Wishes, Consequences and Childhood Magic: Exploring ‘Five Children and It’

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- Amazing Books 

- Every Kid Should Read

- In Five Children and It, E. Nesbit invites readers into a countryside summer of discovery, wishes and unexpected results. This timeless story blends fantasy and everyday adventure to offer much more than simple escapism.

I n Five Children and It the story begins as five siblings-Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane and baby brother "the Lamb"-go to stay in the country while their mother visits her ill mother. While exploring a gravel pit near their holiday home, the children discover a very odd creature called the Psammead (a sand-fairy) who says that it can grant them one wish a day. 

The fun turns to mischief and misadventure as each wish the children make turns out to have unexpected effects-often comical, sometimes alarming. For example, a wish to be "as beautiful as the day" results in the servants not recognising them; a wish for wings leads to being stuck high up and helpless; riches turn out to be worthless. Throughout the story the children learn that the wishes wear off at sunset and that the Psammead is rather grumpy about being disturbed, which adds a layer of caution to their magical fun. The novel combines ordinary holiday life, sibling relationships and a playful fantasy element, and is structured as a sequence of daily adventures built around the wishes.

Why this book is important

Five Children and It is significant for several reasons. First, published in 1902, it has never been out of print, showing its enduring appeal. Second, E. Nesbit is widely regarded as one of the first modern writers of children's fantasy: she paired realistic children in real-world settings with magical interventions, thus influencing many later authors. Third, the book invites children to think about the consequences of their desires and the limitations of magic (or wishing) in a way that is accessible and entertaining rather than didactic. Also, the story opens up imaginative possibility-what happens when the ordinary meets the extraordinary. Because of that, it remains a classic in children's literature and an important work in the fantasy genre.

What kids should learn from the book

There are multiple valuable lessons for young readers:

 Think before you wish. The children often make impulsive wishes without considering the consequences, and learn that simply having a wish come true doesn't guarantee happiness.

Appreciate what you have. The story shows that magic cannot replace real relationships, responsibility or ordinary joys-many wishes lead to discomfort or loss.

Responsibility and cooperation matter. The five siblings must work together, face the results of their actions and clean up after their wish-driven troubles.

Magic isn't an escape from real life. The sand-fairy's limitations remind readers that shortcuts or quick fixes may not solve underlying problems.

Children's perspectives are valid. Nesbit writes with the children's point of view firmly in focus-encouraging readers to value childhood curiosity and imagination.

In short, the book teaches that life and growth involve more than just getting what you want; they involve understanding, care and dealing with the unexpected.

Final words

Five Children and It has been adapted for screen. A six-part television series aired on the BBC in 1991. A film adaptation was released in 2004, directed by John Stephenson and starring Freddie Highmore among others. 

Five Children and It remains a charming, thoughtful blend of fantasy and everyday life. It entertains with whimsical wishes and magical misadventures, yet it also prompts reflection on desire, responsibility and the value of ordinary life. For young readers (and adults revisiting it) the novel invites both adventure and introspection: the idea that what we wish for may not turn out as expected, and that sometimes the greatest magic lies in how we deal with things rather than simply getting what we want. If you are looking for a story that is at once fun and meaningful, this classic delivers. 

About the Author

E. Nesbit (Edith Nesbit, 1858-1924) was an English writer and poet who published many children's novels. She is credited with being a pioneer of children's fantasy literature, placing realistic children in real-world settings with magical elements. She was also politically active-co-founding the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation, and bringing a subtle awareness of social issues into her work. Her own childhood and early losses, as well as her experiences in London and the countryside, informed the settings and moods of many of her books.

Best quotes from the book

Here are some memorable quotes from Five Children and It:

-  "Trying not to believe things when in your heart you are almost sure they are true, is as bad for the temper as anything I know." 

-  "For really there is nothing like wings for getting you into trouble. But, on the other hand, if you are in trouble, there is nothing like wings for getting you out of it." 

- "Grown-up people find it very difficult to believe really wonderful things, unless they have what they call proof. But children will believe almost anything…" 

-  "And that, my dear children, is the moral of this chapter. I did not mean it to have a moral, but morals are nasty forward beings, and will keep putting in their oars where they are not wanted. And since the moral has crept in, quite against my wishes, you might as well think of it …" 

- These quotes capture the wit, the awareness of childhood vs adulthood, and the gentle moral reflection that Nesbit brings to the story.