The Littlest Witch

by Jeanne Massey

The littlest witch tries to hide the fact that she is good, but it shines through her actions

Genres: Halloween, Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1959

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations for this Halloween story are beautiful, I love Adrienne Adams illustrations and these are some of the nicest ones I've seen, there are some wonderful details such as houses inside oak trees and toadstool seats that I would have absolutely loved when I was a child. I especially liked the illustrations of the witches flying, and them sitting in a circle with their faces lit up, they are captured perfectly. The story was nice, plenty of text for those who enjoy a longer picture book.

A perfect read for this time of year!

Read on Internet Archive

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading and enjoying two of Adrienne Adams' witchy Halloween tales - A Woggle of Witches and A Halloween Happening - despite finding the narrative of the second a little weak, I was curious to see what I would make of this, a witchy title illustrated by Adams, but written by someone else. I'm so happy I gave it a chance, because not only did I find it superior (from a story-telling perspective) to the other two, but I also rediscovered a long-forgotten favorite from my youth! Although I have no distinct memory of when I first read Jeanne Massey's The Littlest Witch, I had no sooner picked it up on my train-ride this morning (subway, rather than commuter train this time), than I realized I was already familiar with it. I love it when that happens, and I stumble across a well-loved children's book I'd forgotten all about reading!

The story of a three-week old witch (I assume that's a reference to how long she's been a witch, rather than how long she's been alive?), who finds herself unable to keep up with the more experienced witches of her coven, on their Halloween-night race to the moon, The Littlest Witch follows its heroine as she discovers her own unique destiny as a "Good Witch." Helping a stray kitten (black, of course!), a sad pumpkin who wants to be a Jack-o-Lantern, and a bullied young trick-or-treater, the Littlest Witch sacrifices her chance at winning the race, but is given a beautiful reward in consequence.

I enjoyed Massey's story, which, although it has "good" and "bad" witches, manages to paint both in a somewhat sympathetic light. It turns out that every coven ends up with a "good witch," a reality they must simply endure, explains the Oldest Witch kindly: "No," said the Oldest Witch firmly, "she belongs to our circle and" (she looked sternly at the other witches) "good or bad we must take her for what she is! I also greatly enjoyed Adrienne Adams illustrations, which had all the usual witchy charm, and then some!

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I loved this book when I was in second grade. It might not have even been my first reading of it but as soon as I started (re)reading this, I remembered it from the week before that Halloween.

It’s more of a story book with illustrations than a standard picture book; it’s very text heavy, but it makes for a wonderful read aloud and also a good book for independent readers.

I loved the littest witch and was delighted with which kind of witch she became. I loved the amusing aspects of the story and the sweet parts too.

I liked that it wasn’t a super scary Halloween book. although I found parts near the beginning and the spiders a bit frightening.

I’m so glad that, thanks to my Goodreads friend Abigail, I found it again. If I’d read it for the first time as an adult, I’d probably have given it only 4 stars, but I’m rating it for my 7 year old self and I do believe it was worth 5 stars at the time.

NOTE: Just today I actually read the 1959 edition, the edition that was originally read to my class by one of the school librarians and the same one I read for myself shortly after that.

[Honore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The unrefined free-hand pencil drawings that are more prevalent in pre-1980's children's books are wonderful to visit . I also think it's important for children to see illustrations that look like someone just grabbed and pencil and paper and drew. Some of the adornments surrounding the text pages feel like they could have been drawn by a child and it's totally charming. The larger illustration of the spider weaving a web on her hat shows how highly skilled she can be with a pencil.
The story is a bit longer than the average picture book and I really appreciated the reveal at the end. Wasn't expecting it and thought it was great to have such a sweet conclusion in a Halloween book.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my. I would have cherished this when I was a young girl. Enough surreal subtlety to set it apart from other 'little witch girl' stories that used to be so popular. Creative illustrations, too, rather than cute ones. But not too unsettling.

I recommend this longish picture-book story, took me 10 minutes to read, OpenLibrary.org.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the delights of belonging to goodreads is the rediscovery of books I've read and forgotten, particularly books from my childhood. I read this book when it first came out, through a class bookclub which was the primary way I got new books when I was a child, books being prohibitively expensive in my income bracket. Luckily my parents (although less so than myself) were dedicated to books-my father to history, my mother to plays & literature. It's thanks to that that I have a reading background so different from what my blue collar roots would ordinarily have led to.

But The Littlest Witch was an all-time favorite, being tiny for my age & adoring of anything witch-related. The book was lost on a school bus a year after getting it & it took 45 years until I could remember the title & then another 3 years to track down another copy. I was afraid I wouldn't like it but I did.

No, you can guess at the plot! Or you can buy this book. I suggest the latter.

[Brandy Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book in 2nd grade, and I checked it out every week. I loved the story and the pictures. I'm sure my parents were tired of helping me read it as it seems above a 2nd grade level. Then when my teacher said I couldn't check it out ever again, I was heartbroken. I quit reading altogether. My 3rd grade teacher and my mom had to work really hard to help me love books again. I'm so glad they did.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A book which I just loved when I was
a little girl.

This is a very cute book with a very imaginative
plot which I believe most little girls would just
love.

The illustrations are really appropriate and
beautiful, IMO.

[Capn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha, I only read this to help someone out on the "What's the Name of that Book?!" forum when WorldCat went down, again.

I'm so glad I did. Charming. :) Such a shame the pages which were scanned onto OpenLibrary were stained, but better than nothing! :)

[Stephanie Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a child. I've read it at least 124 times. I believe it's out of print. Loved the simple illustrations. Magical read.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book about a witch who wants to win a race to the moon--but there are surprises along the way! This is well-written but it is MUCH wordier than most modern picture books. Even though the writing style is completely opposite to "Magic Tree House" type books, I think this sort of book is important for kids today.

[Carrie LeAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in elementary school and still remember loving it and I'm 49 now!

[Susan Griscom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this as a child. I believe it was the very first book I ever read on my own. I wish I had a copy of it now.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite childhood books! Too bad it is so hard to find a copy now that it is out of print.

[Therese Hoehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids loved to be read this at Halloween time

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Hallowe'en celebration for the Littlest Witch. She has only been an official witch for three weeks, and she doesn't fit in with the other witches in her circle. As the annual broom race commences, the Littlest Witch is determined to win the cobweb veil, which is the prize for first place. Instead, after a slow start, she finds herself draw to helping a stray kitten. Then she uses her broom like a fairy wand to grant the wish of lonely pumpkin by turning him into a Jack-O'-Lantern. Finally, she attempts to comfort a scared human child.
With no hope of winning the race, she sadly returns to the toadstool circle to await the other witches. She sits so silently that a host of spiders spin their webs around her onto which her tears fall like jewels. When the other witches return, they are amazed at the beauty of the cobweb veil covering the Littlest Witch and discover that she is, in fact, a good witch. As the Oldest Witch explains, "Every Witches' Circle has one ... We shall do our best to put up with you." Learning that she does belong there, even though she is different from everyone else, is a great relief to the Littlest Witch.

Adrienne Adams, one of my favorite Halloween illustrators, does a wonderful job with the illustrations.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful story that reinforces that message that it's always best to be yourself and celebrate your differences, even if you're a witch! ;)

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I ever read all the way through. My first grade teacher sat me down and made me read a book all the way through...I found I could actually relate to this story.
I recently found a copy on ebay (its way out of print now)...it now sits on my shelf as a reminder of my first grade teacher who cared enough to push me where others did not.
I miss Mrs.Fanta...

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I had read this as a kid, but it was The Wednesday Witch that I had read instead. I read this one anyway. It was really cute. Nice Halloween story.

[Melanie]

Halloween