The Phoenix and the Carpet [Hardcover]

Regarding this particular Kindle edition from Random House Digital, Inc., it's excellent that here is an edition of this fabulous story with the original illustrations by H.R. Millar. Millar's detailed ink drawings are wonderful, and to me essential for the enjoyment of a children's fantasy book like this one. I would avoid the non-illustrated cheaper versions and free versions; Millar's art is worth the price.*

While I love being transported back to the 1900s, which was when this book was originally published, readers will be happy to know that the writing has a very modern feel, flow, and pace. It's fresh, and even laugh-out-loud funny. The characters are all delightful, the aloof Phoenix being the most fun of all.

As of 15 March 2011, to get digital versions of all three books in the trilogy complete with Millar's original illustrations, here is what you must do:

1) For "Five Children and It," there is a Millar-illustrated version on Project Gutenberg. Though the pictures are of suitable resolution, they lean on the pixely side. So, if you wish to enjoy some slightly higher resolution versions of the same pictures, Google for the book and follow the link to the Library of Congress's edition, which consists of scans of each page.

2) For "The Phoenix and the Carpet," you must buy this Random House Digital, Inc version (Project Gutenberg has only a non-illustrated version). But, like I said, it's worth it (especially when you consider that you were able to enjoy "Five Children and It" for free).

3) For "The Story of the Amulet," you can download the non-illustrated version from Gutenberg for free, but then must turn to Google Books for Millar's illustrations, since Google Books has that edition available as a PDF. Frustratingly, as of this writing, Google Books does not support Kindle. So, download a PDF from Google books to reference for illustrations while you turn the pages of the non-illustrated Kindle book. :-D Ridiculous, I know! On the bright side, the Google PDF offers the highest-resolution versions of any of the illustrations you are going to be able to enjoy from all three books.

This review will be out of date soon, I am sure--and hopefully in favor of Millar's illustrations being even more readily available than I have described, rather than less.

* Two things worth noting here:

1) Amazon's page previews for this edition don't suggest that there are any illustrations (for some reason they skip those pages), and Millar's name is not even mentioned anywhere, but I downloaded the opening chapter for free and that was how I found that this is, indeed, the one you want, and having bought it immediately afterward can further confirm that. But since Amazon sometimes swaps out books when new editions arrive while leaving old reviews like this one behind, be sure to double-check this yourself.

2) As of this writing, it is ridiculous that the digital version costs MORE than the hardback, though I suppose shipping and handling give the e-version a slight price edge.

This classic title appears in the Looking Glass Library, presenting a fine hardcover reprint in an edition perfect for library lending. Tattered, much-read volumes of E. Nesbit's THE PHOENIX AND THE CARPET can be replaced by this fine edition that includes an introduction by Bruce Coville in a lovely sequel to FIVE CHILDREN AND IT, where the children mistake a magical egg for a firecracker and ignite a golden phoenix instead.

› Go to Amazon.com to see both reviews  5.0 out of 5 stars