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![Five Children and It: E. Nesbit (Classics, Literature) [Annotated] by E. Nesbit](https://cdn.thestorygraph.com/97aam85yqpbfmzo3v04k0l2nim55)
3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
I never actually read this as a child, but picked it up via Kindle over the weekend. The story follows a group of children who discover a sand fairy capable of granting them a wish a day. Being nursery fiction, the wishes all turn out to be miserable affairs, driving home the point that we should all be careful what we wish for.
Some sections are particularly dated (the wish which turns baby Lamb into a man about town, full of talk of his club and his moustache, springs to mind) and there are the usual problems of an Empire age view of any character who isn't English, but overall it's a charming and enjoyable story for anyone aged 8 and up. :)
Some sections are particularly dated (the wish which turns baby Lamb into a man about town, full of talk of his club and his moustache, springs to mind) and there are the usual problems of an Empire age view of any character who isn't English, but overall it's a charming and enjoyable story for anyone aged 8 and up. :)
I thought I might get to the end without encountering any overt racism, but I was wrong.
What a lovely and fun book!
I read this story aloud with my family while on vacation, which really was perfect.
It wasn't what I expected at all, which was a more whimsical British fairy-tale with a moral lesson, but what I got was far superior. The story was very clever and would be fun for both children and adults to read, especially together. I can imagine better readers than myself putting on voices for each of the characters, which would heighten the fun even further. I may even look around for this book on audio to hear for myself.
I loved the omnipresent narrator, with the odd comments peppered throughout the story which always made me laugh. The Sand-Fairy itself was not the friendly Totoro I pictured, but instead a grumpy ol' curmudgeon and the children were very like children, not the fictional young heroes seen as in other YA lit.
I did not end up writing "So true" in the margins anywhere, but did almost stain the pages with the tears of my laughter a few times. The book was almost difficult to read aloud it was so funny at times.
If there's more I'm onto it!
I read this story aloud with my family while on vacation, which really was perfect.
It wasn't what I expected at all, which was a more whimsical British fairy-tale with a moral lesson, but what I got was far superior. The story was very clever and would be fun for both children and adults to read, especially together. I can imagine better readers than myself putting on voices for each of the characters, which would heighten the fun even further. I may even look around for this book on audio to hear for myself.
I loved the omnipresent narrator, with the odd comments peppered throughout the story which always made me laugh. The Sand-Fairy itself was not the friendly Totoro I pictured, but instead a grumpy ol' curmudgeon and the children were very like children, not the fictional young heroes seen as in other YA lit.
I did not end up writing "So true" in the margins anywhere, but did almost stain the pages with the tears of my laughter a few times. The book was almost difficult to read aloud it was so funny at times.
If there's more I'm onto it!
mostly a cute short fable about some annoying little posh kids that gets racist at the end for absolutely no reason
Read this on and off between other books. I loved it as a kid, but um... the second to last chapter is SUPER racist. I skipped it this time.
Other than that, E. Nesbit's humour pleases me.
Other than that, E. Nesbit's humour pleases me.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No