They’ll Put a Spell on You: 9 Wicked Books About Witches

The Witches, by Roald Dahl
From one of the most wonderful children’s book authors comes an absolute classic story about witches. The young boy in the story, Robert, has a wise grandmother who teaches him how to spot a witch and what makes them so dangerous. Using his wits and courage, he’s able to stop the plot of the witches, and give your kid an added confidence boost. Robert has no super powers and is a normal, ordinary boy. Let your kids know that they are totally able to battle some witches, too.

The Harry Potter series, by JK Rowling
This series proves that not all witches are green, with wart-covered noses. Some of them are incredibly smart, brave, and loyal with a talent for magic that can’t be beaten by even some of the greatest wizards. Girl power! Well… witch power.

Room on the Broom, by Julia Donaldson
Perfect for your younger kiddos, this sweet rhyming tale about a friendly witch is sure to put your little ones in the Halloween spirit without giving them nightmares. This one also comes in board book format, so your youngest children can turn the pages and look at the darling illustrations without fear.

The Witches’ Supermarket, by Susan Meddaugh
I literally whooped when I remembered this classic. An absolute favorite from my childhood, this story of a little girl dressed as a witch and her dog, dressed as a cat, entering a supermarket only for witches and cats on Halloween night is simply perfect. The two worry that a manager will notice their disguises at any moment, but the brilliance of the book comes in what’s found on the shelves of a witches-only supermarket and the sweetness of the main characters. Definitely make this part of your Halloween book rotation!

The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches, by Alice Low
Not only is this a fabulous book on witches, but it’s also perfect for your beginning readers, as it’s part of the “I Can Read” chapter book series. When a young witch realizes she is terrified of her older witch sisters, she knows something has to be done, and Halloween night is just the time to make it happen!

Which Witch?, by Eva Ibbotson
A witch who can only use her spells to conjure up sweet things (like baby birds) may sound perfect, but not when she’s trying to win a witch contest! This middle grades book is a fun, endearing story about a beautiful witch trying to win the eye of a sinister wizard, while only able to perform happy magic and spells. The book is hilarious and full of lovable characters that will make it a year-round favorite.

The Worst Witch, by Jill Murphy
Warning: Your kid will be so upset that you never sent them to Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches after reading this fun story. Mildred Hubble, a clumsy, messy witch is the main character, and your kids will laugh as she falls off her broom, while still admiring her can-do spirit. With fun details on classes at the academy and well-written characters, grown-ups will love this one, too.

Little Witch, by Anna Elizabeth Bennett
A witch who doesn’t want to be a witch? That’s right. Meet Minx, a sweet girl who just wants to meet people her own age and attend a real school. But MInx has an evil witch for a mother, who loves to terrify the neighbors and wreak havoc. Little Witch is a story about sticking up for what’s right, even when it means going against those around you, which is a great lesson for all of us.

The Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
And I’ll end this roundup with arguably the most famous witch in literature. Hailing from the Land of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West may be after Dorothy, but the Good Witch of the North is there to help and keep her friends on the right track. Where else are your kids going to learn that witches melt in water and that they should watch out for houses falling from the sky? Glad we’re on the same page. It’ll get them, my pretty. And their imaginations, too! (Insert cackle here.)