Five Children and It

This was made as a six part serial for the BBC in 1991. It was very successful and much of this is due to the quirky charm of the Psammead, a sand fairy. The story is a faithful adaptation of E.Nesbit's classic novel and possesses all of the enchantment and magic of the original. The children happen on an ancient and temperamental sand fairy, the Psammead, as they play in a gravel pit. It finds itself compelled to grant three wishes a day which it does somewhat resentfully by inflating its wrinkly stomach, these moments alone are well worth the price of the video (the DVD fully remastered with extras is due for release in October 2004). This is well worth a look.