This is a sequel to E Nesbit's 'Five Children and It'.

Though I loved Nesbit's writing as a child, I never read her three Psammead books and this may explain why I felt no urgency to come to this book, despite the many plaudits and awards since its release seven years ago. It certainly makes me want to return to those children's classics and enjoy them afresh.

But this is an amazing and brilliant book, which doesn't require a reading of E Nesbit to enjoy it to the full.

The five children have grown up and it's the start of the first world war. Cyril has gone to fight, Anthea is at art college, Robert is studying at Cambridge and Jane is at high school. The Lamb is now 11 and has a little sister, Edith. The Psammead likes to hold forth telling stories, and also magics himself into different times and places. The children are pleased to have a distraction from the war but there might be a serious purpose to the Psammead's activities. 

The characters are truly wonderful and the dialogue is fluid, authentic and compelling. There is a powerful sense of the period and the tragedies and traumas of the time are handled with sensitivity, respect and restraint. 

This is a brilliant book, full of charm and nostalgia, poignancy and hope.