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Dorrie the Little Witch #19
Dorrie and the Pin Witch
Dorrie must break the spell cast by the sinister Pin Witch over Witchville in time for the Witch's Ball
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
99 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Coombs
37 books66 followersPatricia Coombs was born on July 23, 1926 in Los Angeles, California and during her school age years lived in Hawaii, Boston, New York, and San Francisco. She was always reading books and would hide in unusual places to avoid getting caught reading instead of playing. She attended DePauw University, Michigan State University, and received her bachelor's and master's degrees in English from the University of Washington. She also studied poetry at New York University.
In 1962, Coombs wrote and illustrated Dorrie's Magic, inspired by her two daughters and their Siamese cat named Dingbat. The book was highly praised by the New York Times Book Review, and Coombs went on to create the "Dorrie the Little Witch" series. She wrote 20 stories about Dorrie and her adventures as a little witch over the next 30 years, ending with Dorrie and the Haunted Schoolhouse in 1992.
Coombs has also illustrated for other authors and contributed to Poetry Magazine.
From: Major Authors and Illustrators, pp. 562-564, courtesy of The de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi and Wikipedia.org
In 1962, Coombs wrote and illustrated Dorrie's Magic, inspired by her two daughters and their Siamese cat named Dingbat. The book was highly praised by the New York Times Book Review, and Coombs went on to create the "Dorrie the Little Witch" series. She wrote 20 stories about Dorrie and her adventures as a little witch over the next 30 years, ending with Dorrie and the Haunted Schoolhouse in 1992.
Coombs has also illustrated for other authors and contributed to Poetry Magazine.
From: Major Authors and Illustrators, pp. 562-564, courtesy of The de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi and Wikipedia.org
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 1, 2019
It feels distinctly blasphemous to even consider the idea... but I didn't really like this nineteenth entry in Patricia Coombs' twenty-book series about Dorrie, a little witch whose stockings were always mismatched, and whose hat was always on crooked. Judged on its own merits, it's probably a three-star book (hence, my rating), suitable for young readers with a taste for witchy tales. But as a Dorrie book, part of the same collection containing such childhood favorites as
Dorrie and the Blue Witch
, or
Dorrie and the Weather Box
? It simply didn't measure up.
The narrative itself, in which Dorrie must face off against the Pin Witch - yet another magical practitioner intent on harming the ever-oblivious adult residents of Witchville - isn't such a departure from the previous books in the series, although I felt the text was somewhat more slight (I'll have to compare this with one of the early titles, to be sure). No, the real problem here is Coombs' artwork, which is in an entirely different style than the previous eighteen books. It isn't just that these "Dorrie" illustrations are in full-color, whereas the earlier ones were mostly black-and-white, with limited color accents - although that's bad enough - but that the overall quality of the art itself is lower, with blurrier images, and a young heroine whose emotional register (visually speaking) is far less appealing.
Somehow, all the magic of the earlier titles has gone missing! The scene in which all the witches are streaming through the air, toward the Witchville tower, ought to have been enchanting, but is marred by the smudgy appearance of each individual figure. All the sharp crispness of Coombs' earlier style has been sacrificed for color, robbing these pages of a great deal of expressiveness, particularly as it concerns Dorrie's facial expressions. The impact of a more sparing and judicious use of color - as seen in previous titles - is also missing here, with little of that sense of contrast that made certain scenes in the earlier titles far more dramatic.
I feel like a bit of a Grinch writing this review, since Dorrie and the Pin Witch really isn't such a terrible book. Unfortunately, it isn't just any book, but a Dorrie book, which sets up sky-high expectations. Expectations that it does not meet...
The narrative itself, in which Dorrie must face off against the Pin Witch - yet another magical practitioner intent on harming the ever-oblivious adult residents of Witchville - isn't such a departure from the previous books in the series, although I felt the text was somewhat more slight (I'll have to compare this with one of the early titles, to be sure). No, the real problem here is Coombs' artwork, which is in an entirely different style than the previous eighteen books. It isn't just that these "Dorrie" illustrations are in full-color, whereas the earlier ones were mostly black-and-white, with limited color accents - although that's bad enough - but that the overall quality of the art itself is lower, with blurrier images, and a young heroine whose emotional register (visually speaking) is far less appealing.
Somehow, all the magic of the earlier titles has gone missing! The scene in which all the witches are streaming through the air, toward the Witchville tower, ought to have been enchanting, but is marred by the smudgy appearance of each individual figure. All the sharp crispness of Coombs' earlier style has been sacrificed for color, robbing these pages of a great deal of expressiveness, particularly as it concerns Dorrie's facial expressions. The impact of a more sparing and judicious use of color - as seen in previous titles - is also missing here, with little of that sense of contrast that made certain scenes in the earlier titles far more dramatic.
I feel like a bit of a Grinch writing this review, since Dorrie and the Pin Witch really isn't such a terrible book. Unfortunately, it isn't just any book, but a Dorrie book, which sets up sky-high expectations. Expectations that it does not meet...
November 15, 2020
Our second Dorrie book. Dorrie knows something is wrong and figures it out. We enjoyed talking about the Pin witch character and why she might have been evil. I think the 7 year old felt there needed to be more of a reason so it wasn’t just me. He ended with a hrump... so she goes to the next village and turns everyone there grumpy. Also was concerned about witches and wizards fighting and the repercussions of angry spells.
Good for my spooky loving child.
Good for my spooky loving child.
October 25, 2021
Something is not quite right in Witchville. As all the witches and wizards prepare for the Witch's Ball, everyone seems to be getting grumpier and grumpier. Dorrie investigates and discover that strange things are happening at the grand opening of the Pin Witch's new shop. How does one break a spell put on witches and wizards by another witch? It's up to Dorrie to find out how before it's too late.
January 13, 2018
Because everyone else was at Cook’s normal level of crabbiness due to the magical pins in their new attire she had to be presented as pleasant and pliant for contrast - and also so we could be sure she wasn’t bewitched yet. The Big Witch, however, is her usual bossy, crabby, disinterested self with a bit more vitriol.
Favorite quote from Cook, “Well, there’s nothing we can do about it.” She is referring to the excessive crabbiness and strangeness that Dorrie suspects. And the translation is, “Well, I really just don’t care.”
Favorite quote from Cook, “Well, there’s nothing we can do about it.” She is referring to the excessive crabbiness and strangeness that Dorrie suspects. And the translation is, “Well, I really just don’t care.”
January 7, 2022
Tonight is the Witches' Ball. Everyone is busy preparing, and everyone is grumpy. There must be something at the Pin Witch's shop. Dorrie found a cauldron with a green residue, which she also saw on the end of each pin.
The only way to stop the anger is have people remove the enchanted item. The best way to do that is to make the room very warm.
The Pin Witch flees once she realizes she is foiled
This book is the first of this series in full color.
The only way to stop the anger is have people remove the enchanted item. The best way to do that is to make the room very warm.
The Pin Witch flees once she realizes she is foiled
This book is the first of this series in full color.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2024
This story is only 32 pages, compared to the 48 pages of all the previous Dorrie books. Therefore, this story seemed a little rushed, compared to the others. However, one plus is that it is illustrated in full color.
November 5, 2018
I love the character of Dorrie and the minimal colors in the early books in the series but the stories and illustrations just aren't as charming in the later books.
May 9, 2019
Still wonderful after all these years! And I love that I can now share my favorite little witch with my niece, my other favorite little witch!
June 13, 2021
The least interesting Dorrie book. The magic is gone from the earlier entries.
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February 3, 2014These were always my favorite books when I was younger because of the simple memories I have of my school library. I sat on the floor and read about a cute little witch who always knew better than the adults around her. Of course having a cat as a best friend definitely helped the plot and the illustrations are of most beautiful pen and ink sketches in children's books.
June 17, 2011
The witches and wizards of Witchville are not acting like themeselves -- they are bickering and fighting with one another. Dorrie learns the cause and attempts to save the day.
October 20, 2012
Although I love these books, this particular one isn't one of my favorites.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews