What do you think?
Rate this book
Elsie Pickles #3
Witches (Un)Welcome
It's summertime in Smallbridge, but, as always, nothing exciting is happening. Smallbridge doesn't do excitement. They do gossip, though. And now Elsie Pickles is the subject of the gossip as rumours spring up about her new magic skills …
Things aren’t helped when Magenta Sharp, bored of running her mail-order service, Spells on Tap, opens up a pop-up magic shop next to Pickles’ Emporium. Soon the town is overrun with witches, much to the annoyance of the magic-hating people of Smallbridge! But maybe a little bit of magic is just the thing Smallbridge needs?
Things aren’t helped when Magenta Sharp, bored of running her mail-order service, Spells on Tap, opens up a pop-up magic shop next to Pickles’ Emporium. Soon the town is overrun with witches, much to the annoyance of the magic-hating people of Smallbridge! But maybe a little bit of magic is just the thing Smallbridge needs?
224 pages, Paperback
Published May 2, 2019
5 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 5, 2019
Read- August 2019 for The N.E.W.Ts (My O in Care of Magical Creatures)
- Actual Rating 2.5 Stars
My younger sister is obsessed with this series so she has been making me read them (out of order) and I have to agree with her that they are just fun books to read. They remind me a lot of the books I loved to read as a child.
- Actual Rating 2.5 Stars
My younger sister is obsessed with this series so she has been making me read them (out of order) and I have to agree with her that they are just fun books to read. They remind me a lot of the books I loved to read as a child.
July 25, 2022
Heerlijk kinderboek! Hardop gelachen!
July 12, 2019
The witches came in all shaped and sizes. Some looked cheerful and expectant. Some looked fierce and determined. Some chattered to their neighbours, some didn't. Some were all dressed up, and some were a total mess and clearly didn't care. All were armed with a variety of serious-looking shopping bags.
Ah, the third book in this delightful and fun series. This time tons of shopping as Witch Sharp is setting up shop in the middle of Elsie's tiny little village. Yep. She is sick and tired of sending mail and letters to people as she did in the earlier books. She got a fancy new widget from her sister (which made me suspicious given that they don't like each other) which allows her to take shortcuts on magic. Yep, normally a shop isn't something one makes with just a snap of the finger, which was a tad disappointing, I had expecting it was quite easy, but apparently you need tons of rituals and spells to actually make something. I can imagine that one would be happy with such a widget that allows you to skip all that. Of course, I had a suspicion that with making it a shortcut things would turn chaotic. So I was eagerly looking forward to seeing what would happen to the shop. Would something happen? Was the widget actually a good piece of magic?
And of course, I wanted to know what the witch would be selling. What kind of spells and stuff would one find in a witch store? Well, all sorts of things even for beginners there is something to be found. I just loved the kids range and I would love to shop there and get some tickle dust! Yep. Especially after seeing it being used later in the book. That made me want to stick my hand into the book and just grab it. :P
Next to the whole shop setting up and witches popping up to visit (yes, tons and tons of witches pop up as soon as they hear about the shop), we also have some discrimination stuff going on. At least, that is how I would call it. Not everyone in the village loves the witches, some are downright rude about it. We even see things escalate and I was just rolling my eyes at the people. Stop being so single-minded people. The ending made me very happy though. I am glad to see how things got resolved.
Elsie is still such a fun character and I love that she is learning more and more magic. I hope in the future that she is able to learn more, maybe even become an apprentice. It was fun to see her do the shopkeeping, though she was clearly eager to help out Witch Sharp. I can understand, if one has to pick between boring stuff like vases and daily stuff and on the other side is sparkling and fancy stuff that may or may not go pop. I would pick the popping stuff.
I wasn't always a fan of Magenta/Witch Sharp though. She is lazy, grumpy, and I really don't get why she wanted to start up a store giving how bored she was throughout the book.
I loved seeing the witches pop up and check out the little town. I had a big laugh when I saw a trio of them doing a bbq over a sheep statue. I am glad that the witches discovered this tiny town, and I hope that they will add some more life to it, the town could use it. Something to give it a bit more sparkle and magic.
I wasn't a fan of the major, why did people even pick him.. or did he just pick himself?
There is also a lesson of taking less shortcuts, not only Magenta/Witch Sharp finds out about this + already tries, but also Elsie. However I do hope that they will still use that magic. I get that it may make someone lazy, but once in a while shouldn't be too bad.
Oh, and bonus points to Elsie's parents/siblings. Especially the dad is a favourite here.
Of course, like the other books, there are tons of fun and magical illustrations!
I had tons of fun reading it, and I would highly recommend it to everyone looking for a magical and hilarious book with some realistic themes in it. I can't wait for the next book!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Ah, the third book in this delightful and fun series. This time tons of shopping as Witch Sharp is setting up shop in the middle of Elsie's tiny little village. Yep. She is sick and tired of sending mail and letters to people as she did in the earlier books. She got a fancy new widget from her sister (which made me suspicious given that they don't like each other) which allows her to take shortcuts on magic. Yep, normally a shop isn't something one makes with just a snap of the finger, which was a tad disappointing, I had expecting it was quite easy, but apparently you need tons of rituals and spells to actually make something. I can imagine that one would be happy with such a widget that allows you to skip all that. Of course, I had a suspicion that with making it a shortcut things would turn chaotic. So I was eagerly looking forward to seeing what would happen to the shop. Would something happen? Was the widget actually a good piece of magic?
And of course, I wanted to know what the witch would be selling. What kind of spells and stuff would one find in a witch store? Well, all sorts of things even for beginners there is something to be found. I just loved the kids range and I would love to shop there and get some tickle dust! Yep. Especially after seeing it being used later in the book. That made me want to stick my hand into the book and just grab it. :P
Next to the whole shop setting up and witches popping up to visit (yes, tons and tons of witches pop up as soon as they hear about the shop), we also have some discrimination stuff going on. At least, that is how I would call it. Not everyone in the village loves the witches, some are downright rude about it. We even see things escalate and I was just rolling my eyes at the people. Stop being so single-minded people. The ending made me very happy though. I am glad to see how things got resolved.
Elsie is still such a fun character and I love that she is learning more and more magic. I hope in the future that she is able to learn more, maybe even become an apprentice. It was fun to see her do the shopkeeping, though she was clearly eager to help out Witch Sharp. I can understand, if one has to pick between boring stuff like vases and daily stuff and on the other side is sparkling and fancy stuff that may or may not go pop. I would pick the popping stuff.
I wasn't always a fan of Magenta/Witch Sharp though. She is lazy, grumpy, and I really don't get why she wanted to start up a store giving how bored she was throughout the book.
I loved seeing the witches pop up and check out the little town. I had a big laugh when I saw a trio of them doing a bbq over a sheep statue. I am glad that the witches discovered this tiny town, and I hope that they will add some more life to it, the town could use it. Something to give it a bit more sparkle and magic.
I wasn't a fan of the major, why did people even pick him.. or did he just pick himself?
There is also a lesson of taking less shortcuts, not only Magenta/Witch Sharp finds out about this + already tries, but also Elsie. However I do hope that they will still use that magic. I get that it may make someone lazy, but once in a while shouldn't be too bad.
Oh, and bonus points to Elsie's parents/siblings. Especially the dad is a favourite here.
Of course, like the other books, there are tons of fun and magical illustrations!
I had tons of fun reading it, and I would highly recommend it to everyone looking for a magical and hilarious book with some realistic themes in it. I can't wait for the next book!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
May 14, 2019
In this book we catch back up with Elsie as she's back working with her dad in their family shop.
However when her her friend Magenta Sharp a witch moves in and opens a new shop for spells and witching goods, suddenly human resident's protest believing magic is evil but witches and wizards flock to both shops bring loads of business.
As the residents protest, Sylphine Elsie's friend helps uncover why the new shop is suddenly falling to pieces...
I really enjoyed this next instalment in the series and it was great to see how Magenta was as a human like character trying to work despite her not being won over by it! These books are so good for escapism and a little dose of magic is in each one as you will find yourself immersed in the magical world.
However when her her friend Magenta Sharp a witch moves in and opens a new shop for spells and witching goods, suddenly human resident's protest believing magic is evil but witches and wizards flock to both shops bring loads of business.
As the residents protest, Sylphine Elsie's friend helps uncover why the new shop is suddenly falling to pieces...
I really enjoyed this next instalment in the series and it was great to see how Magenta was as a human like character trying to work despite her not being won over by it! These books are so good for escapism and a little dose of magic is in each one as you will find yourself immersed in the magical world.
May 27, 2019
I love this series for magic, wit and warmth! I loved the first book and liked the second, but this third book is back on form alongside the first. We're back in boring Smallbridge where the residents are forced to confront their 'witchism' when Magenta Sharp decides to set up her own magic shop. Elsie tries to help but matters are complicated by dodgy magical devices, clumsiness and witchy customers descending on Smallbridge ( and the town square complete with singular statue of a sheep!) to visit this new shop.
Grest fun, as always! Recommended for those who are a fan of The Boy who Grew Dragons, The Worst Witch, Kid Normal and The Dragon with the Chocolate Heart.
Grest fun, as always! Recommended for those who are a fan of The Boy who Grew Dragons, The Worst Witch, Kid Normal and The Dragon with the Chocolate Heart.
March 3, 2023
Deel 3 van een magische seriereeks die prima los te lezen is en helemaal niet perse op volgorde gelezen dient te worden. Wel worden personages en gebeurtenissen die in eerdere delen plaats vonden kort beschreven (herhaald) indien belangrijk voor het verhaal. Dit is duidelijk en goed te volgen.
Een lekker wegleesboek met grappige personages en leuke magische avonturen. Echt een doorleesserie voor leerlingen in groep 5-6.
Explorerende dimensie
Een lekker wegleesboek met grappige personages en leuke magische avonturen. Echt een doorleesserie voor leerlingen in groep 5-6.
Explorerende dimensie
October 16, 2023
“Heksenwinkel” is het derde boek dat is uitgekomen over Elsie Pekel en Magenta Spits. Het is voor mij de minste van de drie. Het verhaal kon mij moeilijk overtuigen en ik miste de humor en speelsheid van de vorige twee boeken.
February 22, 2024
Ik en mijn dochter van 8 jaar lazen deel 1 met veel plezier. Deel 2 vond zij nog fantastisch, maar ik vond het al wat minder. Maar dat kan kloppen, want de doelgroep is niet "mensen van 45 jaar". Bij deel 3 waren we er allebei wel klaar mee.
February 17, 2020
Wonderful finish to the Elsie Pickles series. Really ties up the storyline nicely.
October 12, 2020
This book as nice. I liked the characters and how well they worked together.
I am planning to get the first two books in the series.
I am planning to get the first two books in the series.
February 25, 2020
I’ve really been enjoying reading this series. The characters are so different and entertaining would definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews