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mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
A delightful, magical book with a fabulous main character who will definitely be a witch one day (and not just for a week).
This was just a book I had to try out when one of my library's added it to its collection. I have to say I was first and foremost pulled in by the art. I just adore Ashley King's art, and this one seemed to be full of them. But after reading this one, I have to say the story and the characters also captured me.
Meet Elsie Pickles, she lives in a tiny village and her life is pretty OK. Sure, it could be better especially since business for her family's shop isn't doing well, she has to share a tiny space with three brothers. But she is in for a lucky break when the local witch needs someone to babysit her house. Elsie is intrigued, especially when she hears about the rewards. The blue shoes she so desperately wants and a ton of gold (which will make her family happy). Plus she can read all she want (there are tons of books at the witch's house) and she will have no one who will bother her.
I just adored Elsie, and I loved her even more when she started to watch the house and all the things she did there. She was just so smart and grown-up. I loved how she applied the rules for customer service to everything that happened and how she handled people. :P
Plus then there was the whole learning magic part. Yep, as the cover already shows this girl is going to try out magic. Sure, she is hesitant at first about it, but quickly finds out it is quite fun and there are lots of interesting spells (my favourite is the tea in a cup one).
Corbett, it took me a bit to get used to him and his attitude, but eventually I saw he was just a big softie and quite nice. He became one of my favourite characters.
I am not sure how I feel about Aggie, no I am not going to be calling her by her special name. She was just quite annoying and kept whining and crying. Really, girl. The boy is just not interested in you, only in his precious shiny hair. Plus come on, the things she tried were just weird and slightly eh. I also didn't like how she pushed Elsie to make a love potion for her, but then didn't dare to do anything with it.
The Howler Sisters... well, we don't see them a lot, though we do hear that they steal stuff (for no reason) and don't get the hint that they should stay away.
We don't see a lot of the witch (duh as she is on a trip to her sister), but when we see her I do like her, even if she is a bit grumpy. :P She means well and I love how she was with Elsie. I hope that she will be able to learn Elsie even more magic in the next book.
Oh, and let's not forget Nuisance, who, despite his name, wasn't not such a big nuisance at all. In fact he was adorable and sweet and protective.
I just loved reading about Elsie's week in the tower and all the things she experienced. It was sure a week she won't forget.
And of course the art was just fabulous. I just loved the characters design, the potions, the spells. It was all drawn very fun and magically.
All in all, I can't wait for the next book to be released, I will be buying it this time (just like I will be adding this book to my collection).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This was just a book I had to try out when one of my library's added it to its collection. I have to say I was first and foremost pulled in by the art. I just adore Ashley King's art, and this one seemed to be full of them. But after reading this one, I have to say the story and the characters also captured me.
Meet Elsie Pickles, she lives in a tiny village and her life is pretty OK. Sure, it could be better especially since business for her family's shop isn't doing well, she has to share a tiny space with three brothers. But she is in for a lucky break when the local witch needs someone to babysit her house. Elsie is intrigued, especially when she hears about the rewards. The blue shoes she so desperately wants and a ton of gold (which will make her family happy). Plus she can read all she want (there are tons of books at the witch's house) and she will have no one who will bother her.
I just adored Elsie, and I loved her even more when she started to watch the house and all the things she did there. She was just so smart and grown-up. I loved how she applied the rules for customer service to everything that happened and how she handled people. :P
Plus then there was the whole learning magic part. Yep, as the cover already shows this girl is going to try out magic. Sure, she is hesitant at first about it, but quickly finds out it is quite fun and there are lots of interesting spells (my favourite is the tea in a cup one).
Corbett, it took me a bit to get used to him and his attitude, but eventually I saw he was just a big softie and quite nice. He became one of my favourite characters.
I am not sure how I feel about Aggie, no I am not going to be calling her by her special name. She was just quite annoying and kept whining and crying. Really, girl. The boy is just not interested in you, only in his precious shiny hair. Plus come on, the things she tried were just weird and slightly eh. I also didn't like how she pushed Elsie to make a love potion for her, but then didn't dare to do anything with it.
The Howler Sisters... well, we don't see them a lot, though we do hear that they steal stuff (for no reason) and don't get the hint that they should stay away.
We don't see a lot of the witch (duh as she is on a trip to her sister), but when we see her I do like her, even if she is a bit grumpy. :P She means well and I love how she was with Elsie. I hope that she will be able to learn Elsie even more magic in the next book.
Oh, and let's not forget Nuisance, who, despite his name, wasn't not such a big nuisance at all. In fact he was adorable and sweet and protective.
I just loved reading about Elsie's week in the tower and all the things she experienced. It was sure a week she won't forget.
And of course the art was just fabulous. I just loved the characters design, the potions, the spells. It was all drawn very fun and magically.
All in all, I can't wait for the next book to be released, I will be buying it this time (just like I will be adding this book to my collection).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliantly magical chapter book for fans of The Worst Witch
For those not old enough for Harry Potter, fans of magical tales, here's a great choice - Elsie, part of a noisy family, working in their shop, meets a local witch. Her customer service skills impress the witch, who offers her employment as a housesitter while she goes away for a week.
Elsie takes up the offer, hoping for quiet time for reading and maybe even learning a little magic. But a talking cat, a lovelorn neighbour, some local half-animal thieves and a hair-mad woodcutter all seem to take up a lot of her time. Can a few spells she's read help them all out?
A fun little read, short chapters and some memorable characters, a wonderful magical context and plot. Could make a great series for readers aged 6-10.
For those not old enough for Harry Potter, fans of magical tales, here's a great choice - Elsie, part of a noisy family, working in their shop, meets a local witch. Her customer service skills impress the witch, who offers her employment as a housesitter while she goes away for a week.
Elsie takes up the offer, hoping for quiet time for reading and maybe even learning a little magic. But a talking cat, a lovelorn neighbour, some local half-animal thieves and a hair-mad woodcutter all seem to take up a lot of her time. Can a few spells she's read help them all out?
A fun little read, short chapters and some memorable characters, a wonderful magical context and plot. Could make a great series for readers aged 6-10.
rjdenney's review against another edition
4.0
***3.5 STARS!***
Such a fun, whimsical, hilarious, and quick read! Corbet was my favorite. :)
Such a fun, whimsical, hilarious, and quick read! Corbet was my favorite. :)
pifferdiff's review
4.0
Enjoyed the beautiful, delightfully detailed illustrations, and the fun, imaginative story that used a wider range of vocabulary that I’m used to seeing in children’s books of this length (which is great), and the amusing cast of characters. Will definitely be looking for the next one.
bigbeardedbookseller's review
4.0
Elsie is chosen to look after Magenta’s Witch Tower for a week whilst Magenta goes to see her sister. Elsie doesn’t realise why in the beginning but sees it as a good opportunity to get away from the domestic chaos of her house where her younger brothers tend to chew on anything, including to her dismay, books.
With a lovely cast of supporting characters we follow Elsie through her discovery of why she was chosen to look after Magenta’s tower.
There are plenty laughs and comedic exchanges throughout the book, with some really silly bits, but everything sorts itself out in the end.
This was a wonderful evenings read and would be an exciting book to read to lots of younger children, with plenty of exlamations and different voices.
Absolutely love the illustrations from Ashley King.
I’m really looking forward to the continuation of the series and finding out how the characters get on and develop.
With a lovely cast of supporting characters we follow Elsie through her discovery of why she was chosen to look after Magenta’s tower.
There are plenty laughs and comedic exchanges throughout the book, with some really silly bits, but everything sorts itself out in the end.
This was a wonderful evenings read and would be an exciting book to read to lots of younger children, with plenty of exlamations and different voices.
Absolutely love the illustrations from Ashley King.
I’m really looking forward to the continuation of the series and finding out how the characters get on and develop.
the_librarian_witch's review
4.0
This was such a cute, fun, easy read.
Filled with magic, adventure, humor and friendship, this lovely little book is a fantastic quick read to snuggle up with on a gloomy afternoon.
The fabulous illustrations that accompany the story are absolutely adorable and make this tale even more enjoyable to read!
They mange to make an already fun book even more fun and magical.
Though the target audience is obviously a lot younger than I am (unfortunately), I also enjoyed this book immensely and found myself tearing through the pages eager to find out what was going to happen.
This would make such a lovely bedtime book for parents to read to their little people.
My only complaint is that I wish there was more of it!
I can't wait for the next installment.
Filled with magic, adventure, humor and friendship, this lovely little book is a fantastic quick read to snuggle up with on a gloomy afternoon.
The fabulous illustrations that accompany the story are absolutely adorable and make this tale even more enjoyable to read!
They mange to make an already fun book even more fun and magical.
Though the target audience is obviously a lot younger than I am (unfortunately), I also enjoyed this book immensely and found myself tearing through the pages eager to find out what was going to happen.
This would make such a lovely bedtime book for parents to read to their little people.
My only complaint is that I wish there was more of it!
I can't wait for the next installment.
anelisa's review against another edition
3.0
Gezellig en eenvoudig feelgood heksenverhaal, samen met Saar gelezen
lisasf2f04's review
4.0
Quick read, lovely story with great characters and fab illustrations. Magic.