Note: Three episodic novels present the adventures of English siblings Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane, whose parents are absent. Their baby brother "the Lamb" is included in the first two books, absent with Mother in the third. The magic is nearly limited to wish-granting. The Psammead, or "It" of Five Children and It, is an ancient magical being who directly grants one wish daily. In book two the talking phoenix and flying carpet of the title jointly take its place: the carpet grants wishes to visit other places in the present time, while the phoenix advises and occasionally rescues. In book three the amulet grants wishes to visit other times, while the Psammead mainly advises.