Five Children and It

This was one of my favourite books as a child, and I don’t know how many times I read it – we have two hard-copy books of it at home, ready to lend out to friendly children. This is the first time I have seriously read it as an adult, and on Kindle.I still love the story, and the way that the children’ wishes never turn out quite the way they had imagined. Throughout, though, you need to remind yourself, that the book was written at the beginning of the 20th century – before WWI – and that attitudes, and acceptable behaviour, were quite different then. The boys are very aggressive and martial. It was considered quite OK for them to attack the Baker’s Boy and knock his loaves to the ground – just a bit of banter (!). The servants – and the Psammead - are there to do the children’s bidding, and little thought is given to their needs or feelings. Some cultural appropriation and racism in the episode with the Red Indians. But these anachronistic flaws aside – it is still a wonderful read.The writing is excellent, and I particularly like the asides to the reader from the author. You can envisage an adult reading the book directly to you.Don’t ignore the nowadays inappropriate attitudes, but see them in the historical context that they were written, and you have one of the most magical, thought provoking children’s fantasy books around.What would you wish for?

My review is for the audio CD version of Five Children and IT and not the book/Kindle version.Linda Bellingham makes an excellent job of narrating E. Nesbit's classic children's story and she needs to; this is a long recording. Holding an adult's attention is difficult enough for approx. 3 hours worth of storytelling, keeping young children hooked is much harder. Linda's warm, funny and entertaining just like "IT" and her voices are distinct enough you don't get mixed up about the different characters. Good quality product, apart from the illustration to the front cover which is dreadful, and I had no audio/playing difficulties. If I'm being honest I do actually prefer to read the books. An audio CD, no matter how good, could never capture that poignant childhood magic.

One of my childhood favourite books and films! So happy to find it published by my favourite publishing house. Design is simplistic yet gorgeous. Came exactly as described and although it was second hand I wouldn’t have been able to tell!

A completely different book to what I Norma!ly read. Was very cleverley written and each time a wish was granted by the children it was completely the opposite of what they wanted. They never really thought through before they asked for it.

I very much enjoyed listening to this in the car; but was very disappointed to find it was over so quickly! having read teh book several times; having seen the film version; having quite enjoyed the recent Jacquelyn Wilson version  Four Children and It ; I was a littel disappointed to find this one so much abridged! Nevertheless, it is a good introduction to the book

I read this as a child and loved it then. Now in audio CD format I knew my 9 year old son would love it to add to his collection of audiobooks - and he does. My nearly-5-year-old daughter thinks it is fantastic, too, although I think she pictures the strange-looking psammead more like a typical fairy.Lovely, highly recommended, appropriately-abridged version.

This was one of my favourite books as a child and, now as an adult, I have already introduced it to my children. It is a real classic and although it was written many years ago, the story is still as magical now as when I read it some twenty years ago. Linda Bellingham narrates the story and although she does it well, I much prefer reading the story myself.

Classic children’s story still keeps them interested even though the book was published over a hundred years ago