What do you think?
Rate this book
Amy and Clarissa #1
The Witch Family
This story of two girls trying to banish a witch is “full of wonderful fun, excitement, and humor” (Library Journal).
Old Witch likes nothing better than to fly around on her broomstick, crying “Heh-heh!” and casting abracadabras. But now she has been sent away . . . by two young girls.
Amy and Clarissa have decided that Old Witch is just too mean and wicked. So, drawing a rickety old house upon a barren glass hill, they exile Old Witch there with a She better be good, or else no Halloween! But to give Old Witch some company, they draw her a Little Witch Girl and a Weeny Witch Baby . . .
Old Witch tries to be good, but anyone would get up to no good in a place as lonely as the glass hill. And Amy and Clarissa are about to find that out, when Old Witch magics them into her world of make-believe-made-real, in “a very special book that is certain to give boundless pleasure—at any time of the year” (The Horn Book).
“A classic for Halloween.” —Library Journal
Old Witch likes nothing better than to fly around on her broomstick, crying “Heh-heh!” and casting abracadabras. But now she has been sent away . . . by two young girls.
Amy and Clarissa have decided that Old Witch is just too mean and wicked. So, drawing a rickety old house upon a barren glass hill, they exile Old Witch there with a She better be good, or else no Halloween! But to give Old Witch some company, they draw her a Little Witch Girl and a Weeny Witch Baby . . .
Old Witch tries to be good, but anyone would get up to no good in a place as lonely as the glass hill. And Amy and Clarissa are about to find that out, when Old Witch magics them into her world of make-believe-made-real, in “a very special book that is certain to give boundless pleasure—at any time of the year” (The Horn Book).
“A classic for Halloween.” —Library Journal
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1960
55 people are currently reading
2455 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Estes
35 books273 followersEleanor Ruth Rosenfeld (Estes)was an American children's author. She was born in West Haven, Connecticut as Eleanor Ruth Rosenfield. Originally a librarian, Estes' writing career began following a case of tuberculosis. Bedridden while recovering, Estes began writing down some of her childhood memories, which would later turn into full-length children's books.
Estes's book Ginger Pye (1951) won the Newbery Medal, and three of her other books (The Middle Moffat, Rufus M., and The Hundred Dresses) were chosen as Newbery Honor books. She also received the Certificate of Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Literature and was nominated for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. By the time of her death at age 82, Estes had written 19 children's books and one novel for adults.
Estes's book Ginger Pye (1951) won the Newbery Medal, and three of her other books (The Middle Moffat, Rufus M., and The Hundred Dresses) were chosen as Newbery Honor books. She also received the Certificate of Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Literature and was nominated for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. By the time of her death at age 82, Estes had written 19 children's books and one novel for adults.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
July 4, 2014
This book is sheer perfection. It has many of the same qualities as Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner -- young children who live out tremendous adventures in their imagination with characters who are typically treated by the author as though they are also real, though every once in a while perspective shifts and you see the drawings of Old Witch, Little Witch Girl, Lurie (the little mermaid), Weeny Witchy, Malechai (The Spelling Bee -- yes, he is an enchanted bee who spells everything he says) and the others, the same way the illustrations occasionally show you the animals in Winnie the Pooh as stuffed animals.
Another similarity is in the witty sophistication of the language. Christoper Robin is 3-5 in the Pooh books while Amy and Clarissa are 6 in this book, and in both cases there's no way a child of the protagonist's age would actually be able to read the book to him or herself. A parent reading to their child, however, will love every single word, understand an additional six dozen ways the book is delightfully funny, and be thrilled at how much their child is learning and how much more curious and engaged he or she is becoming both with books and with his or her own imagination. I remember reading the book to myself over and over when I was a couple of years older and able to read it on my own -- I hadn't outgrown Amy and Clarissa at all.
That said, however, Estes is absolutely genius at capturing the little nuances of how young girls (perhaps young children in general, but I can only speak with authority on girls) interact when they play -- how they introduce new concepts for games and stories to each other and adapt to each other's additions to their shared world. I think many children will find solace and a sense of belonging in this book because they might identify more with Amy (who is a strong leader, often taking the initiative in crafting the narrative and suggesting adventure) or Clarissa (who is less consistently creative, but clearly glad to have a friend like Amy who brings so much excitement to her life, and who is always able to go along on the journey because she has as much imagination and wonder when given a chance.) The book presents them both as okay, which could mean a lot to both extroverted, brave, imaginative children and introverted, gentler children who are less often appreciated and praised for their gifts.
An important note: this book is NOT scary. If you have a child who is afraid of witches, this book would be great for helping him or her cope with that fear. If you have a child who WANTS scary books... look elsewhere.
It would also be remiss not to praise illustrator Edward Ardizzone, who is perhaps the only other member in a class with Ernest Shepard. His artwork is similarly sweet and deceptively simple -- there's nothing flashy about it, but for me it's saying a lot to contend that the illustrations are instrumental to the story. So much of the time I would rather imagine locations and even characters my own way than have them turned into something concrete and specific that might (from my perspective) be WRONG (I'm looking at you, Mary GrandPré). But Ardizzone has depicted the world in a manner even more lovely than I could have imagined it, and I would hang framed prints of some of his panels in my writing room if such things were sold.
I cannot recommend this book strongly enough -- it comes from such a place of beauty and love and imagination, and it is also a nearly-flawless piece of writing with unique turns of phrase, subtle humor, and perfect structure and pace. Even as an adult, I would rather re-read this book than read 99.9% of books that are intended for grown-ups.
Another similarity is in the witty sophistication of the language. Christoper Robin is 3-5 in the Pooh books while Amy and Clarissa are 6 in this book, and in both cases there's no way a child of the protagonist's age would actually be able to read the book to him or herself. A parent reading to their child, however, will love every single word, understand an additional six dozen ways the book is delightfully funny, and be thrilled at how much their child is learning and how much more curious and engaged he or she is becoming both with books and with his or her own imagination. I remember reading the book to myself over and over when I was a couple of years older and able to read it on my own -- I hadn't outgrown Amy and Clarissa at all.
That said, however, Estes is absolutely genius at capturing the little nuances of how young girls (perhaps young children in general, but I can only speak with authority on girls) interact when they play -- how they introduce new concepts for games and stories to each other and adapt to each other's additions to their shared world. I think many children will find solace and a sense of belonging in this book because they might identify more with Amy (who is a strong leader, often taking the initiative in crafting the narrative and suggesting adventure) or Clarissa (who is less consistently creative, but clearly glad to have a friend like Amy who brings so much excitement to her life, and who is always able to go along on the journey because she has as much imagination and wonder when given a chance.) The book presents them both as okay, which could mean a lot to both extroverted, brave, imaginative children and introverted, gentler children who are less often appreciated and praised for their gifts.
An important note: this book is NOT scary. If you have a child who is afraid of witches, this book would be great for helping him or her cope with that fear. If you have a child who WANTS scary books... look elsewhere.
It would also be remiss not to praise illustrator Edward Ardizzone, who is perhaps the only other member in a class with Ernest Shepard. His artwork is similarly sweet and deceptively simple -- there's nothing flashy about it, but for me it's saying a lot to contend that the illustrations are instrumental to the story. So much of the time I would rather imagine locations and even characters my own way than have them turned into something concrete and specific that might (from my perspective) be WRONG (I'm looking at you, Mary GrandPré). But Ardizzone has depicted the world in a manner even more lovely than I could have imagined it, and I would hang framed prints of some of his panels in my writing room if such things were sold.
I cannot recommend this book strongly enough -- it comes from such a place of beauty and love and imagination, and it is also a nearly-flawless piece of writing with unique turns of phrase, subtle humor, and perfect structure and pace. Even as an adult, I would rather re-read this book than read 99.9% of books that are intended for grown-ups.
October 25, 2023
I cleverly did not tell my daughter that this was written by the author of The Hundred Dresses (a book I love and she HATES) until after I had read it aloud!
But anyway, I had never heard of this, even though I love books about witches: worst witches, okay witches, little witches, sexy grownup witches, whatevs. So naturally I had to grab a copy and read it aloud to my kids this October, all of us going in completely blind. Had I known that this book skewed so young, though, I probably would have just read it myself and left it out for the kids to flip through as they wanted. The main characters of Real Girls Amy and Clarissa are both six, and so is Little Witch Girl Hannah. They say things like "banquish" instead of "banish" and the world of the witches is basically a story that Amy is making up and drawing with her crayons. I mean, it's ADORABLE, but I was reading it aloud to a 15yo and an 11yo, so they were not that into it!
But anyway, I had never heard of this, even though I love books about witches: worst witches, okay witches, little witches, sexy grownup witches, whatevs. So naturally I had to grab a copy and read it aloud to my kids this October, all of us going in completely blind. Had I known that this book skewed so young, though, I probably would have just read it myself and left it out for the kids to flip through as they wanted. The main characters of Real Girls Amy and Clarissa are both six, and so is Little Witch Girl Hannah. They say things like "banquish" instead of "banish" and the world of the witches is basically a story that Amy is making up and drawing with her crayons. I mean, it's ADORABLE, but I was reading it aloud to a 15yo and an 11yo, so they were not that into it!
March 23, 2020
Bewitching. Two imaginative little girls, almost seven, create Old Witch & carry her through a year of adventures, of trying to be Good. Estes knows children. I think Malachi is my favorite character, though I would have loved to get to know Father, who gave 'the spelling bee' that name.
As another reviewer points out, this isn't necessarily a Halloween story. But of course if you're looking for a good family read-aloud that week, you could do worse than this!
As another reviewer points out, this isn't necessarily a Halloween story. But of course if you're looking for a good family read-aloud that week, you could do worse than this!
November 6, 2020
I completely loved this! It's been on my to-read list for ages and I'm so happy I finally read it. This was my perfect Halloween-y read. Mostly sweet, with just the right amount of delightful spookiness here and there. I found it bewitching and adorable and wonderfully imaginative. I know I would have loved to be friends with Amy when I was a little girl. I also loved Clarissa. Their interactions with one anther are so completely spot-on. Estes so perfectly captures that incredible ability children have to blend fantasy and reality. I was surprised by some of the negative reviews here -- I suppose, because I was an imaginative, storytelling girl myself, I had no trouble at all transitioning between the Amy parts and the Old Witch parts and it all made sense to me how they were connected. It's mostly a very tame Halloween story, mostly just fun witch-y stuff, though note there are a few chapters of peril that might be too intense for some sensitive readers (most of the scariness involves the Old Witch wanting to eat cute little bunnies though ). Oh, and can I just say, this has the most wonderful bee character I've ever encountered :-) Loved this so much!
October 24, 2020
If 7 or 8-year-old me is rating this, it's at least 4 stars. A classic Halloween read for kids.
August 4, 2008
I have remembered this book for years in bits and pieces and have never been able to remember what it was called. Finally, through goodreads, I was able to find out the title and I ordered the book from Amazon!
I loved loved loved this book as a child, and skimming through it again, I think it would have been a great one for my daughter when she was younger. I wish I had found it sooner, but I highly recommend it as a read aloud, or read alone for stronger readers. I would guess would be of most interest to kids through 2nd grade.
I loved loved loved this book as a child, and skimming through it again, I think it would have been a great one for my daughter when she was younger. I wish I had found it sooner, but I highly recommend it as a read aloud, or read alone for stronger readers. I would guess would be of most interest to kids through 2nd grade.
October 4, 2022
I loved this book as a child so for that reason alone, it's rated 5 stars. I decided to re-read it as an adult for nostalgic reasons but also because it's spooky season. I used to read it all the time and remember absolutely loving it. It's cute but I don't feel the same way that I used to sadly.
May 12, 2018
nothing made sense till the very end i did not like it
November 1, 2023
One of the best kidlit classics ever, and certainly the best spooky one. Published in 1960, it’s about two little girls who banish Old Witch, head of all the witches, to a haunted house on a bare glass hill. There she must stay all year, doing nothing wicked, in order to be allowed out for the hurly-burly on Halloween night. The transformative power of weird little girls’ creativity adds more intricacies to the witch’s lonely life—an adopted daughter who goes to witch school, runes and rules, a magic bumblebee—and more secrets to the glass hill. And soon enough, it’ll be Halloween!
I really really think it’s a must read if you are or have ever been a strange and witchy girl-child. (Bonus points if you’re also a DC kid.) I’ll always remember my mom reading this book to me over and over when I was little and how much of myself I saw in it.
And from a modern literary perspective, I love Estes’s attitude towards worldbuilding that most later authors, especially of older age-range books, don’t have the courage to adopt: just telling you the fantastical facts like you know them ‘cause they’re true, rather than handling them super delicately like some unwieldy conceptual burden. I’m not intellectually inconvenienced by the fact that there’s fantasy in your fantasy book; let’s get a move on!
I really really think it’s a must read if you are or have ever been a strange and witchy girl-child. (Bonus points if you’re also a DC kid.) I’ll always remember my mom reading this book to me over and over when I was little and how much of myself I saw in it.
And from a modern literary perspective, I love Estes’s attitude towards worldbuilding that most later authors, especially of older age-range books, don’t have the courage to adopt: just telling you the fantastical facts like you know them ‘cause they’re true, rather than handling them super delicately like some unwieldy conceptual burden. I’m not intellectually inconvenienced by the fact that there’s fantasy in your fantasy book; let’s get a move on!
October 24, 2023
The Witch Family was a sweet little tale of the inventiveness of a little girl and her best friend and their imaginary witch's world.
November 23, 2011
Excellent book. Amy and Clarissa are two ordinary little girls who daydream about an old witch. Amy banished her to a glass mountain so she wouldn't be wicked, only to come out on Halloween when she is good. But being there is lonely, and the two soon populate the glass hill with others to keep her company: a little witch, a baby witch, a spelling bee, and a mermaid. Reality and daydream blur though, as both the two girls visit the glass hill, and the witches visit them on Halloween.
I wrote in my review of May Bird Among the Stars that tone is one of the hardest things to get right in fiction, but the tone of this is wonderful. Her choice of words and descriptions create a magical and almost mythical world even when the description of it is our own mundane one. The Halloween night describing child trick-or-treaters in particular was a very evocative passage, and it really captures the feeling of childhood-the imagination and the feeling of a magical world.
I can understand people might not like it, because it's very surreal at times, tends to be repetitive, and the dialogue is quirky (although not in a dated sense, reflecting when it was written.) But for me, the writing, tone, and characterization made of an excellent reading as an adult, and I regret having never read this as a boy.
I wrote in my review of May Bird Among the Stars that tone is one of the hardest things to get right in fiction, but the tone of this is wonderful. Her choice of words and descriptions create a magical and almost mythical world even when the description of it is our own mundane one. The Halloween night describing child trick-or-treaters in particular was a very evocative passage, and it really captures the feeling of childhood-the imagination and the feeling of a magical world.
I can understand people might not like it, because it's very surreal at times, tends to be repetitive, and the dialogue is quirky (although not in a dated sense, reflecting when it was written.) But for me, the writing, tone, and characterization made of an excellent reading as an adult, and I regret having never read this as a boy.
March 24, 2017
Amy and Clarissa love to tell and draw stories about "Old Witch". But after they "banquish" her (Amy makes up the word) to the Glass Hill, they realize she is lonely. So they send her Little Witch Girl. And when Little Witch Girl decides to fly down to see her human friends on Halloween, Amy and Clarissa suddenly find themselves in BIG trouble!
This is a wonderful book that encourages kids to use their imaginations, has just enough spooky scariness to delight them, and yet has a warm happy ending. A great choice for a family read aloud!
This is a wonderful book that encourages kids to use their imaginations, has just enough spooky scariness to delight them, and yet has a warm happy ending. A great choice for a family read aloud!
April 14, 2012
"Go, live on the glass hill forever, and never come back!"
Thus did Amy and Clarissa, who loved to draw pictures of witches, banish the wicked Old Witch. Before long there was Little Witch Girl and then Weeny Witch, the baby, on the glass hill as well. Perhaps Old Witch did try to be good, but she never succeeded. And in no time at all, Amy and Clarissa were involved - sometimes dangerously - in her schemes and "hurly-burlies."
From the back cover
Thus did Amy and Clarissa, who loved to draw pictures of witches, banish the wicked Old Witch. Before long there was Little Witch Girl and then Weeny Witch, the baby, on the glass hill as well. Perhaps Old Witch did try to be good, but she never succeeded. And in no time at all, Amy and Clarissa were involved - sometimes dangerously - in her schemes and "hurly-burlies."
From the back cover
September 9, 2007
The Witch Family was one of my best-loved books from the elementary school library; I checked it out at least 2-3 times a year, I think. I picked up my own copy a few years ago, just to see if it was as good as I remembered.
Amy and Clarissa, two seven year old girls with lively imaginations, banquish (their combo of "banish" & "vanquish") the Old Witch to a glass mountain, forbidding her to come down or perform any bad magic. If she behaves, she can come back down for Halloween. Malachi, a bumblebee, is inadvertently included in the banquishment and becomes a magical spelling bee thanks to a few spells. He acts as a messenger, keeping the girls informed of the Old Witch's behaviour, and providing her with warnings when she gets a little feisty.
Feeling a bit sorry for the Old Witch (or perhaps wanting someone with whom they could identify), they set up a situation where Little Witch comes to the glass hill. She is about the same age as the girls, and goes to witch school. The story alternates between the doings of the Witch Family (eventually, a Baby Witch comes to live with them as well) and Amy & Clarissa.
The story was still enjoyable to read as an adult, with some of the little touches (such as Malachi) becoming clearer. Pen and ink illustrations are scattered through my copy (and I think through the library hardback as well) and add to the deliciously spooky atmosphere. Originally published in 1960, the story has aged very little; it's not nearly as dated as the Ramona series, perhaps because most of the action takes place in the witches' world.
Recommended to fans of imaginative children's literature.
Amy and Clarissa, two seven year old girls with lively imaginations, banquish (their combo of "banish" & "vanquish") the Old Witch to a glass mountain, forbidding her to come down or perform any bad magic. If she behaves, she can come back down for Halloween. Malachi, a bumblebee, is inadvertently included in the banquishment and becomes a magical spelling bee thanks to a few spells. He acts as a messenger, keeping the girls informed of the Old Witch's behaviour, and providing her with warnings when she gets a little feisty.
Feeling a bit sorry for the Old Witch (or perhaps wanting someone with whom they could identify), they set up a situation where Little Witch comes to the glass hill. She is about the same age as the girls, and goes to witch school. The story alternates between the doings of the Witch Family (eventually, a Baby Witch comes to live with them as well) and Amy & Clarissa.
The story was still enjoyable to read as an adult, with some of the little touches (such as Malachi) becoming clearer. Pen and ink illustrations are scattered through my copy (and I think through the library hardback as well) and add to the deliciously spooky atmosphere. Originally published in 1960, the story has aged very little; it's not nearly as dated as the Ramona series, perhaps because most of the action takes place in the witches' world.
Recommended to fans of imaginative children's literature.
February 19, 2017
I just wish there was more of the old Witches shenanigans on Halloween cause I felt the story was building up to that day she can be bad. So I was hoping maybe she was gonna spark a little trouble with the girls on that day. But overall, leading up to that point I loved how descriptive this book was and the writer was definitely spot on with what a 7 year old would be like when they're lost in their imagination. Great build up just wish the ending was a little more wickedness on behalf of the old witch. I think for a young girl reading this would be perfect for Halloween!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2019
I’m surprised I never read this growing up! On the surface it’s a very simple story, full of jokes about language I would have loved. I think it could have been the first book I ever read where really it was all a fantasy or a dream, though. I think that’s really what’s going on, and all the literal spelling bees and rule constraints are manifestations of that.
I find this kind of scattered and unfocused now, but I think I would have found it compelling back when I was in, say, second grade.
I find this kind of scattered and unfocused now, but I think I would have found it compelling back when I was in, say, second grade.
Read
October 4, 2013This book vastly affected my life as a child and gave me a better understanding of who my mother really was.
October 7, 2021
The perfect Halloween book! If I could live in the mermaid lagoon for the rest of time, I would.
February 25, 2023
I used to love this book when I was little!
Re-reading for the nostalgia and it's still great. Super cute book full of witchy adventures; I definitely recommend for young readers!
Re-reading for the nostalgia and it's still great. Super cute book full of witchy adventures; I definitely recommend for young readers!
January 13, 2013
This is a very entertaining tale that really captures the essence of a young girl's imagination. The inventiveness of the story evolves as the little girl's whimsy changes, even if it makes little sense. The witches are not very scary, although there's room for the spooky and creepy aspects of Halloween, spiders, hobgoblins, and bad storms.
The story is a fairly quick read and would be appropriate for parents reading with children or older children reading on their own. Since the little girls in the story are about six years old, I would think that would be a good starting age, although older children will likely appreciate the youthful capriciousness of Amy's decisions.
The pen and ink illustrations are quite dark and somewhat indistinct with thick crosshatching. I was a bit disappointed that there weren't very many of them. Still, they complement the narrative nicely and help depict some of the major scenes in the story.
Our oldest read this book on her own and then I read it after her. Overall, I thought it was a fun story with some spooky Halloween scenes. Although the story makes me think of Halloween, it actually spans quite a large part of the year, including Springtime and Easter, so the story would be appropriate just about anytime in the year.
interesting quote:
"It is nice to be with a mother in the hail." (p. 54)
The story is a fairly quick read and would be appropriate for parents reading with children or older children reading on their own. Since the little girls in the story are about six years old, I would think that would be a good starting age, although older children will likely appreciate the youthful capriciousness of Amy's decisions.
The pen and ink illustrations are quite dark and somewhat indistinct with thick crosshatching. I was a bit disappointed that there weren't very many of them. Still, they complement the narrative nicely and help depict some of the major scenes in the story.
Our oldest read this book on her own and then I read it after her. Overall, I thought it was a fun story with some spooky Halloween scenes. Although the story makes me think of Halloween, it actually spans quite a large part of the year, including Springtime and Easter, so the story would be appropriate just about anytime in the year.
interesting quote:
"It is nice to be with a mother in the hail." (p. 54)
November 1, 2011
This charming book is a wonderful ode to childhood imagination. Amy and Clarissa, two seven-year-old best friends, enjoy hearing tales about Old Witch and her wicked antics. They also enjoy sitting down and drawing pictures of the Old Witch's naughty hijinks. To them, the tales they hear about the Witch from Amy's mother, are as real as any events in a history book. The power of their imaginations, along with the magic of their drawings, brings the world of Old Witch to life. Anything they draw, including a little girl witch and a baby witch, magically come to life and are added to the magical realm inhabited by Old Witch. The book is somewhat episodic, which seems appropriate for a story that affirms the power of storytelling, but those looking for a strong narrative drive might be disappointed. The book is gentle and sweet and should be a great treat for young girls under the age of eight. It will probably be best appreciated by younger children and those adults who still have the ability to remember what it was like to find magic in something as ordinary as a bumblebee. As an illustrator, one of my favorite things about this book are the wonderful pen and ink drawings by Edward Ardizzone which make up an integral part of this enchanting book.
November 23, 2020
Really enjoyable. Not too scary for my 4 and 6 year olds, the older of whom is pretty easily bothered by scary material. Some of the jokes about spelling don't make a lot of sense when read aloud to kids who themselves don't know how to spell, but otherwise a really fun read.
February 10, 2017
A sweet children's story with charming illustrations. Although I am sure that I would have liked it as a child, it did not really catch me as an adult without the benefit of any nostalgia.
February 17, 2017
This book vastly affected my life as a child and gave me a better understanding of who my mother really was.
November 3, 2022
This book certainly does live up to its description as a blend between reality and imagination... two friends basically play an elaborate game, drawing/coloring these witches into their imaginative/pretend play -- listening to stories from one of their mom's and telling stories about them themselves, following along with their mishaps and misadventures. It was a fun book for Halloween that isn't too frightening or spooky, but it was also not the easiest to read aloud -- I stumbled over lines and phrasing more than I would like. I wasn't sure it would hold my 7-year old's attention, especially with my stumbles, but it did -- he probably followed along even better than I did!
October 27, 2021
A lovely, gentle, and slightly spooky children's book, perfect for the season.
May 22, 2023
Cute story about a pair of young girls who make up a story about some witches. I liked them all, but the bee was my favorite.
April 5, 2025
I did take a nap in the middle of this book but for the rest I didn’t care to listen 🤣
October 29, 2021
I loved the Moffat books and I wanted to like this but it was just a bit too twee
December 1, 2009
This book kept cropping up on my Audiobooks page and I had never read it so I thought I'd give it a try. I think I would have enjoyed it as a youngster, especially if read aloud. The book was so repetative and I nearly gave up on it, yet this is exactly the type of book a child would delight in. I didn't care for the narrator/reader who took the old witch's voice to new levels of irritation. The bumblebee's monotonous spelling of everything he said was clever but felt overdone after the 20th time he was trying to express himself. Again, this is probably a delightful read-a-loud book for children and probably deserves a far better rating than I gave it. I may try it again when I have grandchildren to entertain.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews