Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-In this sequel to Picky Little Witch (Pelcian, 2011), the titular character gives Mama Witch compounding challenges during back-to-school shopping. The green child wants rainbow colors instead of black clothes, a broom that's "comfy and fast," and a beret. A compromise over a pair of kittens saves the day. The palette of Welling's line cartoons jars appropriately with sickly greens and purples. He includes glimpses of humor, as in his broom-filled parking lot at "Witches R Us." Brokamp unevenly mixes rhyme and prose. The Picky Little Witch finally expresses love once most of her desires are met and the shopping bag is full.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
While back-to-ghoul shopping, Picky Little Witch wants (much to Mama Witch's chagrin) clothing with sequins, rainbows, and zippy modern flair--not black capes, pointy hats, and wooden brooms. Two little kittens (one black, one white) help them realize that compromise is possible. Green-tinged illustrations contain some witchy humor, but the overlong text, a distracting mix of prose and rhyming verse, is cumbersome. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A back-to-school shopping trip highlights the differences in style between a young witch and her more conservative mother.Witches R Us, with its "Back to Ghoul Sale," is the store to visit to get all the items on the Picky Little Witch's school-supply list: cape, hat, boots, broom, cauldron, cat and several spell ingredients. But Mama's tastes are way too plain or tight or splintery for the little witch who knows her likes and dislikes. Just when it seems as if the mother and daughter won't agree on anything, a saleslady's kitten intervention points the way toward compromise. Small details in the illustrations will keep readers engaged: Brooms occupy the parking spaces of the shopping plaza, whose stores include Ice Scream and Potions, and Harry Potter fans can't help but think of Diagon Alley. But the overall package, while amusing, is amateurish in both text and artwork. A spiky typeface and small font make it difficult to read the text, which haphazardly (and distractingly) switches from snappy rhyming verses to plain text. Expressions and body language are both stiff, and though the palette relies heavily on witchy purples and greens, the illustrations otherwise have the appearance of early television cartoons.School-supply battles like this one aren't likely to occur among the picture-book set: skip. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
