E. Nesbit has 18 audiobooks on Listento.it, narrated by 26 narrators, with an average listener rating of 3★ across 27 ratings. The most-rated is The Railway Children.
The Railway Children
Summary
Father has suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. Now Mother has moved Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis from London to an old English country house. Missing the hustle and bustle of the city, the children are ecstatic to find that their new home is near a railway station. Making friends with both the porter and the station master is great fun. So is waving to a kindly old gentleman who rides through on the 9:15 every morning. When mother gets sick, it is he to whom they turn for help. And later, when a fortunate twist of fate returns their father to them, they are surprised to find the old gentleman involved once again. Written by an unconventional woman whose friends included H. G. Wells and George Bernard Shaw, this classic has been popular since it was first published almost 100 years ago. Virginia Leishman’s enthusiasm translates these adventuresome children into heroes for modern listeners.
Public Domain (P)1999 Recorded Books
The Psammead Trilogy
Summary
Edith Nesbit was to children in the early 20th century what J.K. Rowling is to today's young generation. Magic, mythical creatures, time travel, charms, words of power... Nesbit's stories have it all. This recording is the complete collection of Edith Nesbit's Psammead series, comprising three captivating stories: Five Children and It.The story begins when a group of five children - Robert, Anthea, Cyril, Jane, and their baby brother, the Lamb - move from London to the countryside of Kent. While playing in a gravel pit, they discover a rather grumpy, ugly and occasionally malevolent sand-fairy known as the Psammead who is compelled to grant one wish of theirs per day. The effects of each wish last until sundown. All the wishes granted to the children go hilariously wrong. When they wish to be beautiful, nobody recognises them and they are shut out of the house. When they wish to be rich, they get a stack of gold coins but nobody will take them. When they wish for wings they find themselves stuck on a tall tower at sunset. When they wish that their baby brother was older, he turns into a grown-up and bosses them about. When Robert wishes he was bigger than the baker's boy (who has beaten him in a scrap) he becomes eleven feet tall. There are many more adventures... but you will need to listen and find out for yourselves.... The Phoenix and the Carpet. This is the second story about Robert, Anthea, Cyril, Jane, and their baby brother, the Lamb - who live in London. One day their mother buys a new carpet for the nursery which mysteriously contains a stone egg. When the egg falls into the fire by accident, nobody can possibly imagine what adventures will be unleashed. The egg hatches the Phoenix who reveals that the carpet is in fact a magic wishing carpet, which will take the children on a rollercoaster ride of adventures, scrapes and mishaps. They end up stuck inside a tunnel with buried treasure, on a sunny Southern shore where their cook is made Queen of the Island, having tea with the Rania in India, and even when they are at home in Camden town they mysteriously and unexpectedly become the owners of an unfeasibly large number of cats. The Story of the Amulet. The magic Psammead is back! This time the four children are stuck in London for the Summer, when they come across the Psammead (or wish-giving sand-fairy), imprisoned in a pet shop. They manage to free him, and he tells them where they can get hold of a magic amulet which will bring them their hearts' desire. Unfortunately when the amulet is secured, it is incomplete. They and the Psammead must travel back into ancient history to see the part of the amulet which was lost. The children experience one breathtaking adventure after another in Babylon, Egypt, the lost city of Atlantis, Tyre...
©1905 Public Domain (P)2013 Red Door Audiobooks
Five Children and It
Summary
Filled with wit and humor, Nesbit's 1902 fantasy tells the adventure of five siblings sent to spend the summer with their uncle. One day, when the children wander from the strange house by the sea to play in old gravel pits, they uncover 'It', a prehistoric Sand-fairy. Psammead (pronounced Sammyadd) was an odd-looking creature with eyes on long horns which, like those of a snail, moved in and out like telescopes; ears like that of a bat; its tubby body shaped like a spider's, covered with thick soft fur; and at the base of its furry arms and legs were hands and feet resembling a monkey's. The unusual Sand-fairy grants the children one wish a day, each lasting until sunset. Though wishes can come true, they are not always as pleasant as they might seem, which the children soon discover. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2004 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd. (P)2004 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd.
The Railway Children
Summary
Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Railway Children by E. Nesbit, read by Jenny Agutter. When Father is taken away unexpectedly, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and their mother have to leave their comfortable life in London to go and live in a small cottage in the country. The children seek solace in the nearby railway station and make friends with Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. Each day, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis run down the field to the railway track and wave at the passing London train, sending their love to Father. Little do they know that the kindly old gentleman passenger who waves back holds the key to their father's disappearance.
©2018 E. Nesbit (P)2018 Penguin Books Ltd
The Story of the Treasure Seekers
Summary
All six Bastable children - Dora, Oswald, Dicky, Alice, Noel and Horace Octavius - are ambitious adventurers, digging detectives and intrepid treasure seekers by nature. Unfortunately, the Bastable family is currently facing an uncertain financial future. When father takes ill, and his business partners abandon him, the six children team up in an effort to restore their family’s wealth. Although they devise some ingenious escapades, their efforts usually end up unprofitable but fun - and sometimes their digging gets downright dangerous. But one day their adventure leads them to completely unexpected results. Author E. Nesbit’s classic children’s stories have entertained countless readers since their original publication over 100 years ago. With Simon Prebble’s exceptional narration this marvelously written tale shines as brightly as gold coins.
Public Domain (P)2001 Recorded Books
Five Children and It
Summary
Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril and the Lamb are on holiday at the White House, a beautiful place on the edge of a hill with a chalk quarry one side and a gravel-pit on the other. Before they have even been there a week, they make an amazing discovery. Digging in the gravel-pit, they find a fairy! The Psammead is brown, furry, fat and shaped like a spider- as well as being very old, and very grumpy. But most importantly, the creature can grant wishes, and the children are soon having the most wonderful adventures... An abridged reading by Lynda Bellingham of E. Nesbit's classic tale.
©2012 E. Nesbit (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
Five Children and It
Summary
Curious to see if people on the other side of the globe walk upside down, Robert, Anthea, Cyril, Jane, and their baby brother start digging a hole to Australia. They don’t get too far, however, before they dig up a furry brown creature with bat’s ears. It is a Psammead, an ancient sand-fairy. The Sammyadd, as the children call it, grumpily tells them that he is obliged to grant their wishes, because making people’s wishes come true is what Sandfairies do. However, there is one catch: The wishes come undone at sunset. No matter how carefully the children plan, their wishes keep backfiring, and they realize that you have to be careful what you wish for - you may get it.
Public Domain (P)1994 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Five Children and It
Summary
On a summer holiday in the countryside of England, five children suddenly find themselves without the supervision of their parents. Left alone with the housekeeper, the children anticipate a dull vacation. However, they soon find more adventure than they can handle. The first day after their parents leave, the children head for a gravel pit to pretend that they are at the beach. While digging in the sand they find a Psammead, or a sand fairy. The grumpy genie promises to grant the children one wish a day that will last until sunset. But as often happens with wishes, none turn out quite the way the children expect. They are led through a series of hilarious adventures by the Psammead as they learn to appreciate what they already have. Edith Nesbit was one of the first authors to write children’s books that captured what it was like to be young. Her humorous stories are sure to entertain as they gently teach children about the things in life that are truly valuable.
Public Domain (P)2000 Recorded Books
Timeless Tales for Kids
Summary
Timeless Tales for Kids is an enchanting compilation of children's classic stories read by an all-star cast. Olivia Colman reads E. Nesbit's classic novel The Railway Children, a masterpiece in children's fiction wonderfully evoking a bygone age, packed with fun, excitement and adventure. Bill Nighy reads a much-loved children's classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which continues to delight young and old with its enchanting tale of witches, flying monkeys and magical shoes. Dominic Cooper reads Dickens' classic tale Oliver Twist. Dickens' timeless novel transports readers to a Victorian England filled with frightened orphans, grim workhouses and gangs of thieving children. Gemma Arterton reads Lewis Carroll's all-time classic, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alice meets characters like the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat in a story that has delighted and entranced readers for more than a hundred years. Full story listing: Alistair McGowan reads The Jungle Book Olivia Colman reads The Railway Children Bill Nighy reads The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Luke Evans reads Treasure Island Russell Tovey reads Black Beauty Elizabeth McGovern reads Little Women Dominic Cooper reads Oliver Twist Jenna-Louise Coleman reads The Secret Garden Gemma Arterton reads Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Gemma Arterton reads Alice Through the Looking-Glass.
Public Domain (P)2018 Audible, Ltd
Five Children and It
Summary
The world of Anthea, Cyril, Robert, Jane, and "the Lamb" is transformed when they come upon a Psammead (or Sand Fairy) who grants them one wish a day - with unexpected results!
©1985 Audio Book Contractors, LLC (P)1985 Audio Book Contractors, LLC
The Treasure Seekers
Summary
Six children decide that the only way to restore the fortunes of their family is to go out and do it themselves. They produce a series of madcap schemes and one after another try them out with varying degrees of success, most resulting in trouble rather than riches. But then one scheme begins to look more promising than the rest.
©2004 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd. (P)2004 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd.
The Story of the Treasure Seekers
Summary
The Bastable children decide to help their father by seeking their fortune in amazing and amusing ways.
Public Domain (P)1988 Audio Book Contractors, LLC
The Phoenix and the Carpet
Summary
In this follow-up to Nesbit’s classic Five Children and It, Cyril, Robert, Anthea, Jane, and the Lamb have more magical adventures in store when a mysterious egg hatches in the nursery fireplace. Out comes a flame-colored bird, the Phoenix, who, though a bit conceited, proves very helpful indeed. The bird kindly explains that the second-hand Persian carpet recently acquired for the nursery is actually a flying one. On it, they may travel to any place and time that they wish. But once again, the children find that magic does not always go as planned. They find hidden treasure in France, and with it restore the fortunes of a little boy. Meanwhile, their own house is invaded by a thousand Persian cats, a cow, and a burglar, who eventually marries the cook on an island in the South Seas. Full of wit and wonders, The Phoenix and the Carpet is a magical ride for children of all ages.
Public Domain (P)2000 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
The Wouldbegoods
Summary
The Wouldbegoods, a sequel to The Treasure Seekers, reacquaints us with the six Bastable children: Dora, Oswald, Dicky, Alice, Noël, and H.O. Again, the story is told by you-may-not-know-who, and the children find all sorts of ways in which to amuse themselves in the country during the summer holidays."Children are like jam," says the Indian uncle, "all very well in the proper place, but you can't stand them all over the shop - eh, what?" Well, the children do their best, but they do get themselves into trouble, right from the beginning, when their latest brainwave is to create a jungle in the garden.
Public Domain (P)2005 Naxos AudioBooks
Selected Shorts
Summary
Selected Shorts: Falling in Love presents a collection of stirring tales of love and longing: Rick Bass' "Fires", read by Ted Marcoux Padgett Powell's "The Winnowing of Mrs. Schuping", read by Christina Pickles Laurie Colwin's "The Lone Pilgrim", read by Hope Davis E. Nesbit's "Melisande", read by Jane Curtin Edna O'Brien's "Violets", read by Fionnula Flanagan Maile Meloy's "Travis, B.", read by William Hurt Selected Shorts is an award-winning series of classic and contemporary short fiction read by acclaimed actors. The series originates at Peter Norton Symphony Space in New York City. The Selected Shorts radio series is a co-production of Symphony Space and WNYC, New York Public Radio, and is heard on public radio stations nationwide.
©2006 The Symphony Space, Inc. (P)2006 The Symphony Space, Inc.
New Treasure Seekers
Summary
This is the third in Edith Nesbit's ever-popular 'Treasure Seekers' series, after The Treasure Seekers and The Wouldbegoods. This classic children's tale brings back the much-loved characters of Dora, Oswald, Dicky, Alice, Noel and H.O. Bastable as they stumble into yet more comic adventures. Teresa Gallagher read the previous two books in this highly praised series and returns to recount more japes in her colourful array of children's voices.
©2009 Naxos Audiobooks (P)2009 Naxos Audiobooks
The Railway Children (BBC Children's Classics)
Summary
The story of Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis and their life in the country has never been out of print since it was first published in 1906. Charming, sentimental, and unforgettable, the novel's enduring appeal lives on in this BBC radio full-cast dramatisation starring Timothy Bateson as the Old Gentleman.
©1993 E. Nesbit
Children's Stories for Bedtime
Summary
A collection of short stories for children.
Public Domain (P)2017 Lark Audiobooks