When the children dug a hole in the gravel pit, they were astonished by what they found. "It" turned out to be a Psammead, a sand fairy thousands of years old. It was a strange little creature—fat, hairy, with eyes on long stalks. Although often very unfriendly and grumpy, it had the gift of granting wishes—one wish a day. "How wonderful!" the children exclaimed. But wishes are tricky things. They can get you into trouble...