E. Nesbit's classic novel "Five Children and It" was a blockbuster success when it was serialized in The Strand magazine in 1902 and published as a stand-alone novel later that year. It has never been out of print since its initial publication.
The story of "Five Children and It" revolves around five young children - Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane, and their baby brother, known as the Lamb - who discover a lumpy, grumpy sand-fairy (also known as a Psammead). The Psammead take a liking to them and agrees to grant the children one wish every day, but warns them that the wishes will "turn to stone" at sunset. The rest of the story concerns the various wishes each of the children requests...and how terribly they go wrong.
E. Nesbit (the pen name of Emily Nesbit when writing children's books) was one of the most popular, successful and influential writers of her day and wrote over sixty books for children, eleven novels for adults, a number of short stories and even dabbled in horror fiction. Her work has inspired such renowned authors as C.S. Lewis, P.L. Travers (of Mary Poppins fame) and J.K. Rowling.