Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane, and their baby brother, the Lamb, who were last seen in <em>Five Children and It</em> are back for another adventure in <em>The Phoenix and the Carpet</em>. This adventure starts as the children are playing in the nursery with some fireworks and they accidentally burn the rug. (Wait a minute ... children in a nursery are playing with fireworks? No one has a problem with this? ... We have to remember that a 'nursery' could have been used for many years, and not just for infancy and this was a very different time when Edith Nesbit wrote these books more than 100 years ago.)

The replacement carpet was delivered the next day after their father went out to acquire a new rug. As they unrolled it, an egg fell out. The children, being good and honest children, try to return the egg to she shop where father had purchased the carpet, but the owner refused to acknowledge that anything would be inside his clean and proper rug. So they children now had an egg, which accidentally rolled into the fire and then hatched a Phoenix - which, to no one's surprise it seems, spoke to the children.

The Phoenix tells the children his story which includes how he came to be wrapped in the carpet and reveals that the carpet is a magic carpet which can fly and transport the children anywhere they can think to wish to go. The children put a lot of faith in the trustworthiness of the Phoenix and the carpet as they swoosh off to adventure, only to discover that it isn't quite as smooth sailing as they had presumed.

I like Edith Nesbit's books. I don't know how long ago it was that I first discovered her work, but I think Nesbit's name deserves to be as well remembered as Lewis Carroll's or Frances Hodgson Burnett's, but unless you are really a devotee of children's literature, Nesbit's name is slightly forgotten, despite the constant reprinting of her books.

Dover Publications has reprinted the original 1904 work here, unabridged and with a selection of the original drawings for the book by H.R. Millar. "A selection." I wish I knew what that meant. There are 21 drawings here, to go with the twelve chapters. These pen&amp;ink drawings are fantastic and I've always appreciated this period when a few drawings were included in a book like this. If there are more that would go along with this book, I'd love to see them.

The story is really fun. It's adventurous and quaint (in a good way). This is the perfect book to read aloud to a child at bedtime - particularly if that child is too old for picture books, beyond chapter books, but maybe not ready for the heavier themed stories in longer works. Even with something like children playing with fireworks in the nursery (which all seems very natural when you read it) this is a good choice for young readers.

Looking for a good book?<em> The Phoenix and the Carpet</em> by E. Nesbit is a delightful, whimsical, fantasy tale of children exploring England (and beyond) on a magic carpet, with a talking Phoenix as their guide.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

An absolute classic that took me back to being 9 years old. Rather dated for today's readers, but a great story nevertheless.

I loved E Nesbit as a child, and “Five Children and It” was one of my favourite books. “The Phoenix and the Carpet” did not have quite as big an influence on me, and I did not remember much of the story, though I must have read several times before.
As with the Psammead, in the Phoenix the author has created a truly wonderful magical being. The Phoenix is polite, helpful and patient, while at the same time being immeasurably vain (but then he has a lot to be vain about). The visit to his London “temple” is delightful.
The other magical being in this book is the carpet. It does not have quite such an overt personality as the Phoenix, which leads to it being undervalued by the children. But it is a sentient being, and deserves more respect. When asked by the children to bring treasures from its homeland, it brings something quite wonderful, yet entirely inappropriate. Is this charming naivete on behalf of the carpet, or maybe a bit of mild revenge against the avaricious and thoughtless children? Later the Phoenix castigates the children: “But the carpet— look at the bare worn patches, look at the great rent at yonder corner. The carpet has been your faithful friend—your willing servant. How have you requited its devoted service?”
When I reread “Five Children and It” last month, I was surprised at how little I liked children. When I was a kid, their flaws made no impression on me – the magic of the story was everything. Now as an adult, and into the second book, they have gone from irritating to seriously annoying. Their disdain and disregard for their servants (“There’s nothing like firmness … People are always talking of difficulties with servants. It’s quite simple, when you know the way. … We can do what we like now and they won’t peach. I think we’ve broken their proud spirit”) and members of the ‘lower’ classes has reached new levels, and their sexist and racist attitudes are likewise more pronounced. It has to be remembered that these books were written in the 1920s, where different values pertained, but that does not excuse their selfish thoughtlessness.
Still, no story with a sentient magic carpet and a Phoenix could ever be dull, and with E Nesbit’s conversational narration style, you have a classic – not timeless, but a classic nonetheless, and it is great to see such magical book being republished for a new generation.

Basic Plot: The five children from Five Children and It are back! This time their magical adventures come in the form of a Phoenix and a flying carpet. And there may (or may not) be a special guest appearance by everybody’s favourite Psammead!

WHAT'S COOL...
1) It's not often that the sequel is as good as the original, but this book is the exception to the rule. We get more great magical adventures featuring Anthea, Cyril, Jane, and Robert. And of course, the Lamb. How can you forget the Lamb!

2) I love the chatty Phoenix, so different from the grumpy Psammead from the first book. Also, the Carpet's a nice, silent, companionable foil. Love how that works into the plot at the end of the story.

One of my favourite lines in the book:

"Then we've lost the treasure," said Cyril.

And they had.

"But we've got the carpet and the Phoenix," said Anthea.

"Excuse me," said the bird, with an air of wounded dignity, "I do so hate to seem to interfere, but surely you must mean the Phoenix and the carpet?"

(The Second Chapter)

3) E. Nesbit is the queen of magical realism. The magic always has a bit of a twist or causes some sort problem for the children. I love how that works. (Even though it's rather frustrating to the children!) It makes for a great story.

4) I love how the kids work together and bicker and tease. I love their adventurous natures.

5) My favourite episode is probably the chapters that involve the Topless Tower. (Treasure. Towers. What more could you ask for?) Although the bit with the Burglar near the end is also hilarious!

WHAT'S NOT COOL...
1) Can't think of anything to put here!

FINAL THOUGHTS
My rating is 5 Stars (out of 5) – This is a wonderful, magical tale. And it still holds magic even though the story was originally published over 100 years old. This makes a great re-aloud.