I saw the movie first and wasn't impressed. The book is nothing at all like it - unlike the movie, there is no war, no being sent away to an odd uncle's house, no demented cousin, and no traveling to another world to meet It. In fact, the only thing the book and movie have in common are five children and, well, It. It grants wishes, but the wish goes away at sundown. Of course nothing ever works the way it should and the children always seem to suffer the worst fate possible becuase of it - that is, they usually miss their dinner, and tea, too. For instance, the girls wish that they were all beautiful children, but when they get their wish nobody recognizes them, and they aren't let in the house at mealtime. They can't do anything with their beauty but sit under a bush waiting for sundown so they can be themselves again. I found myself giggling many times during the reading. Excellent for older people as well as kids.

There are two sequels to this book: The Phoenix and the Carpet, and The Story of the Amulet.

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