- Who is it for?
- Ages 10–14
- How long is it?
- 29 min
- What does it include?
- Synced read-along and a quiz
- What does it cost?
- Premium access in Emma's Library
About this audiobook
Cyril, Robert, Anthea, Jane, and their baby brother have already known one kind of magic, but a Guy Fawkes fireworks accident ruins their nursery carpet and leads their parents to buy a second-hand replacement. Rolled inside it is a shining egg that hatches in the fire into a golden, magnificently vain Phoenix. The bird reveals that the carpet can carry the children wherever they wish, three times a day. Their wishes create comic disasters: a tropical island, hundreds of Persian cats and a cow crowded into the house, a charitable expedition, and a London bazaar thrown into confusion. The carpet frays under the strain, while the Phoenix's pride and affection make it both unreliable guide and loyal friend. After helping save a theatre audience from fire, the exhausted bird reaches the end of its life cycle. The children prepare fragrant materials for its pyre. The Phoenix leaves a new egg, sends it away wrapped in the last of the carpet, and asks the Psammead to grant one final wish. A box of long-desired gifts arrives for the whole family, while Robert briefly finds one golden feather—the tender last trace of their friend.
Why it's worth a listen
Step into a whimsical Edwardian world where a magical second-hand carpet and a pompous, fire-loving Phoenix turn ordinary life upside down. This delightful adventure balances high-flying fantasy with the realistic, humorous bickering of five charming siblings. It is a masterful exploration of consequences, loyalty, and the enduring comfort of returning home.
What listeners will learn
Subjects: literature, storytelling, historical imagination.
- character
- setting
- conflict
- choice
- consequence
- theme
- retelling
- phoenix
- carpet
- classic
Questions for after listening
- Retell the central conflict in order.
- Name one important choice and what happened because of it.
- How did the setting or tradition shape the story?
A question to keep
How do we balance the thrilling desire for extraordinary adventure with the quiet responsibilities of home and family?
Chapters
- The Smoulder and the Shell
- The Flight of the Five
- Cats, Cows, and Chaos
- The Curate and the Orphans
- The Thread Bare and the Golden Pyre
- A Question to Keep
Editorial review
Quality reviewed · 94/100 on . Certificate EL-2E70-8AAA is bound to the exact narrated script.
The review checks factual care, audience fit, teaching quality, structure, tone and source honesty. Read the editorial standards.
Published 2026-07-13 · Updated
