Irma hat so große Füße. (edition 1986)

A little witch named Irma, sad that her big feet make her a target for teasing, runs away from her witch's colony and ends up in the home of a young girl named Laura in this delightful picture-book. Laura, unhappy with her own large ears, is sympathetic to Irma's troubles, and helps her to feel better about her outsized feet. When Irma eventually returns to her fellow witches, she leaves Laura with a precious gift: the ability to fly...

Originally published in the Netherlands as Platvoetje, this wonderfully witchy book from husband-and-wife team Ingrid and Dieter Schubert pairs a marvelously imaginative story with appealing artwork. Apparently the Schuberts, who are expatriate Germans living and publishing in the Netherlands, share the storytelling and illustrative work equally between them, and together they have created a charming little book! I particularly loved the scene in which all the witches are searching for Irma, in their treetop village:



Little Big Feet is the first title I have read from the Schuberts, and I might never have discovered it, if I didn't have an interest in witchy picture-books. I'm glad that I did, both for its own sake, and because I hope to track down other stories from this pair. Recommended to picture-book readers who enjoy witchy tales. ( )