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Merry Witchmas
Ginger the Halloween witch has a big Christmas wish--a visit from Santa Claus. But Santa doesn't believe in witches--until Ginger's letter to him magically appears on his desk!
Ginger is a typical witch. She spends a lot of her time creating spells, and flying through the night on her broom. But Ginger is different from the other witches -- because she also ADORES Christmas! Even with Ginger's good deeds and endless Christmas cheer, she's never received a single visit from Santa. What's a Christmas-loving Halloween witch supposed to do? In this twist on the Christmas holiday's traditional "believe" concept, Ginger's wish of a Merry Witchmas comes true thanks to some holiday magic and good cheer.
Ginger is a typical witch. She spends a lot of her time creating spells, and flying through the night on her broom. But Ginger is different from the other witches -- because she also ADORES Christmas! Even with Ginger's good deeds and endless Christmas cheer, she's never received a single visit from Santa. What's a Christmas-loving Halloween witch supposed to do? In this twist on the Christmas holiday's traditional "believe" concept, Ginger's wish of a Merry Witchmas comes true thanks to some holiday magic and good cheer.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 21, 2021
1997 people want to read
About the author
Petrell Marie Ozbay
2 books4 followersPetrell Marie Özbay resides with her family in South Florida. In addition to living abroad, she has also called Wisconsin and Ohio home. Her two clever and inspiring children keep her smiling through the chaos and busy searching for seashells, garden fairies and geckos. She created this story to simply help parents, regardless of their whereabouts and personal situation, bring children a goodnight hug and kiss. She hopes any child who reads this story will feel a little more ease at bedtime knowing that a parent's love will always find them.
Petrell holds an undergraduate degree and an MBA from Marquette University. Prior to publishing her first book, Petrell was a public relations executive working at some of the world's most well-respected companies.
Petrell holds an undergraduate degree and an MBA from Marquette University. Prior to publishing her first book, Petrell was a public relations executive working at some of the world's most well-respected companies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 16, 2021
Santa needs to learn to believe in Halloween witches to visit Ginger! This is cute for kids that can't decide which holiday they like better: Christmas or Halloween? Ginger is adorable, and I love her witch dress with the Christmas embroidery. A little campy--though kids will like it. It's a vibe, haha.
September 15, 2021
The fun aspects of Halloween and Christmas come together in a witch young readers will wish they could have as a friend.
Ginger is a very normal witch. She dresses like one, flies on her broom, and enjoys Halloween, but unlike other witches, as soon as Halloween is over, she embraces and thrives on everything Christmas. With a cauldron of hot chocolate bubbling over the fire, she dreams of the day Santa will come to her house, but no matter how hard she tries, he fails to appear. But soon, things take an interesting twist.
This is such a cute witch. She might have everything all witches do, but her bubbly and cheerful nature is contagious and quickly draws a smile. The author allows the two holidays to mold as the decorations of this little witch take a Halloween-y direction and still hold Christmas cheer. Plus, this witch has a heart of gold as she goes at and helps where she can. She's impossible not to like and cheer for.
The illustrations are packed with details for tons of gazing fun. Since there's a mix of holidays, it's a treat to search and find all sorts of surprises. The depictions do a lovely job at bringing across the tale and allow readers/listeners to explore the tale on their own as well.
The messages in this one are warm, encouraging and filled with hope. Ginger's desire to do her best is inspiring, and her hold on her beliefs despite everything also warm the heart. It's a read, which leaves a smile on the face and is one that will probably be followed by that simple phrase 'read it again'.
I received an ARC and liked this little witch quite a bit.
Ginger is a very normal witch. She dresses like one, flies on her broom, and enjoys Halloween, but unlike other witches, as soon as Halloween is over, she embraces and thrives on everything Christmas. With a cauldron of hot chocolate bubbling over the fire, she dreams of the day Santa will come to her house, but no matter how hard she tries, he fails to appear. But soon, things take an interesting twist.
This is such a cute witch. She might have everything all witches do, but her bubbly and cheerful nature is contagious and quickly draws a smile. The author allows the two holidays to mold as the decorations of this little witch take a Halloween-y direction and still hold Christmas cheer. Plus, this witch has a heart of gold as she goes at and helps where she can. She's impossible not to like and cheer for.
The illustrations are packed with details for tons of gazing fun. Since there's a mix of holidays, it's a treat to search and find all sorts of surprises. The depictions do a lovely job at bringing across the tale and allow readers/listeners to explore the tale on their own as well.
The messages in this one are warm, encouraging and filled with hope. Ginger's desire to do her best is inspiring, and her hold on her beliefs despite everything also warm the heart. It's a read, which leaves a smile on the face and is one that will probably be followed by that simple phrase 'read it again'.
I received an ARC and liked this little witch quite a bit.
October 20, 2021
Super cute combination of the two holidays!
December 2, 2021
Love the digital illustrations; Ginger's Xmas decorations look frighteningly like mine. Star of the show though was her Black Cat, Jingles.
January 19, 2022
So delightful!!!
December 2, 2023
Ginger was a little witch who loved both Halloween and Christmas, but although she decorated for the yuletide season every year, made Christmas treats aplenty, and worked hard to make Santa's "Nice List," somehow she never received a visit from that holiday gift giver. Deciding that something needed to be done, she wrote to Santa directly, asking him to believe in her, just as she believed in him. Previously unaware of the existence of witches, Santa decided to take a leap of faith, and sure enough, he found Ginger and her home in the Invisible Forest just where she said they were, paying his first ever Christmas Eve visit to a witch...
Co-written by Petrell Marie Özbay and Tess La Bella, and illustrated by Sonya Abby, none of whom were familiar to me before picking this book up, Merry Witchmas is a sweet seasonal delight, one that has appeal for me both as a witchy picture book—a perennial pet project of mine—and as a heartwarming holiday tale. I was charmed by Ginger, and her many wonderful holiday observances; I appreciated the fact that she worked hard to be a kind and helpful person throughout the year, in order to make Santa's "Nice List;" and I thought that the idea of Santa needing to believe in a potential gift recipient, rather than the other way around (as is more often the case in Christmas tales) was an interesting storytelling choice. The illustrations here, which were created digitally, were also very appealing, and I loved the blending of Halloween and Christmas elements, visually speaking. Ginger's embroidered Christmas dress was particularly lovely! Recommended to anyone looking for witchy Christmas tales for the picture book set. Other titles I would recommend in this vein, that might make good companions to this one, include Lieve Baeten's Merry Christmas, Little Witch and James Brown's Jingle Spells .
Co-written by Petrell Marie Özbay and Tess La Bella, and illustrated by Sonya Abby, none of whom were familiar to me before picking this book up, Merry Witchmas is a sweet seasonal delight, one that has appeal for me both as a witchy picture book—a perennial pet project of mine—and as a heartwarming holiday tale. I was charmed by Ginger, and her many wonderful holiday observances; I appreciated the fact that she worked hard to be a kind and helpful person throughout the year, in order to make Santa's "Nice List;" and I thought that the idea of Santa needing to believe in a potential gift recipient, rather than the other way around (as is more often the case in Christmas tales) was an interesting storytelling choice. The illustrations here, which were created digitally, were also very appealing, and I loved the blending of Halloween and Christmas elements, visually speaking. Ginger's embroidered Christmas dress was particularly lovely! Recommended to anyone looking for witchy Christmas tales for the picture book set. Other titles I would recommend in this vein, that might make good companions to this one, include Lieve Baeten's Merry Christmas, Little Witch and James Brown's Jingle Spells .
December 24, 2021
Ginger, the witch, loves Halloween like her fellow witches, but she also loves Christmas. But to her disappointment she's never had a visit from Santa. In order for him to find her, he has to believe in witches or he can't see her village. In an effort to get him to visit, she writes a letter including a map. Santa is a bit startled when her letter arrives magically and he has to decide if he will believe in her or not. This reversal of the story of belief makes for a fun and colorful read. The illustrations contain many fun details mixing witches and Christmas decor. A monster wreath, skeleton gingerbread, and hot chocolate in a caldron all make for a smile-inducing read. This delightful twist on Christmas makes for a different sort of storytelling that young listeners are bound to enjoy.
November 29, 2022
What's really wonderful about the childrens' book MERRY WITCHMAS by Petrell Marie Ozbay is that its author even THOUGHT to create a Christmas story about such a young "minority" - a young witch! That little girl had been passed over by Santa several times, and she was determined that she would get his attention this year! It seems apparent that Santa never visited her house on Christmas Eve he didn't believe that witches even exist. So Ginger the Witch decides to make it clear that they do and that she's one of them!
This children's book will travel during this holiday season to a little boy a few USA states away from our home. He loves it when his mom reads to him and he is also learning to read himself. I am certain he will love MERRY WITCHMAS by Petrell Marie Ozbay. And I am awarding it with 5-stars!
This children's book will travel during this holiday season to a little boy a few USA states away from our home. He loves it when his mom reads to him and he is also learning to read himself. I am certain he will love MERRY WITCHMAS by Petrell Marie Ozbay. And I am awarding it with 5-stars!
December 17, 2022
The perpetual problem of not enough people believing in Santa is NOT the issue in this story… it is believing in witches! Ginger happens to be a witch who loves Christmas, as her decorations manifest as a Halloween-Christmas hybrid; with jack-o-lanterns wearing Christmas hats and hot chocolate stewing in her cauldron. However, if Santa doesn’t believe in witches, Ginger and other witches won't even appear on the Naughty or Nice List! There, the stage is set enough for you to find out how these two people, or two worlds, collide!
Look, kids will absolutely love this. This fusion of holidays is done perfectly through the imaginative text, scintillating digital art, and juxtaposition of Santa and Ginger the witch. 5 stars!
Look, kids will absolutely love this. This fusion of holidays is done perfectly through the imaginative text, scintillating digital art, and juxtaposition of Santa and Ginger the witch. 5 stars!
August 16, 2022
LOVED THIS BOOK! So refreshing to see a Christmas story with a witch. The art is amazing and the story is cute. I love how her cocoa has ghost marshmallows and Santa has regular mini marshmallows in his. It's basically about a young witch who loves Christmas, but has never gotten anything from Santa or seen Santa before. This time she is determined so she writes a letter to Santa explaining how he needs to believe in her to find her house. She includes a drawing of a map of how to get to her house as well.
October 15, 2023
This was the cutest Halloween and Christmas story. This book is special because a little Witch, named Ginger loved Halloween, but she loved Christmas too. So she did a lot of kind things for her neighbors. Then wrote a letter to Santa and told him, she had been good and please believe in Witches an bring her a new broom. She even drew him a map and enchanted it and it to Santa. Well you need to read this book to find out if Ginger got her wish.
December 6, 2021
WHAT IF SANTA DOESN'T BELIEVE IN YOU?
Beautifully illustrated Christmas book about a clever witch who wants to get on Santa' list and get a visit from St. Nick. And, she would like a new broomstick, of course. But Santa doesn't believe in witches! I got lost in the pages. The details of a witch who loves Christmas is so imaginative. I loved looking at all the pages over and over!
Beautifully illustrated Christmas book about a clever witch who wants to get on Santa' list and get a visit from St. Nick. And, she would like a new broomstick, of course. But Santa doesn't believe in witches! I got lost in the pages. The details of a witch who loves Christmas is so imaginative. I loved looking at all the pages over and over!
January 5, 2023
So cute! Ginger the witch loves Christmas. And she longs for a visit and a gift from Santa, but Santa never visits her. She does good deeds and helps others so that she'll appear on the nice list but to no avail. So she writes Santa a letter, providing a map and explaining that he'll only see her house if he believes witches are real.
This is delightful!
This is delightful!
October 28, 2021
Halloween and Christmas, what is there not to love! Black cats, witches, and all the Christmas cheer. A very cute Christmas book for those who are tired of the same old, same old.
And, of course, the witch's name is Ginger.
And, of course, the witch's name is Ginger.
November 8, 2021
I absolutely fell in love with Ginger. This is the perfect book for Halloween, with witches & trolls etc, but also a perfect 'lead in' to Christmas. Ginger's story of believing in Santa and getting Santa to believe in Witches is adorable. The illustrations are perfect for each page.
February 20, 2022
Super cute picture book mashing up Halloween and Christmas. It’s really a sweet Christmas story at its heart, but with a witch as the main character you get the classic spooky pumpkins, black cats, etc all mixed in. This will be a fun addition to our holiday book collection.
November 10, 2025
I adore this witchy spin on a Christmas story about a little witch who loves Halloween, but also Christmas! I love how the illustrations incorporated both spooky/Halloween into a Christmas book! As a fellow spooky girl, I can appreciate it!
Want to read
March 24, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
October 4, 2021
Cute illustrations and nice story... The only things that bothered me were the font used and a typo or two.
October 14, 2021
Loved it!
October 28, 2021
Merry Witchmas is such a cute, clever and entertaining little picture book. The illustrations are interesting and eye catching. My 8 yo and I loved it!
December 6, 2021
The storyline is a little flat, lacking originality & charm. But the illustrations & colour palette are delightful.
December 12, 2021
Adorable enough said
December 14, 2021
as a mega fan of christmas and halloween, this one is a winner for me
December 15, 2021
Cute little witch feeling the Christmas spirit.
December 26, 2021
Whoo hoo great book for both Halloween and Christmas!! I believe in both Santa and witches.
December 30, 2021
Adorable. I like Ginger's style!
January 1, 2022
So cute. Great little book for pagan families, and families who enjoy diversity in children's books, particularly for the winter holidays.
April 16, 2022
Very cute! It could be read as a Chirstmas book or a Halloween book. I love it
October 11, 2022
Adorable. Cute art style, cute main character. Relatable to love Halloween and immediately switch over to Christmas. And a cute idea that Santa would not initially believe in witches!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews