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- sequel to Five Children and It (review), focusing on the same 4 siblings
- a magic carpet answers wishes, causing great adventures (memorable but not always enjoyable!)
- convo: magic*, magical creatures (phoenix, fairies), keeping secrets from parents**, false worship***, wine mentioned
- language: shut up x3, some name calling, calls dark-skinned men in a different land “savages” and “copper-colored,” Lor x3, L*ord knows x1
Type: chapter book
Ages: 7-12
Author: Edith Nesbit
*There are magical elements and comments throughout this book. One to note: Before the kids come to be in possession of the magic carpet, one of them wishes they were taught magic in school so that something fun could happen. She ends with saying, “But I believe it’s wrong in the Bible.” Her brother replies, “It’s only wrong in the Bible because people wanted to hurt other people…” They then to proceed to play-pretend magic–putting various things into their nursery fireplace to make magical-looking smoke/smells and chant gloomy songs. This is toward the beginning and is a short scene.
**To the children’s credits, they usually *want* to tell their parents but cannot find a way to.
***An entire chapter is dedicated to this strange scenario: The phoenix enters a fire insurance company’s building (their mascot/logo is a phoenix) and makes many demands. Eventually the employees bow to him, burn incense, and sing an ode to him. It’s odd and dissimilar to the rest of the book.
Speaking of the rest of the book! All of the above considered and set aside, the book was quite entertaining. The children have delightful imaginations and are charmingly resourceful in the various predicaments in which they find themselves. The ending was all together satisfying, and, if you can comfortably discuss the above conversation points with your children, you might consider this as a follow up to Five Children and It (see that review here).
Happy reading!
