Dover has done more to protect and republish out of print classics than probably any other publishing entity ever. There have been a number of their offerings over the years which I've reviewed on my blog. This is another one. Originally published in 1906, The Story of the Amulet is an odd tale ostensibly (more on that later) for children. It's the third of the 5 Children books about a family of 5 siblings (4 of whom are in this book) and their adventures. They are set on their path by a thoroughly weird magical mentor, the Psammead. The Psammead, or 'Sammy', is by turns rude and solicitous. The book was written at a time when societal mores were more stringent and far more unbreakable than now. In that sense the dialogue and characterizations can feel a little 'out there' from a modern reader's viewpoint. In a lot of ways, Nesbit reminds me of Charles Kingsley, Roald Dahl, and even Shel Silverstein, in the sly puncturing of societal norms and the polite fictions we tell ourselves in order to keep society chugging along. Make no mistake, this is two different books depending on the reader. There's the fable-tall-tale-adventure plot for the younger readers with a healthy dose of sly humor lurking under the surface for the supposed adults in the audience.

Released 18th July 2018 by Dover, it's 320 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats (earlier editions are available in other formats). This edition is a reprint of the 1957 Ernest Benn version.

This would make a superlative read-to-me for younger kids (note: due to length, it'll be a long-term project) or a good school-break read for middle readers. I can't honestly say that it would be completely appropriate for a reading circle read in a classroom setting due to the oddness of some of the characters and the implicit attitudes and mores of its time period (Edwardian England). It is a product of its time period and shows it. It would be fine for a school library though, there's nothing overtly violent or objectionable.

I really enjoyed these books a lot. I remember them from my youth and they were a sweetly nostalgic revisiting of the books which turned me into the raging bibliophile I am today.

Four stars, as long as readers remember they're reading a book written more than 100 years ago.

Five everlasting stars for Dover, they are a treasure worth preserving and supporting.

Robert, Anthea, Cyril, and Jane are four siblings that have already been in adventures before. While roaming around London one day, they bump across an old 'friend': the magic creature Psammead. The children decide to help the creature escape from the pet shop it has been kept a prisoner, and ask for its help - their mother is ill, and they will do anything to help her get well again. And that's how a new adventure begins for all of them. In search for the amulet, the story will guide them to new adventures.

The Story of the Amulet was a very interesting idea. Unfortunately, it was poorly executed. The text is too dry, and filled with a lot of unnecessary details in parts of the plot that are really not important. Some things are explained too much. Children are smart, they really do not need too many explanations, especially in obvious things.

The dialogue feels unnatural, and there is hardly any realism in the way these children live. The Psammead is a very peculiar character: sometimes it wants to help the children, and other times it seems very rude. This was a little confusing, as if the author hadn't made up their mind about their character's behavior.

As much as I adored the other books in this series I cannot say that I have the same love for this one. It was very cut and dry with the same exact ideas and it just felt very limp to me.