The Phoenix and the Carpet by E. Nesbit (Paperback, 1995)

The Phoenix and the Carpet is E Nesbit’s second fantasy novel and is the sequel to Five Children and It From Robert Anthea Jane and Cyril’s new nursery carpet there falls a mysterious egg which is hatched in the fire to reveal a benevolent resourceful and ingenious Phoenix who explains that the carpet is possessed of magic qualities And so begins a series of fantastic and bizarre adventures as the carpet transports the children and the Phoenix to places as diverse as a chilling French castle a desert island and even the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company’s offices which the Phoenix believes to be a shrine for his followers