Two Little Witches: A Counting Story

by Harriet Ziefert, Simms Taback (Illustrator)

If one little witch meets one little witch . . .
what happens on a spooky Halloween night?

Kids love to be scared - just a little - and Halloween is the perfect time for them to explore the bright, bold artwork of Caldecott Medal-winner Simms Taback and the comforting rhythms of Harriet Ziefert’s story in this lively, cumulative counting book.

Genres: Halloween, Picture Books, Counting, Childrens, Witches, Holiday, Fiction

20 pages, Board Book

First published September 2, 1996

About the author

Harriet Ziefert grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Masters degree in Education from New York University.

For many years, Ziefert was an elementary school teacher. She taught most grades from kindergarten to fifth grade. "I liked it," she said, but she stopped teaching when she had her own sons. When her children were older, Ziefert wanted "a bigger arena" for her work. She went to work at a publishing company, Scholastic in New York City, developing materials for teacher's guides for kindergarten language arts and social studies programs.

"About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I do very much realise that Harriet Ziefert's Two Little Witches: A Halloween Counting Story is meant to be simplistic and is as such also totally geared towards younger children first learning how to count from one to ten (adding up to ten but of course then also subtracting down to zero). However and albeit that with regard to showing bona fide counting practice Two Little Witches: A Halloween Counting Story does generally succeed sufficiently well enough in and of itself, I have definitely also found Harriet's Ziefert's text (how she actually presents the numbers from one to ten on paper) not only (and probably by necessity) rather monotonous in scope but also more than a bit awkward in cadence and rhythm, and actually sometimes even a trifle strangely involved and convoluted even with the featured and to be expected textual repetitiveness and simplicity of Two Little Witches: A Halloween Counting Story (leaving an in my opinion rather strange melange of over-busyness and over-superficiality).

And well, considering that this rather frustrating state of affairs is then also mirrored (at least in my humble opinion) with and by Simms Taback's expressively colourful and bright but also (for my aesthetics and tastes) visually much too busy accompanying illustrations (since yes and in my opinion, how ridiculously scrunched together the featured trick or treating characters are depicted by Simms Taback as being certainly tends to make physically counting them whilst following along with Harriet Ziefert's printed words rather difficult at times and especially so for those readers/listeners who might have visual tracking issues), while I would still (even though with some reservations and caveats) recommend Two Little Witches: A Halloween Counting Story, for me personally, two stars is the maximum ranking I am willing and able to consider (because yes indeed, even as a young child, I would more than likely have found Harriet Ziefert's text for Two Little Witches: A Halloween Counting Story tedious and Simms Taback's illustrations much too difficult and buzzing to easily track and follow with regard to counting the presented, the depicted Halloween characters).

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrated by the Caldecott Medal-winning Simms Taback, this holiday counting book follows a growing crowd of trick-or-treaters as they make their way through the "dark on Halloween night." Two witches meet up and are soon joined by a small clown, a tall skeleton, a striped cat, a fuzzy bunny, an orange pumpkin, a friendly pirate, a big astronaut, and a pink princess, forming a gang of trick-or-treaters. When they break up, however, one is different from the others, and departs in an unusual fashion...

I cannot say that Two Little Witches: A Halloween Counting Story really appealed to me that much, as its simplistic narrative (one and one makes two, add one and then you have three... and so on) left me mostly bored. But for children at the right level, who are just getting going as independent readers, or who are learning their numbers, I can see the repetitive structure really working very well. The pencil, ink and watercolor illustrations, on the other hand, will appeal to anyone who appreciates Taback's zany artwork, myself included. Recommended primarily to younger Halloween celebrants, particularly those at the counting stage, or who are beginning readers.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun potential. I'm back and forth on the age, though. Word-wise, it's toddler. Concept-wise, it's on the border of toddler and preschool.

10/26/10 & 10/28/10 This worked very well with the small group. They counted aloud with me. And it was fun to read. The story moved along well. It didn't work well with the large Thu. group. Some kids were getting it and with it, but it was hard for me to connect with them because of the younger kids who were wandering everywhere. (That was also a distraction for both of us.) I was starting to lose control of half the room, but pushed on for those children who were still with it. Parents helped a lot with this one. And the ending brought back the focus.

[Andrew J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eh. Perfect for teaching little kids how to count, I suppose. As a story, not really that entertaining, unfortunately. Honestly, the only thing that this book has going for it is the nice artwork by Simms Taback.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story about kids that add-on one by one until there is a large group of trick-or-treaters. Good counting book, especially if you count the characters on the page one by one. Good read, but there are better counting books out there.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good read.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this beautifully illustrated Halloween book. Few counting books have such a delightful story! A definite hit for those who love Halloween!

[Trudy Monk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute quick and easy bedtime story. Helps you count

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, fun vocabulary for preschool children learning to count to 10. The illustrations are attractive, colorful, and full of detail.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book which is a little more than a counting book--it actually is very subtly teaching the idea of addition and subtraction The addition is accomplished as the two witches go trick or treating and add a costumed friend at a number of houses and the subtraction is accomplished by the children being scared. Ziefert has done a good job with this one and of course the illustrations by Simms Taback are icing on the Halloween cake.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why Deacon brought home a Halloween book in February, but he did, and wanted to read it, so we did. I like this counting book because it isn't just counting, it's addition. You start with a witch, add another witch, you get 2. Then you add a cat, you get three trick-or-treaters, and you keep adding until you get to the magic number: ten. Then it's a bit tricky because there's subtraction. Would recommend to myself to purchase as a classroom resource.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's Halloween night and the trick-or-treaters are making their rounds. With endearing illustrations by Simms Taback, Harriet Ziefert creates a rhythmic counting book that will give even the littlest trick-or-treater chills and thrills.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

A counting story in which two little witches meet eight other trick-or-treaters on Halloween night and the whole gang gets a little spooked. A suitable read aloud with pencil, ink, and watercolor illustrations for PreK-2.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 3 1/2 year old loves this book, whether or not it is Halloween. She gets a kick out of the costumes and is practicing her counting.

[Cws]

BB-Zie

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of our family's Halloween favorites!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two girls go trick-or-treating and their freinds tag along.

themes: counting, Halloween, tric-or-treating

[Chelsey Combs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for adding and subtracting one.

[Michelle Cropper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for teaching your child how to count and how to add. I read this to my three year old and she picked up the counting and adding very quickly.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two Little Witches: A Counting Story (Board Book)
by Harriet Ziefert
a Halloween book for counting to 10, using the theme to re-introduce counting

[David Corleto-Bales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam memorized this story and loved it. Great art and fun.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book that is also a good counting book.

[Darin Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Halloween book? You bet! This gem has such fun, brightly colored illustrations that you forgot that children are learning as they are reading. Addition, subtraction, colorful trick or treaters, and one crazy monster all bring fun to the learning.

5 stars because of the ability of the author to combine math, literacy, and great drawings into a fun to read book.