After an accidental fire, a new carpet is placed in the play room to replace the one that was destroyed. While playing, the children find an egg in the carpet. The egg hatches into a talking phoenix, that explains that the carpet is magical, and will grant the children three wishes per day. Through these wishes, the children have many magical adventures. In this book, Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane and the Lamb continue their trilogy of adventures. Book One: Five Children and it Book Three: the story of the amulet