Genealogía de una bruja

Gr 4—6—This boxed set consists of a picture book, La pequeña bruja, and a faux reference book, Brujas y hechizos. A red-haired girl with very big eyes is pictured on the front of the box standing under a gold-embossed apple tree and holding a book. On the back of the box, readers see a similar-looking girl holding a copy of Brujas y hechizos amid a swarm of black birds. The stunningly detailed gothic-style illustrations are rendered in muted shades of crimson, slate, brown, and blue. The artwork is reminiscent of that in Tim Burton's animated film, The Nightmare Before Christmas. In the picture book, Lisbeth's busy parents send her and her cat on a train to visit her beloved grandmother Olga. While playing inside her house, Lisbeth and her friend Edward come across a mysterious old book of witches. The child is shocked to discover that she and her grandmother are included in its pages. The second title is the actual book of witches that Lisbeth comes across in her story. It features strikingly beautiful full-page illustrations and short biographies of famous women who are considered to be witches, including Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, and Medusa, as well as Lisbeth and Olga. The end of the book features a list of spells, a glossary, an index, and a table of contents. This magnificent set is highly recommended for collections that serve advanced readers of Spanish, and it's a must-have for collectors.—Rebecca Hickman, Alvin Sherman Library at Nova, Fort Lauderdale, FL