The Sweetest Witch Around

by Alison McGhee, Harry Bliss (Illustrator)

Overview

A young witch’s sweet tooth leads to Halloween mischief in this companion to the New York Times bestselling A Very Brave Witch, which School Library Journal called “a humorous, not-scary-at-all read-aloud.”

It’s Halloween night, and one very brave witch has decided to teach her little sister all about humans and what they enjoy, including some yucky stuff called “candy.” But when it seems the little Witchling thinks candy is yum, her big sister flies off to set her straight—and then she gets stuck in a tree! Good thing the little Witchling isn’t afraid to be brave!

This “not-scary-at-all read aloud” (School Library Journal) for Halloween perfectly pairs with A Very Brave Witch.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442478336
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date:	08/05/2014
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD390L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Alison McGhee is the New York Times bestselling author of Someday, as well as Dear Sister, What I Leave Behind, Pablo and Birdy, Where We Are, Maybe a Fox with Kathi Appelt, Firefly Hollow, Little Boy, So Many Days, Star Bright, A Very Brave Witch, Dear Brother, and the Bink and Gollie books. Her other children’s books include All Rivers Flow to the Sea, Countdown to Kindergarten, and Snap!. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Laguna Beach, California. You can visit her at AlisonMcGhee.com.

Harry Bliss is an award-winning, nationally syndicated cartoonist and cover artist for the New Yorker. He is the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling books A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech and Diary of a Worm and Diary of a Spider, both written by Doreen Cronin. Mr. Bliss lives with his family in northern Vermont.

Editorial Reviews

…funny and original…Bliss's illustrations nicely capture mixed emotions…

The New York Times - Maria Russo

07/28/2014
Eight years after A Very Brave Witch, McGhee and Bliss return with a companion story that sees the brave heroine of that book educating her younger sister, Witchling, about humans, whom most witches fear. “Study the humans and learn their mysterious ways,” the young witch tells her sister in full-on teacher mode. “They love dressing up on Halloween. Especially like us.” However, the poison apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and, like her sister, Witchling shows uncommon bravery. She dives headlong into trick-or-treating—unlike most witches, Witchling thinks candy is great—while her older sister tries to “rescue” her. McGhee’s knack for sharp, funny dialogue is a major asset in a story that unfolds entirely through speech and thought balloons. Bliss’s ink-and-watercolors illustrations provide plenty of humor, too, especially as Witchling struggles with the massive haul of candy she takes in. Ages 4–8. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

2014-07-16
In the companion title to A Very Brave Witch (2006), the gutsy, green-skinned girl hopes to teach her little sister to be courageous as well. McGhee positions the older, unnamed witch girl as narrator, reacting to events with a rather smug superiority. She wants Witchling to "study the humans and learn their mysterious ways," but at the sight and then taste of candy, Witchling's reaction is "yum" instead of the prescribed "yuck." At first the older sister is proud of the little one's bravery, but readers will see that all Witchling's developed is a sweet tooth. Parents can relate! Misadventures follow as Witchling takes off on a broom to participate in Halloween trick-or-treating. Bliss infuses humor into his watercolor-and-ink scenes by including an anxious yellow cat who interjects "Holy catnip" and "Holy whiskers" in thought bubbles. When Witchling ends up with an overflowing, too-heavy hat full of candy, her older sister swoops in. But the extra weight is too much for the broom, and Witchling must dump out her great haul to the delight of the humans below. Although well-intentioned and not without charming moments, the book lacks a punch in the ending. The older witch is proud of her sister, but it is unclear for what. Taking off on her own? The contrast between the sister's understanding and depicted reality is not enough to maintain this 32-page joke. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews