Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Druscilla's Halloween (Carolrhoda Picture Books)
Illustrator: Lee White
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Lerner, 2009 ISBN: 978-0822589419
Witches have always ridden around on brooms right? Wrong. There was a time when witches used to creep around towns at night on their tiptoes “spooking and spelling.” All of them did this every Halloween, except Druscilla, “the ricketiest witch of all.” Poor Druscilla’s knees cracked so loudly when she walked that there was no way she could sneak up on people and cast spells on them.
Druscilla decided that she was going to have to find another way to get around. She tried riding a donkey, but the animal was too stubborn to carry Druscilla. Next, the witch tried riding in a wheelbarrow, but that turned out to be a very perilous form of locomotion. Druscilla even made herself a pair of magical wings, but they didn’t perform very well in wet conditions. What could a witch with creaky knees to do?
Children who like to learn about witches and their ways will love this funny and clever picture book. They will find it hard not to sympathize with the old witch who so much wants to enjoy doing what all her contemporaries are doing.
Full of amusing illustrations and spells (not all of which work very well), this is an excellent title to read around Halloween.
