Happy Birthday, Little Witch!

PreS-Gr 2—Lizzy is getting ready to celebrate her birthday. When she can't conjure up a cake, she goes out to buy one but then returns to find Cat missing. The story takes readers all over town as the little witch tries to find her beloved pet. Soft illustrations are peppered with detail and humor. Lizzy tries the "Witch Village Market," the "Witch This-'n'-That Shop" and more, but sadly no one has seen the feline or has time to help. Clever door cut-outs heighten the suspense. Opening the flap reveals what could be Lizzy's pet, but the page turn always shows otherwise with a still-hopeful child peering through the door from the outside. Delightfully constructed, this satisfying picture book will charm youngsters who like their spooky stories mellow.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA