Five Children and It

Be Careful What You Wish For

• What: Five Children and It
• When: 9 years and up
• Why: Entertaining yet practical
• Where: Amazon

Do your kids pester you with wishes? Are you tired of hearing their unreasonable requests? Whether you want your kids to learn about unintended consequences or if you want a good story, check out Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit.

This chapter book for older kids tells the tale of five children who discover a sand creature near their temporary summer residence. The sand fairy grants one wish a day, to the initial delight of the adventurous kids. Only too soon they discover you have to be very careful what you wish for. 

The book delights the imagination with fantastical ideas paired with very realistic consequences. The longer chapters with minimal illustrations work best for established readers or for reading aloud to your kids. All three of my kids, at ages five, seven, and nine, clamored for more of this intriguing story with a nice mix of main characters. If you want to impart a practical lesson with no shortage of delight, make sure your child gets a copy of this fairy tale with a twist.