Five children discover a Psammead—a grumpy magical creature with the ability to grant wishes—in this delightful 1902 book, the prequel to The Phoenix and the Carpet, for readers 8 to 12 and younger listeners. At first their newfound power seems full of promise, but soon the children realize that getting what you wish for can land you in a whole heap of trouble. Raised in Victorian England, tomboyish, freethinking Edith Nesbit was far ahead of her time, and is still renowned today for her talent of blending real-life situations with elements of magical fantasy and more than a pinch of humor; the creators of Mary Poppins, Harry Potter, and the land of Narnia all consider her a source of their inspiration.