we wouldn't have worked out for ourselves about the character, but that are very true and beautifully observed. Okay, a few too many things happen to these kids - even the film removed one or two sensational twists too many - but those things all bring new insights and emotional rewards. It's a great book.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!, 17 May 2008
This story is about some children who are shattered after the disappearance of their father but the railway line is always there to lift their sad spirits; so are the Old Gentleman and the porter, Perks. Nevertheless, how will they ever find out the reason of their dear father went missing?
I think that this book is a bit old fashioned but it is still very, very, very good; the author is the next (or actually the previous) Agatha Christy!
E Nesbit is the author of this book and many, many others. Some of the titles of her other works include: `The Amulet', `The Phoenix and the Carpet', and `The Five Children and It'
Why am I out of step?, 19 Mar 2006
This is, for me, by far the poorest of E. Nesbit's works - and possibly the most currently popular? All her books, of course, are outstanding; it seems that I prefer the more imaginative ones. If you have not done so, miss reading none of them! While her social awareness is never missing, she does recall for us a world which had its flaws ... but in which one longed to have grown up, however mistakenly!
A classic writer's classic book, 06 Jan 2006
Before J.K.Rowling and Roald Dahl, there was E.E.Nesbitt; the most prolific and inventive children's author of all time, even if the inventor of Harry Potter may be close to usurping that title. Even though her books were written a century ago, such was the universal appeal of her themes and the ease with which children could identify with her characters that she has remained in print to this day and the stories are just as good now as they were then. As with any children's classic - and "The Railway Children" is both a classic and most probably her best book - its appeal lies in a cracking plot, good character development and adult accessibility; parents are as keen to read as their children are to listen. The plot is simple: well-to-do-kids living ideal life in London suddenly have to "play at being poor" in the country after Daddy mysteriously disappears. After a series of adventures, all based around the railway that runs near their house, events coalesce into a satisfying finale. The story centres on Roberta (Bobbie), the eldest daughter through whose eyes the story is narrated. She is one of my own favourite literature heroines and, as she suffers loss and hardship; and gains friendship and love, I would challenge even the most hard-boiled cynic not to shed the odd tear. The story is not, however, nearly as fluffy as all this may intimate. Like Rowling, Nesbitt loved to include magic and enchantment in her stories (it is, perhaps, ironic that her best tale contains none although it is certainly enchantING). Like Rowling, her stories also tend to have a dark side: many contain, and even hinge around, an absent, idealised father, reflecting the loss of the writer's own parent when she was just six. I've worn my way through two copies already!). Buy dozens! Spread them around your own children, their friends, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, neighbours ... any child who can manage joined-up writing will be enchanted by this story - and so will their parents
A fabulous book to remember forever., 17 Mar 2001
This is an enchanting book for people who love to read. I read the book in four days for it was so good I couldn't put it down. Adults will love this just as much as children and the good thing is everyone can relate to the children in the book.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!, 02 May 2008
This book's author, E. Nesbit, has written other stories including `The Railway Children', `The Enchanted Castle' and `The Phoenix & the Carpet'. This is her most well-loved, well-known and best-selling book.
She was born in London in the year of 1858, which is about 150 years ago now. The illustrator was H. R. Millar; here is a bit about him:
After studying art for a while, he began illustrating for magazines in Birmingham. Soon, he was invited to London by the editor of the Graphic, and worked for many periodicals, including the English Illustrated Magazine, Punch, and Good Words, and being a frequent artist on the Strand Magazine, where amid other work and he illustrated fiction by E. Nesbit.
This book is very famous. It is about five children called Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or called by everyone - Lamb. The find a sand-fairy, which is the `It'.
lots of intresting twists, 13 Sep 2006
This is the story of 5 children who, while digging in the sand find a sand fairy that will grant them 1 wish a day. Sounds simple enough but the fairy never grants the wish in the way you think he will. A funny light hearted story with lots of intresting twists . The plot of the story is very good and unique and doesn't slows down for a second.
Spellbinding and hilarious, 18 Aug 2005
Kept my five-year-old and ten-year-old entranced for a whole journey to the Lake District and back, and we enjoyed it too. It was funny and suspenseful and wise, and the Psammead's voice was brilliantly done - brought out all its grumpy cat qualities.
An extremely enjoyable book for young readers, 19 Aug 2004
"Five Children and It" is Edith Nesbit's enchanting novel about four naughty children and a cute baby who find a fairy that will grant them a wish a day. The story is ingenious and well-plotted and is written in a fresh, modern style that will hugely entertain the young reader. Moreover, he or she will be able to extract from this book several sweet messages about goodness, generosity and the value of reflection.
The first child friendly book of the 20th century, 07 Nov 2001
E. Nesbit may have written this 100 years ago but her writing has retained it's freshness and humour because she saw children as people, not as empty vessels waiting to be filled with life deadening facts. Not so usual in 1901.
Social realism and humour abound in her books and like her laws of magic, there are no set rules to how she wrote her books. She established new territory that all subsequent good writers for children have had the freedom to explore.
National Curriculum Literacy strategists take note. Nesbit did not learn to write by investigating non-fictional texts. She had a vivid and exciting childhood, free of of academic constraints.
Read this book and all the Nesbits. Her books of full of the true magic of childhood.
Not as good as the puffin audio - pity..., 05 Mar 2008
Yes, a great story, but to manage your expectations, this is not a patch on the Puffin tapes of the book read by Samantha Bond. This abridgement lacks colour compared with the Puffin one - you jump to the Psammead after about 3 minutes, and a lot of the Edwardian charm has been dropped. Anna Bentinck is just not as good either. But as this is the only audio available, I suppose you'll have to get it!
Wonderful - both my children love this CD version, 10 May 2005
My six year old daughter says "It is the most best CD ever!" My 8 year old son says "It's better than watching the film, my heart broke at the end! I'm going to listen to it over and over again" Need I say more, the children love it!
best recording yet - ignore the cover, 04 May 2004
What a pity this recording comes with such a wishy-washy illustration, guaranteed to put children off. It is pure joy, not least because it will keep any child of 8+ completely quiet for 3 hours. Nesbitt's classic tale is being filmed, and perhaps this will encourage more children ot try her wonderful stories, told in the voice of the kindest mother imaginable.
Five children- one of the a baby, known as the Lamb (whose delightful and frightful characteristics are honestly portrayed) leave London for their first holiday in two years at the white house in the country. It isn't long before they discover a "Psammead" in the gravel-pits, a sand-fairy who has not surfaced since dinosaur days (Nesbitt's paleontology a bit shaky here) when children used to ask it for a nice Megatherium for breakfast. Our own children of course ask for all the obvious things - beauty, riches, wings, adventures. They all go hilariously wrong, and if the long-suffering maid Ellen gets a husband out of it, it's only by accident.
There are no tedious moral messages, except perhaps that it isn't wise to try and tell adults the truth, and that you should always have your dinner before you have an adventure, but the freshness of this enchanting book is undimmed. The reading is first-rate, and interspersed with perfectly chosen music from Naxos's archives. Much, much better than the BBC recording. I also recommend the Cover to Cover audiop version of The Phoenix & the Carpet. Let's hope the third book in the trilogy, The Sotry of the Amulet, isn't long in appearing.
A bit long winded, 07 Aug 2007
Although it has its moments, it has alot of superflous dialogue and can be quite difficult for children to understand at times. It is also quite racist in how it describes particular people, which although obviously acceptable (from a publishers point - not mine)when it was first printed, it is not now, and I was quite disappointed that an author of this calibre felt the need to use such words. Could be a lovely, adventurous story in half the words!
Classic story, 23 Jun 1999
This is a classic book that I read when I was ten and found again recently. Nesbit manages to blend the world of magic with mundane reality in a way that is immensely appealing. Will spark imaginations of children anywhere.
I can't wait to read this to my children!, 18 Jan 1999
This book stands out among all others from my childhood. It stirred my imagination like no other book, and I have often thought of it since. The atmosphere it creates is wonderful and lives on long after reading it. I look forward to my children being of a suitable age to read it to them.
Probably great for 9-12 yr olds, but not me, 28 Nov 1998
I read this as a homeschooled 13 yr old. For me, the reading level was extremely easy--but the story was neat. Nesbit has some cool ideas, but . . . I guess her style just isn't what I like. I think I'd recommend this for a read-aloud to younger children. Nesbit *does* has a wonderfully developed imagination!
Imaginative, wise, enchanting, 02 Sep 2008
I read this book with my eight-year-old daughter and we were both delighted. She'd plead with me to read another chapter, then another, and I found it hard to resist! There was real substance in the story, and it was told with imagination and wisdom that feeds the mind and heart. A superb children's book I would recommend to anyone.
the best book for people who like animals, 19 Nov 2000
If you can't read, the pictures make you understand nearly everything there is to know in the book. The pictures are so realistic and magical at the same time. My dad read me this book and I didn't want him to stop reading. The horse speaks his own kind of language in a way we can't do.
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Customer Reviews
The Phoenix and the Carpet, 01 Aug 2008
Great C.D. my Son (aged 7)has listened to it several times ands loves the story! will be buying more from this collection. MAGICAL!!!, 25 Mar 2008
This book is a Puffin Classic. The children in this book are the same ones in `the Five Children and It' & `The Amulet'. Their names are Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or as called in `the Five Children and It' - Lamb. If you don't know the story or have forgotten it, then I will jog your memory: It is about a second hand carpet that was bought for the nursery which had magical powers; it could transport them to wherever they wanted to go; also, a strange egg dropped out of it and it was the egg of a phoenix...
I thought that this book was ok. It was a bit boring at parts but some of the bits were more thrilling than going to the circus or even to Alton Towers! I would rate the book, overall, 8/ 10 and would recommend it to all!
Somewhat overlooked - this is a magical classic., 01 Jul 2003
I agree with the 5-star review - this is suitable for modern children. It's restrictive, and unnecessary to assume that children only want to read contemporary stories. Children's imaginations are timeless, and classics that endure like Alice In Wonderland, Narnia Tales, and this book, do so because they capture and encourage imagination. Indeed, the current trend for Harry Potter surely shows that a book doesn't need to be contemporary to appeal to young readers. In fact, I'd say the opposite is often true. I discovered Phoenix and the Magic Carpet when I was about 8 - I can remember seeing the wonderfully stagey BBC adaptation, and nagging my Mum for the book. It's a fantastical tale - of flying carpets, magic lands, and mythical creatures. Back then, I was also hugely taken with the Edwardian setting of grand houses and nurseries. It added to the sense of mystery and other-worldliness. I still have my old copy - a little dog-eared but much-loved - and I'm really looking forward to sharing it with my niece as she discovers books. I'm sure she'll love it as much as I did. Highly recommended, 20 Apr 2000
This is a fabulous tale, excellently written. I take issue with the last reviewer on two points: it is set in Edwardian not Victorian England; and it is very suitable for modern children: how boring for children if they have to read grim 'realist' books all the time! Bob, Cyril, Anthea and Jane are endearing characters who have great fun with a magic carpet they find, taking cook to a desert island where she becomes queen, visiting far-off lands, getting marooned in an oriental tower and so on, all under the watchful eye of a wise and ancient phoenix. I read this book several times as a child and would recommend it highly, as well as its sequels, 'Story of the Amulet' and 'Five Children and It'. A BLEND OF PRESIAN AND ORIENTAL LORE, 22 May 1998
Children might be tempted to believe that there are Wish Granters floating about, if one can just find them! This fanciful tale is set in Victorian England--an era of gas jets, scullery maids and coal hobs. Four children (as in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE) discover a special fire egg which hatches in their nursery fireplace. Then their mother purchases a Persian carpet, which provides the vehicle for Space (if not Time) Travel. It even responds to written commands and obeys instructions without a human pilot. All this magical flying about in response to wishes reminds me of the cloak in THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE and Mary Norton's THE MAGIC BEDKNOB. Nesbit's style also reminds me of Beatrix Potter, with many asides, advice or explanations directed to the reader. The setting returns us to the ingenuous nursery days of AA Milne's stuffed animal world. The story takes place around Christmas and the children wrestle with their consciences over moral issues concerning the unexplained acquisition of wealth, curios, toys and pets. How much to reveal to skeptical parents and how ethical it is to whisk unsuspecting adults away to a remote island or to allow rational people to assume they are insane or just dreaming. How can the siblings plus their baby brother (called the Lamb) ever return to the status quo, since they can only enjoy their carpet rides and conversations with the Phoenix in secret? This book is too naive for the elementary kids of the 90's, but it would be a good selection to read aloud, one chapter a night before bedtime to younger children. The more you have read of Children's Literature, the more you will recognize from other books. This one may have been the inspiration for the others...!
Wonderfully written, sweet story, 11 Jul 2008
The brilliance of the Railway Children is that E Nesbit refuses to talk down to her readers - she handles a variety of complicated emotions, and she does so in a way that enables us to see things we wouldn't have worked out for ourselves about the character, but that are very true and beautifully observed. Okay, a few too many things happen to these kids - even the film removed one or two sensational twists too many - but those things all bring new insights and emotional rewards. It's a great book.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!, 17 May 2008
This story is about some children who are shattered after the disappearance of their father but the railway line is always there to lift their sad spirits; so are the Old Gentleman and the porter, Perks. Nevertheless, how will they ever find out the reason of their dear father went missing?
I think that this book is a bit old fashioned but it is still very, very, very good; the author is the next (or actually the previous) Agatha Christy!
E Nesbit is the author of this book and many, many others. Some of the titles of her other works include: `The Amulet', `The Phoenix and the Carpet', and `The Five Children and It'
Why am I out of step?, 19 Mar 2006
This is, for me, by far the poorest of E. Nesbit's works - and possibly the most currently popular? All her books, of course, are outstanding; it seems that I prefer the more imaginative ones. If you have not done so, miss reading none of them! While her social awareness is never missing, she does recall for us a world which had its flaws ... but in which one longed to have grown up, however mistakenly!
A classic writer's classic book, 06 Jan 2006
Before J.K.Rowling and Roald Dahl, there was E.E.Nesbitt; the most prolific and inventive children's author of all time, even if the inventor of Harry Potter may be close to usurping that title. Even though her books were written a century ago, such was the universal appeal of her themes and the ease with which children could identify with her characters that she has remained in print to this day and the stories are just as good now as they were then. As with any children's classic - and "The Railway Children" is both a classic and most probably her best book - its appeal lies in a cracking plot, good character development and adult accessibility; parents are as keen to read as their children are to listen. The plot is simple: well-to-do-kids living ideal life in London suddenly have to "play at being poor" in the country after Daddy mysteriously disappears. After a series of adventures, all based around the railway that runs near their house, events coalesce into a satisfying finale. The story centres on Roberta (Bobbie), the eldest daughter through whose eyes the story is narrated. She is one of my own favourite literature heroines and, as she suffers loss and hardship; and gains friendship and love, I would challenge even the most hard-boiled cynic not to shed the odd tear. The story is not, however, nearly as fluffy as all this may intimate. Like Rowling, Nesbitt loved to include magic and enchantment in her stories (it is, perhaps, ironic that her best tale contains none although it is certainly enchantING). Like Rowling, her stories also tend to have a dark side: many contain, and even hinge around, an absent, idealised father, reflecting the loss of the writer's own parent when she was just six. I've worn my way through two copies already!). Buy dozens! Spread them around your own children, their friends, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, neighbours ... any child who can manage joined-up writing will be enchanted by this story - and so will their parents
A fabulous book to remember forever., 17 Mar 2001
This is an enchanting book for people who love to read. I read the book in four days for it was so good I couldn't put it down. Adults will love this just as much as children and the good thing is everyone can relate to the children in the book.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!, 02 May 2008
This book's author, E. Nesbit, has written other stories including `The Railway Children', `The Enchanted Castle' and `The Phoenix & the Carpet'. This is her most well-loved, well-known and best-selling book.
She was born in London in the year of 1858, which is about 150 years ago now. The illustrator was H. R. Millar; here is a bit about him:
After studying art for a while, he began illustrating for magazines in Birmingham. Soon, he was invited to London by the editor of the Graphic, and worked for many periodicals, including the English Illustrated Magazine, Punch, and Good Words, and being a frequent artist on the Strand Magazine, where amid other work and he illustrated fiction by E. Nesbit.
This book is very famous. It is about five children called Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or called by everyone - Lamb. The find a sand-fairy, which is the `It'.
lots of intresting twists, 13 Sep 2006
This is the story of 5 children who, while digging in the sand find a sand fairy that will grant them 1 wish a day. Sounds simple enough but the fairy never grants the wish in the way you think he will. A funny light hearted story with lots of intresting twists . The plot of the story is very good and unique and doesn't slows down for a second.
Spellbinding and hilarious, 18 Aug 2005
Kept my five-year-old and ten-year-old entranced for a whole journey to the Lake District and back, and we enjoyed it too. It was funny and suspenseful and wise, and the Psammead's voice was brilliantly done - brought out all its grumpy cat qualities.
An extremely enjoyable book for young readers, 19 Aug 2004
"Five Children and It" is Edith Nesbit's enchanting novel about four naughty children and a cute baby who find a fairy that will grant them a wish a day. The story is ingenious and well-plotted and is written in a fresh, modern style that will hugely entertain the young reader. Moreover, he or she will be able to extract from this book several sweet messages about goodness, generosity and the value of reflection.
The first child friendly book of the 20th century, 07 Nov 2001
E. Nesbit may have written this 100 years ago but her writing has retained it's freshness and humour because she saw children as people, not as empty vessels waiting to be filled with life deadening facts. Not so usual in 1901.
Social realism and humour abound in her books and like her laws of magic, there are no set rules to how she wrote her books. She established new territory that all subsequent good writers for children have had the freedom to explore.
National Curriculum Literacy strategists take note. Nesbit did not learn to write by investigating non-fictional texts. She had a vivid and exciting childhood, free of of academic constraints.
Read this book and all the Nesbits. Her books of full of the true magic of childhood.
Not as good as the puffin audio - pity..., 05 Mar 2008
Yes, a great story, but to manage your expectations, this is not a patch on the Puffin tapes of the book read by Samantha Bond. This abridgement lacks colour compared with the Puffin one - you jump to the Psammead after about 3 minutes, and a lot of the Edwardian charm has been dropped. Anna Bentinck is just not as good either. But as this is the only audio available, I suppose you'll have to get it!
Wonderful - both my children love this CD version, 10 May 2005
My six year old daughter says "It is the most best CD ever!" My 8 year old son says "It's better than watching the film, my heart broke at the end! I'm going to listen to it over and over again" Need I say more, the children love it!
best recording yet - ignore the cover, 04 May 2004
What a pity this recording comes with such a wishy-washy illustration, guaranteed to put children off. It is pure joy, not least because it will keep any child of 8+ completely quiet for 3 hours. Nesbitt's classic tale is being filmed, and perhaps this will encourage more children ot try her wonderful stories, told in the voice of the kindest mother imaginable.
Five children- one of the a baby, known as the Lamb (whose delightful and frightful characteristics are honestly portrayed) leave London for their first holiday in two years at the white house in the country. It isn't long before they discover a "Psammead" in the gravel-pits, a sand-fairy who has not surfaced since dinosaur days (Nesbitt's paleontology a bit shaky here) when children used to ask it for a nice Megatherium for breakfast. Our own children of course ask for all the obvious things - beauty, riches, wings, adventures. They all go hilariously wrong, and if the long-suffering maid Ellen gets a husband out of it, it's only by accident.
There are no tedious moral messages, except perhaps that it isn't wise to try and tell adults the truth, and that you should always have your dinner before you have an adventure, but the freshness of this enchanting book is undimmed. The reading is first-rate, and interspersed with perfectly chosen music from Naxos's archives. Much, much better than the BBC recording. I also recommend the Cover to Cover audiop version of The Phoenix & the Carpet. Let's hope the third book in the trilogy, The Sotry of the Amulet, isn't long in appearing.
A bit long winded, 07 Aug 2007
Although it has its moments, it has alot of superflous dialogue and can be quite difficult for children to understand at times. It is also quite racist in how it describes particular people, which although obviously acceptable (from a publishers point - not mine)when it was first printed, it is not now, and I was quite disappointed that an author of this calibre felt the need to use such words. Could be a lovely, adventurous story in half the words!
Classic story, 23 Jun 1999
This is a classic book that I read when I was ten and found again recently. Nesbit manages to blend the world of magic with mundane reality in a way that is immensely appealing. Will spark imaginations of children anywhere.
I can't wait to read this to my children!, 18 Jan 1999
This book stands out among all others from my childhood. It stirred my imagination like no other book, and I have often thought of it since. The atmosphere it creates is wonderful and lives on long after reading it. I look forward to my children being of a suitable age to read it to them.
Probably great for 9-12 yr olds, but not me, 28 Nov 1998
I read this as a homeschooled 13 yr old. For me, the reading level was extremely easy--but the story was neat. Nesbit has some cool ideas, but . . . I guess her style just isn't what I like. I think I'd recommend this for a read-aloud to younger children. Nesbit *does* has a wonderfully developed imagination!
Imaginative, wise, enchanting, 02 Sep 2008
I read this book with my eight-year-old daughter and we were both delighted. She'd plead with me to read another chapter, then another, and I found it hard to resist! There was real substance in the story, and it was told with imagination and wisdom that feeds the mind and heart. A superb children's book I would recommend to anyone.
the best book for people who like animals, 19 Nov 2000
If you can't read, the pictures make you understand nearly everything there is to know in the book. The pictures are so realistic and magical at the same time. My dad read me this book and I didn't want him to stop reading. The horse speaks his own kind of language in a way we can't do.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!, 02 May 2008
This book's author, E. Nesbit, has written other stories including `The Railway Children', `The Enchanted Castle' and `The Phoenix & the Carpet'. This is her most well-loved, well-known and best-selling book.
She was born in London in the year of 1858, which is about 150 years ago now. The illustrator was H. R. Millar; here is a bit about him:
After studying art for a while, he began illustrating for magazines in Birmingham. Soon, he was invited to London by the editor of the Graphic, and worked for many periodicals, including the English Illustrated Magazine, Punch, and Good Words, and being a frequent artist on the Strand Magazine, where amid other work and he illustrated fiction by E. Nesbit.
This book is very famous. It is about five children called Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and baby Hilary, or called by everyone - Lamb. The find a sand-fairy, which is the `It'.
lots of intresting twists, 13 Sep 2006
This is the story of 5 children who, while digging in the sand find a sand fairy that will grant them 1 wish a day. Sounds simple enough but the fairy never grants the wish in the way you think he will. A funny light hearted story with lots of intresting twists . The plot of the story is very good and unique and doesn't slows down for a second.
Spellbinding and hilarious, 18 Aug 2005
Kept my five-year-old and ten-year-old entranced for a whole journey to the Lake District and back, and we enjoyed it too. It was funny and suspenseful and wise, and the Psammead's voice was brilliantly done - brought out all its grumpy cat qualities.
An extremely enjoyable book for young readers, 19 Aug 2004
"Five Children and It" is Edith Nesbit's enchanting novel about four naughty children and a cute baby who find a fairy that will grant them a wish a day. The story is ingenious and well-plotted and is written in a fresh, modern style that will hugely entertain the young reader. Moreover, he or she will be able to extract from this book several sweet messages about goodness, generosity and the value of reflection.
The first child friendly book of the 20th century, 07 Nov 2001
E. Nesbit may have written this 100 years ago but her writing has retained it's freshness and humour because she saw children as people, not as empty vessels waiting to be filled with life deadening facts. Not so usual in 1901.
Social realism and humour abound in her books and like her laws of magic, there are no set rules to how she wrote her books. She established new territory that all subsequent good writers for children have had the freedom to explore.
National Curriculum Literacy strategists take note. Nesbit did not learn to write by investigating non-fictional texts. She had a vivid and exciting childhood, free of of academic constraints.
Read this book and all the Nesbits. Her books of full of the true magic of childhood.
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