The Witch Grows Up

The Witch Next Door

by Norman Bridwell

A witch tells two neighbor children about her childhood, which, though strange in many ways, was a lot like theirs

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Childrens, Magic, Holiday

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Norman Bridwell was an American author and cartoonist, best-known for the Clifford the Big Red Dog series of children's books. Bridwell attended John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, Indiana. He lived on Martha's Vineyard, MA, where he wrote an average of two books a year.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

That friendly witch next door returns in this fourth picture-book devoted to her adventures, this time narrating the story of her own girlhood to her two young human friends. The daughter of two witches, she was raised in a loving home with plenty of toys, games and other activities. Sometimes mischievous, always clever, she knew how to deal with bullies, and, when sent to school, made an excellent pupil. In the end though, it was her family life that was most formative...

Debuting in 1969 in author/illustrator Norman Bridwell's The Witch Next Door , this pleasant magic maker would go on to star in three additional picture-books, all published during the 1970s, as well as an early reader ( The Witch Goes to School ) published much later, in 1992. The four picture-books were originally oblong paperbacks, and had illustrations with a more limited color palette—mostly black and white, with one or two color washes. They were republished in the 1980s as sturdier, square paperback picture-books, with the artwork now full-color. It is these later editions that I have read, as part of my "witchy witches" project.

All that being said, I think that this, The Witch Grows Up (first published in 1979, and in this edition in 1987), is my favorite of the four picture-books I have read about this character. I was mostly indifferent to the first, enjoyed the second (set at Christmas), and greatly disliked the third ( The Witch's Vacation ). But this one is the best of them all. It is more engaging than its predecessors, perhaps because we get to see the Witch as a little girl, in her family and school circles, leading to a tale that feels more magical, both in its settings and accoutrements, and in its narrative development. It has the added appeal of being clever, in terms of the relationship between text and image. I really enjoyed how the text described things that seemed quite ordinary—the Witch's father tossing her into the air, her jungle gym—only for the artwork to reveal them as extraordinary—the Witch flies off, after being tossed, her jungle gym is made of live gorillas, and so on. The disconnect between text and visual adds to the entertainment here, I think.

Recommended to those who have enjoyed other stories about this character, as well as to picture-book readers with a taste for witchy fare.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the fun illustrations. I appreciated the message that being different is sometimes just superficial and more importantly not bad.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witch tells two neighbor children about her childhood.

The text on each page describes Witch’s young life using classic understatement. Each image illustrates just how extraordinary her life actually was. This relationship between text and image is what makes the story humorous.

Witch also went to a school for witches long before the first Harry Potter book was published. The Witch Grows Up was published in 1979.

[Capn · Rating 4 out of 5]

More imaginative than the first in this series. I like the bit where there the boys wouldn't let her play with them in their treehouse.

..she didn't care. The tree was a friend of hers.

A little disturbing when rather than her balloon popping when a bully tries to shoot it with his pea-shooter, her balloon harmlessly deflects the pellet and the bully's head pops instead... image not gory, but I found it slightly disturbing. Maybe a younger child wouldn't think much about it.
Best part of it was parents meting out corporal punishment by proxy via stray lightning bolt to the bottom when the little tot was sorely misbehaving. Wish I could do that.

[Qt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming story and fun, warm illustrations.

[Simon Omnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of the book series Clifford will be delighted to know that Norman Bridwell also published other books; ones that do not involve the big red dog Clifford and his mistress.
He also published small volumes. Like The Witch Grows Up.
A very good book published in 1978, it involves a kind witch recounting to her friendly neighbours how she lived her childhood. How her parents raised her, how she studied magic, and how she interacted with the other kids in her town.
It is a very wonderful story that shows how much people, regardless of their background, all live the same kind of childhood. How they are raised by people who love them and how they live a life no different than other communities.
As for the illustrations, my edition from 1978 offers black and white drawings with one object or element in it that Mr. Bridwell colored. A very nice aesthetic style that helps make such illustrations more welcoming to readers who are not always comfortable with the absence of colors in artwork.
Overall, this book is a beautiful item that fans of Norman Bridwell can enjoy and which readers can read either for Halloween or for family storytelling. And it can help motivate kids in befriending communities that are different from them. As such, it's a book that promotes open-mindedness and respect and it shares a great story, with a humor that will appeal to fans of Roald Dahl and Dr. Seuss.

Les fans de la série de livres Bertrand (Clifford en anglais) seront ravis d'apprendre que Norman Bridwell a également publié d'autres livres ; ceux qui n'impliquent pas le gros chien rouge Clifford/Bertrand et sa maîtresse.
Il a aussi publié des petits volumes.
Notamment "L'enfance de la sorcière". Un très bon livre publié en 1978, qui met en scène une gentille sorcière racontant à ses sympathiques voisins comment elle a vécu son enfance. Comment ses parents l'ont élevée, comment elle a étudié la magie et comment elle interagissait avec les autres enfants de sa ville.
C'est une très belle histoire qui montre à quel point les gens, peu importe leur milieu ou leurs origines, vivent tous le même genre d'enfance. Comment ils sont élevés par des gens qui les aiment et comment ils vivent une vie qui n'est pas différente de celle des autres communautés.
Quant aux illustrations, mon édition de 1978 propose des dessins en noir et blanc avec un objet ou un élément à l'intérieur que M. Bridwell a colorié. Un style esthétique très agréable qui contribue à rendre ces illustrations plus accueillantes pour les lecteurs qui ne sont pas toujours à l’aise avec l’absence de couleurs dans les dessins en noir et blanc.
Dans l’ensemble, ce livre est un excellent item que les fans de Norman Bridwell peuvent apprécier et que les lecteurs peuvent lire soit pour l’Halloween, soit pour raconter des histoires en famille. De plus, ce livre peut motiver les enfants à devenir amis avec des communautés différentes de la leur. Ainsi, c'est un livre qui promouvoit l'ouverture d'esprit et le respect et partage une excellente histoire, avec un certain humour qui plaira aux fans de Roald Dahl et de Dr. Seuss.

[Pennie]

My little one and I love this series. The witch does this that sounds perfectly normal, until you look at the pictures, and see all the spooky witch details.

I was also interested to see how the illustrations changed from the 60s fashions in Witch Next Door, to the 70s in this book.

[Little Seesaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was pure pumpkin joy. I can't wait to read it to a group of little trick or treaters.

[alyanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

it’s mostly because of my personal interests in life that i’m so drawn to this children’s book. what a playful book to read with my students about ‘friendly’ witches this halloween!

[Child960801 · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this one, the witch tells the children about what it was like for her growing up.

[Mia Balsamo · Rating 4 out of 5]

PB30: A very cute short picturebook. There is nothing entirely special about this book but I enjoy it. I think it would be a great book for a child who feels a little different than everyone else. By the end of the book that child would learn it is okay to grow up a little differently than everyone else because in the end you are more similar than dissimilar to those people.

[Ayana Mishelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The friendly witch talks about her unusual childhood. This book is a good read for children who come from diverse backgrounds.This book can be used for just about all grades especially if you are using to to talk about diverstity.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread this while going through my library at home to update what I own and don't own. Forgot how cute this one is! Fun drawings, quick read, just silly fun with a little message that it's okay to be different and appreciate yourself and your family just the way they are.