No Such Thing as a Witch

This is my first Ruth Chew book, and I really liked it. It is certainly for the lower middle grade or chapter book (6-10 yrs) audience. It is short and the language is not exactly simplistic, but very straightforward. The story is fun, very much in the contemporary magic, witch-next-door tradition (there actually is a witch next door). The illustrations are great and, even thought it was written in 1971, I don't think that the target audience will find it old fashioned. I bought a copy for my 7 year old niece, and I'm looking forward to reading more Ruth Chew. I think it's a great idea to reprint them, since there isn't really very much good fantasy for this age group. PS -- this is the one about the magic fudge and not about the things show more left in the drawer. show less

Yesterday I picked this up along with another Ruth Chew classic at a used bookstore and read it while basking in the afternoon sunshine here in Paradise. It was cute, short, full of kids and animals, and kids turned into animals; and a happy neighborhood witch who lets the kids call her Maggie.

I enjoyed this along with a pint of ale. No seriously, I did just read a wholesome kid's book while drinking a "Back in Black" IPA from 21st Amendment Brewery... That's an example of California decadence I guess.

One thing I noticed while reading was that all the women in this book are called "Mrs" even if they seem to be totally solo and there are no husbands anywhere in sight... Well, except for the woman from the Health Department, who refers to show more herself as Miss Feldman. I guess this was written in the days before Ms. show less

But why is the magic fudge so persuasive? Tad just has no self-control with it... but otherwise seems like he could, if it weren't like Turkish Delight....

Anyway, this is far from perfect, and of course the mom's attitude (insisting that the kids stop bothering "Mrs. Brown" who likes the kids to come over often & doesn't have a husband & wants to be called "Maggie") is dated... but it still charmed me. And I loved Lew, so there's the rounding up to four stars.

A witch moves in next door to two children, and helps them see magic in the everyday. Sweet but a bit dated. A nice read for October, though.

This gentle children's fantasy tells the story of the new neighbor, Maggie Brown, who loves animals and whose fudge makes magic happen.

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