The Littlest Witch

While Wilma’s diminutive size had prevented her from participating in last year’s Halloween broom-flying demonstration, she had high hopes for this year, only to have them dashed once more, her limited stature again being the cause. Three times, she seeks out another way to do something special for the Halloween party, but, each time, she fails, concluding, “I’m still too little!” Success finally arrives when Wilma joins forces with Mae the mummy to stand tall and fill an essential ground-based role in the broom-flying performance.

First issued as a paperback, The Littlest Witch now appears in a board book format. Being too small to do something is a theme to which many of the young target audience can readily relate. Working with someone else to achieve a goal may, however, be a bit over the heads of toddlers. That the book has a plot also suggests that it would not be a “first-read” to those just encountering books.

Pogue’s cartoon-like illustrations, which appear to be watercolour, are full of action and small details (which can be revisited). Her colourful witches are multiracial (including blue).

Principally a home purchase, The Littlest Witch has a place in seasonal collections serving this age group.