Five Children and It

Nesbit, E. (Edith), 1858-1924Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.3

Word count: 296K words
Chapters: 30

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Five Children and It by E. NesbitAuthor: Nesbit, E. (Edith), 1858-1924,Language: English, Class: PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres, Release Date: Jan 1, 1997

Editor's review

Five Children and It is a classic children's fantasy novel by Edith Nesbit. It tells of five children who dig up a sand-fairy in a gravel pit who can grant wishes, and each wish leads to unexpected chaos. Its value lies in its light, humorous handling of the theme of wishes and consequences, letting children learn through laughter about the boundaries of imagination and responsibility. Nesbit's pacing is brisk and her dialogue lively, with everyday family life interwoven with fantastical adventure; it has the texture of Victorian life without being preachy. The portrayal of sibling relationships is authentic and relatable, with quarrels and cooperation coexisting, making it suitable for shared parent-child reading or classroom read-alouds. As a public-domain ebook, this edition is convenient to read anytime on electronic devices and works well as an introduction to children's literature and as extensive reading material for English learners.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Young readers aged 8–12 who enjoy fantasy adventure stories
Parents who want to read with their children and discuss wishes and consequences
English learners looking for simple, engaging extensive reading material
Fans of children's literature interested in Nesbit's writing style

Not a good fit for

Young adult readers who prefer tense, thrilling fantasy with complex world-building
Researchers who need in-depth literary analysis or scholarly annotations
Very young children completely unfamiliar with the backdrop of Victorian family life

Reading tips

Read aloud chapter by chapter, and after each chapter have the child predict what trouble the next wish will bring
After reading, discuss with the child: if you could make only one wish, how would you avoid the chaos in the book
English learners can first read a Chinese translation to follow the plot, then compare it with the English original to build everyday expressions
During shared reading, pay attention to the dialogue between siblings and read aloud in character, imitating their tones

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What age is this book suitable for reading independently?

The English original suits upper-primary pupils with some English foundation, while a Chinese translation suits children around 8–12 to read independently. Younger children are best accompanied by an adult reading aloud, to help with the Victorian family background and some old-fashioned expressions.

Why do the sand-fairy's wishes always go wrong?

Each wish in the book is granted literally, and the children do not consider the details and consequences, so all kinds of trouble follow. This is the book's central charm: it does not reject imagination but lets children learn through laughter that wishes need careful thought and that responsibility is needed between wish and reality.

This is a public-domain ebook—what should readers keep in mind?

This edition comes from Project Gutenberg and is a free public-domain ebook, laid out mainly as plain text and possibly lacking illustrations or modern notes. It is best read in software that supports adjustable font size; English learners can use a dictionary alongside, and need not check every old-fashioned expression word by word—follow the plot first.

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About the author

Nesbit, E. (Edith), 1858-1924 Author

E. Nesbit (full name Edith Nesbit, 1858–1924) was a British writer of children's literature. As public information is limited, her biographical details are not elaborated here; the focus is on her works and writing style. The library holds 35 of her works, with representative titles including The Railway Children, Five Children and It, The Story of the Treasure Seekers, The Enchanted Castle, The Wouldbegoods, and The House of Arden: A Story for Children. Her works are mostly set against ordinary family life, weaving magic, adventure, and humour together naturally. Her language is warm and accessible, and she excels at portraying children's dialogue and inner thoughts, often letting ordinary children show courage and kindness in wondrous encounters. She has had a lasting influence on later British children's fantasy literature.