If you could ask the Psammead for a wish, what would it be?
Julia (5): "It would be that Cinderella came to my house for real life!"
Gabe (3): "A horse. I would ride it to Disneyland everyday."
Mom's notes: I have vivid and happy memories of my mom reading to us seven kids, from this book when I was very young to David Copperfield when I was in high school. So it was natural for me to choose a beloved classic from my childhood for our first read-aloud. When we began reading, however, I was unsure if we'd make it through. E. Nesbit is a glorious writer, but definitely old-fashioned and wordy, at least by today's children's literature standards. (I personally relish in the vocabulary exposure. I purposefully seek out books that my kids may never see on the library shelves at school.) But nearly 6-year-old Julia and just about 4-year-old Gabe surprised me with their attentiveness, comprehension, and retention of this magical story. We usually read a chapter after lunch while Evy napped. I'll never forget those sunny afternoons we spent on a picnic blanket in the backyard, reading about the temperamental, wish-granting sand fairy.
