BroomMates: A Brewing Boundary Battle

by Lynne Marie, Brenda Reeves Sturgis, Nico Ecenarro

Multi-Award-Winner 2025 Children's Book Council Favorites Award - Kid's Favorite, Teacher's Favorite, and Librarian's Favorite.

2025 Anna Dewdney Best Read Aloud - Honor Book

2025 Northern Lights Book Award - Holiday Category

A sibling rivalry with a Halloween twist to be enjoyed all year long!

There's room for improvement when witchy sisters Mathilda and Malin share a broom, and a room! One's bright and airy, the other dark and scary! Each sister knows exactly how they should decorate. Unfortunately, their disagreement ends in disaster and a broken broom. Will they ever find a way to meet in the middle?

Kids will enjoy the silly antics that unfold in this rhyming witchy sibling rivalry, by award-winning authors Lynne Marie and Brenda Reeves Sturgis.

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Childrens, Holiday

Audible Audio

First published September 3, 2024

About the author

Lynne Marie a multi-published author and an editor at a small press. She's the Owner/Administrator of Rate Your Story (www.rateyourstory.org), the author of Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten - illustrated by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic, 2011), Hedgehog's 100th Day of School – illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Scholastic, January 2017), The Star of the Christmas Play -- illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books, 2018), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares -- illustrated by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling, 2019) and Let’s Eat! Mealtimes Around the World -- illustrated by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books, 2019), the Three Little Pigs and the Rocket Project (Mac and Cheese Press 2022), The Palace Rat (Yeehoo Press, 2023), Broommates -- written with Brenda Sturgis -- art by Nico Ecenarro (The Little Press 2024) and more forthcoming. When she’s not travelling around the world, she lives in her hometown with her high school sweetheart, Anakin the Schipperke and Marlowe the Chihuahua. You can learn more about her at www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com.

Reviews

[Mona Pease · Rating 5 out of 5]

One witchy sister loves glitter the other one's favorite is gloom. The worst thing in life at the moment is that they're stuck having to share a room. Not only that, they must also share a broom! They zip and zap, each one trying to decorate her way until the crash! It's finally what helps the sisters' stop and an try to compromise on a solution. The rollicky illustrations and text placement add to the rhythm and rhyme of this fun book. (And maybe a bit true to life for some kids!) It gets 5***** from me!

Merged review:

Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews

Mona Pease
2 reviews
3 followers

June 8, 2024
One witchy sister loves glitter the other one's favorite is gloom. The worst thing in life at the moment is that they're stuck having to share a room. Not only that, they must also share a broom! They zip and zap, each one trying to decorate her way until the crash! It's finally what helps the sisters' stop and an try to compromise on a solution. The rollicky illustrations and text placement add to the rhythm and rhyme of this fun book. (And maybe a bit true to life for some kids!) And the illustrator added an extra bonus. How to draw your own Broommates! It gets 5***** from me!

[Lori Villacci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable book about two sisters overcoming differences, and learning to compromise! The pictures are beautifully done and kept my little one interested the whole time (saying “wow!”on each turned page). The words are cute and fun- definitely a must read book!!

[Hilary Margitich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny and adorable book about two young witch sisters with opposite tastes and styles, who must share one room and one broom. Very relatable for siblings who feel different in every way, yet must share and manage to cohabitate with one another! The rhyming text is fresh and snappy, complimenting the pace and fun, off-kilter mood of the story. A delight for Halloween season and beyond, as it touches on deeper themes of compromise and individuality.

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Edelweiss/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.


Meet two witches, Mathilda and Malin. Mathilda is all about glitter, glamour, pink, and happiness. And Malin is all about GLOOM, DARK, maybe a dash of green, and oh yes dead things. These two have to share a room and well, if you know siblings, this won’t be the easiest. These two are very much different from each other and how do you share a room then when one wants a dark wall and the other a pink glitter one? Add to that a mix of magic and you got a really fun book that will make you laugh a lot! I really loved both the girls and could understand both sides to it. I am definitely a blend, but I can imagine if you like either or and have to share one room, it isn’t going to be easy. It was both funny and sad to see them try to figure things out. There is a lot of chaos, I can tell you that! I was rooting that these girls would be able to find the perfect solution… and I hope that they would do so before either their mom got even angrier or before the house explodes (told you there was magic).

I loved that their mummy was a literal mummy as well. That made me laugh as I hadn’t expected it!

The art was oodles of fun and I love how the illustrator was able to catch both the personalities of the witches and bring them out with fun colours perfect for them. I am also happy that for Malin they didn’t go for all black, but instead added that pop of green in the mix!

All in all, this is a fun book! Perfect for siblings who have to share a room and want to see what happens when you add magic to that sibling chaos!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Kathy Temean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute book. I always wonder what it would be like to have a sister. Would she be funny and smart? Or would she be dark and wicked? Would we get along? So, I was drawn into this book to see how these two very different little witches lived together in one room. I am sure kids, whether they have a sister or not, will want to read about sunny Matilda and stormy Malin and find out how they work out their different styles in a shared room with one broom. Both would struggle to steer when they took the broom out for a ride.

Matilda liked colors, and Malin liked black. They never could agree. Matilda liked glitter and tweeting songbirds, while Malin brought home a dark purple crow and dead debris like popped-out eyeballs, bones, and skulls. They fight and bicker. Matilda planted roses, and Malin stripped the thorns.
Finally, with so much stuff piled up, no one could see the floor. Mom stomped inside and yelled, "ENOUGH!" It was time to fix the problem.

Matlida waved her magic wand and “poofed” the mess away. That illustration is so funny. Everything in the room is pink and sparkly, and Malin even has a big pink bow on her head. Kids will be rolling on the floor laughing when they see this illustration and eager to turn the page, which shows Malin snatching the broom and her wand, zapping the room, and turning it into lightning bolts, skulls, and gloom. That is when the War of the Wands starts. When the dust clears, the room is filled with holes, burn marks, shredded curtains, and a broken broom. The two little chick-a-dees are on the floor crying into the Purple crow's feathers while he is trying to soothe them. So cute!

The sisters make up and compromise by laying the broken broom pieces in a line down the center of the room, and they start to learn how to blend their styles. The last illustration shows a parked tandem bike. Behind the potion stand, they run Glitterade & Gloom. Matilda is selling the potions, and Malin is leaning out of the booth, stirring the bubbling purple potion brew.

Nico Ecenarro did a fantastic job creating the illustrations. Every page is filled with interesting little details, like the birds and the crow, which are not in the text. The title page shows the Bedroom door with different-style stickers stuck to it and a Ghoul Power scribble on it, too. Very cute.

[SeasonsOfKidLit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blurb: Broommates: A Brewing Boundary Battle, by Lynne Marie, Brenda Reeves Sturgis, and Nico Ecenarro, published by The Little Press, is a wickedly-fun read! When witchy mismatched sisters, Matilda and Malin, are forced to share a broom and a room, they have quite the disagreement: Matilda prefers glitter and Malin prefers gloom! A battle over room decor leaves the sisters with a messed-up room and a broken broom. Matilda and Malin must learn to meet in the middle and give in just a little.

#SeasonsOfKidLit says: Lynne Marie’s and Sturgis’ punchy rhyming text paired with Ecenarro’s vibrant comic-styled illustrations are the perfect concoction! Children will instantly relate to Matilda and Malin’s struggle to find a common ground and love the compromise they come to. With a slightly spooky setting and look at sibling rivalry, Broommates is an excellent read for Halloween or any season.

[Mariana Ríos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cute and fun! The story about siblings who are so different from each other and still have to share a room (and broom) is one that many kids will be able to relate to. Authors Lynne Marie and Brenda Reeves Sturgis did a great job with the rhyming text (which is spot on), while the illustrations by Nico Ecenarro are funny, engaging and filled with details. The message of finding a way to coexist in harmony in spite of the differences while staying true to oneself is such an important take away for young readers.

This adorable book will be a great addition to homes, libraries, and schools specially in the Halloween season. I particularly enjoyed the step by step tutorial on how to draw the sisters. I think kids will love that too!

[Cynthia Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's wonderful to read such a fun-loving hallowe'en themed sibling story. And it rhymes! Two witchy sisters named Matilda and Malin are as opposite as can be and yet they share a room, which is a source of disagreement, especially when it comes to decor, and a broom, which they battle to steer, leaving their hats and clothes askew. Lynne Marie and Brenda Reeves Sturgis are the authors who've created two characters, one who loves glitter and one who loves gloom. Illustrator Nico Ecenarro adds in delightful pets who also conflict and and a unique colour palette for each sister. Finally, their Glitter and Gloom potion stand proves that even the most unlikely pair can successfully share.

[Lori Keating · Rating 5 out of 5]

With vibrant colors and whimsical details, each page captures the playful antics and magical mishaps of these quirky witch roommates. As they navigate the challenges of sharing their enchanted space, children will giggle at their humorous disagreements and clever solutions. The rhymes bounce along with a delightful rhythm, making it a perfect read-aloud for young listeners. Broom Mates not only entertains but also gently imparts lessons about sisterhood, compromise, and the joy of working together despite differences. It's a spellbinding addition to any child's bookshelf, sure to be enjoyed time and again.

[Judy Sobanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sibling rivalry is a relatable topic for many kids. Lynne Marie and Brenda Reeves Sturgis conquer this theme in a lyrical and humorous way in their book, BroomMates. Matilda is a roses and glitter gal. But her sister, Malin leans toward thorns and gloom. When the two try to decorate a shared room and share a broom too, disaster happens! They'll have to come up with a plan if they're ever going to get along, live and work together. The fun, rhyming text makes this a definite read aloud and read again and again! Nico Ecenarro's delightful illustrations reflect each sister perfectly. A fun Halloween and in-between read for all!

[Lill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynn Marie and Brenda Reeves Sturgis join forces with Nico Ecenarro to create this cute, quirky book about sibling rivalry. Mismatched sisters, Matilda and Malin, share a room and a broom. The problem is — Matilda adores glitter and Malin thrives on gloom. But when their room is wrecked and the broom broken, the two little witches are forced to find a solution.

This lively, rhyming story is enhanced by delightful illustrations. Kids will have fun noticing tiny details in the pictures like T. Sweep, Dead Goth & Beyond, and Glitterade and Gloom. My favorite is their "mummy." If your young readers are also aspiring artists, they'll enjoy the drawing tutorial at the end.

This picture book is a fun choice, especially for young siblings who just can't seem to get along.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about two sister witches who fight because one is colorful and sunny, while the other is dark and goth. Not a huge amount of substances and lesson learning in the story, but kids who are into witches and cute, sparkly books will enjoy this. Also anyone who has a sister who is the opposite of them.

[Claire Noland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matilda and Malin are witchy sisters who are as opposite as can be. They share a room and a broom which leads to all sorts of hilarious conflict and a true disaster for the two.
Written in spot on rhyme with bright and expressive illustrations, BroomMates is meant to be read aloud. Kid will love this picture book and will beg to have it read again and again.

[Lisa Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you're Team Matilda or Team Marin, BroomMates: A Brewing Boundary Battle hits all the marks. Even adults will find themselves identifying with one sister or the other. It's a fun holiday story mixed with a sibling rivalry like no other. The characters are fun, the storyline engaging, and definitely a book that parents and teachers will enjoy reading as much as kids will enjoy hearing it.

[Ryann Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a relatable tale about siblings not getting along but having to share. Told in bouncy rhyme, this sweet and silly story makes for a fun read aloud. The art pairs well with the text and there is even a drawing lesson in the back of the book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story! Fun to read aloud and I liked the little pop culture Easter eggs in the illustrations. My daughter enjoyed BroomMates!

[Rachel Funez · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adorable story! As a mom of two girls with their own turf wars, I can relate! I love how they come to a compromise in the end.

[Andi Chitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fitting and fun story, as WICKED just came out!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable book cleverly written in rhyme about two witchy sisters with two very different tastes and styles that have to share a room and a broom! Having to share a room with my brother as a child, this brought back memories of dividing the room in two! Other siblings with relate and will want to read this book over and over. My grandson loved it as the illustrations add fun details to the already humorous story.

[Karen Judd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully written book. As an educator I love to read books to my students with which they can relate. Well this book resonated with me. It reminded me of my sister and I when we were growing up. I also love that it has sort of a Halloween theme so it’s great to read to preschoolers during that time of year. The rhyming is great and pictures are perfect for the story.

Merged review:

A wonderfully written book. As an educator I love to read books to my students with which they can relate. This book resonated with me. It reminded me of my sister and when we were growing up. I also love that it has sort of a Halloween theme so it’s great to read to preschoolers during that time of year. The rhyming is great and the illustrations are perfect for the story.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Having a sister whom I shared a room with growing up, I can definitely relate! We are very different. We drove each other crazy (and our mom, too). Cute way to teach the lesson of how we can remain different yet still find a way to happily live together.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read! Great for the whole family, all ages had a wonderful time as we flipped through the pages!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read with an important lesson. Love it!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute book, and I enjoyed that it was told in rhyme. It reminded me of my childhood and sharing a room with my sister who was my exact opposite.

[Jester · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful picture book about two sibling witches with opposite tastes in style and decor. It teaches children how to compromise when in disagreements. It's a rhyming story, and the art is vibrant. The pinks and greens are a nice choice. I can see parents using this book to teach siblings about boundaries and compromise. Overall, enjoyable.

Note: Using new rating system starting 2025.