BOOKS

The Sweetest Witch Around

by Alison MCGHEE
illus. by Harry Bliss. 32p. S. & S./Paula Wiseman Bks. Aug. 2014. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9781442478336; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781442478381. LC 2013017903.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—The fearless heroine and her endearing orange cat introduced in A Very Brave Witch (S. & S., 2006) are teaching the Witchling about the scary world of humans. Though other witches are afraid of people and their strange ways, the protagonist and her little sister are curious about them. Once Witchling learns about Halloween, she develops a taste for candy and goes trick-or-treating. When some older kids try to take away her hat full of sweets, her sister swoops in to the rescue and takes her home. Borrowing a few elements from comic books, the text consists exclusively of speech balloons, and there are two panelled pages. Full-page ink and watercolor spreads contain some funny details, like "Graveyard Barbie" or a can labeled, "Slugs, Organic." A sweet but optional addition to Halloween collections.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY
Witchling (A Very Brave Witch) chases her sugar high to a human neighborhood on Halloween night. Older sister cluelessly attempts a rescue mission--"free the hostage!"--while the friendly cartoon drawings make clear that Witchling is on this trick-or-treat adventure of her own free will. The visual treats and dead-funny wordplay in Bliss's autumnal illustrations extend to the endpapers.
Witchling listens attentively as her sister (from A Very Brave Witch) teaches her about humans' odd Halloween customs. When the lesson turns to "something disgusting that they call candy," however, little Witchling's sweet tooth takes over. Grabbing her sister's broom, Witchling chases her sugar high to "Candy land," a.k.a., a human neighborhood on Halloween night. Older sister cluelessly attempts a rescue mission--"free the hostage!"--while the friendly cartoon drawings make clear that Witchling is on this trick-or-treat mission of her own free will. The visual treats and dead-funny wordplay in Bliss's autumnal illustrations extend to the endpapers. kitty Flynn
Reviewed by Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova , Aug 01, 2014

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