The Christmas Witch

by Ilse Plume

Befana, the Christmas Witch, hears of the birth of a miracle child and sets out on an endless journey bearing a sack of toys in this tradtional Italian holiday tale

Genres: Picture Books, Christmas, Childrens, Holiday

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1981

About the author

Ilse Plume is an internationally renowned children's book author and illustrator who has illustrated stories from Italy, Latvia, Russia, and Sweden. She was inspired to illustrate children's books by her daughter, and her love of tales around the world was nurtured by her grandfather.

Her books include: The Bremen Town Musicians, which received the Caldecott Honor, and, most recently, The Farmer in the Dell. She has shown her work in exhibitions at the Lincoln Public Library and the DeCordova Museum in Massachusetts, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Ilse has an M.F.A. and B.F.A. from Drake University, and studied printmaking at the Santa Reparata Studio in Florence, Italy. She is therecipient of the 1985 Ezra Jack Keats Award. She has taught at numerous institutions, including Iowa State University, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She currently teaches at the School for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and has just completed a book about St. Francis.

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't known much of the legend of Befana, Italy's answer to Santa Claus, before this book. It was a charming little picture book that tells the story of Befana, at one point suspected to be a witch, and the wise men who travel by her home and ask the way to the Christ child in Bethlehem. She hasn't heard of any such child (being herself unmarried and childless) but once she hears of what the wise men seek, she too wants to join them, and later travels to the spot herself, but too late to see the Christ child. In the end, she finds that she can serve all children and give THEM gifts in Christ's stead...and thence arises the legend of Befana, patron saint of children at Christmastime in Italy. Colorful illustrations.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a retelling of an Italian version of Santa Clause. How the Christmas witch came to be, who she is, and what she does. Was a nice storybook;

[Emmy Kegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites as a kid and still holds up today! Such a sweet way to introduce kids to the legend of La Befana.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my very favorite Christmas legends is the Legend of Old Befana and I first encountered it in Tomie dePaloa’s version. I make a point to read it between Christmas and Epiphany each year.
Grate that the ILL system I have access to had this version done by Iise Plume and published in 1981.
The text is more wordy than what is published in most picture books today. Illustrations are full page paintings as Befana goes on her journey searching for the star and the Wise Men. Loved the chicken illustrations shown in several illustrations.
This Italian legend continues to be relevant today.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Christmas book that I read every year. I enjoy it greatly, but it is sometimes hit or miss with the students.