The Not-So-Witchy Witch

"A little witch named Willow Green was feeling all alone. / She wondered why on Halloween she always stayed alone." So begins this rhyming early reader, in which Willow Green must plead with the other witches to be allowed to join their annual Halloween flight. Rejected at first because she doesn't have the "right look" for a witch, and is too cute, Willow is supported by her mother, Needle's Eye, who says she can make a frightening mask, thereby allowing her daughter to participate. Happily this proves unnecessary in the end, as Willow's first day of practicing her flying lands her with a black eye and plenty of scrapes, rendering her acceptable in the eyes of the other witches, and allowing her to join the Halloween hijinks wearing show more her own face...

With a rhyming text that reads well, a fun Halloween story of a misfit witch finding her way, and bright, colorful illustrations, The Not-So-Witchy Witch would make an excellent read-aloud selection for a witchy or Halloween-themed story-time. There are plenty of stories about little witches who are too nice for their witch communities—Deborah Hautzig's Little Witch's Big Night, for instance, features a young witch who isn't allowed out on Halloween night because she has been too good—but Anne Rock Munger's story takes a slightly different approach. Her witchy heroine is a little too cute to pass muster, but when finally allowed to partake in witchy activities, is more than happy to give the Evil Eye and scare the ghosts. I liked the fact that Willow Green, renamed Witchy Willow Green by her coven leader Hazel Rub at the end of the book, looks a little too sweet, but is more than willing to cause some mayhem. Of course, the domestic setting and familial love that are depicted in story and artwork still provide reassurance for young child readers, even if these witches like to spook the spooks. The accompanying illustrations from Janetta Lewis add to the reader's enjoyment, with a vibrant color palette that catches the eye, and some humorous details—I particularly liked the "training brushes" on Willow Green's starter broom—that are a lot of fun. Recommended to beginning readers who enjoy witchy fare. show less