Cosas de bruja

by Mariasole Brusa, Marta Sevilla (Illustrator), Raúl Zanabria y Luis Amavisca (Translator)

Esta bruja quiere robar un niño. Son el tipo de cosas que hacen las brujas. Volando con su Escoba llega al parque y allí encuentra a Nicolás jugando con unas muñecas. Se llevará una gran sorpresa...

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Fiction, Childrens, International

34 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unhappy with the state of her blue hair - so unlike that of all of her peers - and angry that her potion had failed to remedy the situation, the grouchy witch in this Italian picture-book decides she must do something "witchy." Setting out to steal a child, she happens upon a young boy at a playground, one who is playing with dolls. To her surprise, the boy responds to her threats, not with fear, but with a number of searching questions about why she wants to snatch him. Adam (the young boy) likes to style hair, and he works a transformation in the witch's coiffure, pointing out in the meantime that the witch shouldn't do things to make herself feel more like a witch, but rather, because she enjoys them. But what does the witch enjoy...?

Originally published in Italy as Turchina la strega (literally "Turchina the Witch"), Witchy Things was chosen for the Premio Narrare la Parità (Narrating Equality Award), given out by the Donna Per Esserei (Women to Be) association to children's books which promote equality, show respect for identity, and battle stereotypes. The book was translated into both English and Spanish by the Madrid-based publisher NubeOcho, and is one I largely sought out because of its witchy content, given my perennial interest in picture-books and early readers depicting witches. I found Mariasole Brusa's story engaging, if sometimes a little on the nose, when it came to the message of not being bound by stereotypical expectations, whether of one's gender or some other identity marker (such as being a witch). The bright, colorful artwork from illustrator Marta Sevilla was a real pleasure, and I particularly liked some of the smaller details, from the witch's striped stockings (a design also seen on the decorative endpapers) to her feline and murine companions' expressions. All in all, this was a fun title, one that I would recommend to picture-book readers who are seeking stories about witches, self-image, and/or defying stereotypical expectations.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

La bruja odia su cabello azul. Ella siente que la hace menos bruja. Así que decide secuestrar a un niño para demostrar que es realmente una bruja aterradora y completamente malvada. Ella intenta secuestrar a un niño llamado Nicholas, pero el niño sigue preguntando "¿Por qué?" y la bruja tiene que explicar por qué quiere secuestrarlo. Nicholas le muestra una mejor manera de ser más ella misma en lugar de cumplir con las expectativas.

¡Este es un libro tan lindo! Me gustaron los mensajes positivos sobre ser tú mismo y hacer lo que te gusta en lugar de hacer siempre lo que los demás esperan de ti. La bruja aprende que no tienes que demostrar tu valía a nadie. Me encanta cómo atraviesa este viaje personal para aceptarse a sí misma y aprender a amar su cabello azul.

Me gustaron las ilustraciones. ¡Cada página está llena de colores brillantes y escenas divertidas! La bruja tiene un gato negro y dos ratas que hacen travesuras. ¡Tan lindo!

Descargo de responsabilidad: Recibí una copia de este libro del editor a cambio de una revisión gratuita y honesta. Todas las opiniones expresadas aquí son mis propios pensamientos verdaderos y no están influenciadas por nadie.


The witch hates her blue hair. She feels that it makes her less witchy. So she determines to kidnap a child to prove that she is truly a terrifying and thoroughly evil witch. She tries to kidnap a little boy named Nicholas at the playground, but the boy keeps asking "Why?" and the witch has to explain why she wants to kidnap him. Nicholas shows her a better way to be more herself instead of conforming to expectations.

This is such a cute book! I liked the positive messages about being yourself and just doing what you like instead of always doing what others expect from you. The witch learns that you don't have to prove yourself to anyone. I love how she goes through this personal journey to accept herself and learn to love her blue hair.

I liked the illustrations. Every page is full of bright colors and funny scenes! The witch has a black cat and two rats that get up to mischief in the background. So cute!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Antía S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosas de bruja es un libro perteneciente a la literatura infantil, que a pesar de haberlo leído a mis ya 24 años de edad (un poquito tarde), se puede decir que es un libro entretenido para la edad a la que realmente va dirigida. Tiene apenas 40 páginas con textos breves, por lo que un adulto lo leería en apenas 5 minutos, pero estoy segura que para un/a niñ@ le llevaría más tiempo porque tiene un montón de imágenes que acompañan a la historia.

Para leer más: https://www.antiasreadings.com/2020/0...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published in Portugal, this picture book shows what happens when a witch becomes annoyed. When a potion causes her hair to turn blue, she sets out to prove herself worthy as a witch and kidnaps a child. But the boy she has in mind to snatch is full of questions about what she's doing and why she wants to kidnap him. He even persuades her to let him tend to her hair since that's one of his hobbies. She likes the way her hair looks, all done up in loops of braids, and her annoyance seems to pass. Adam, the boy, even suggests that she stop doing things that are expected from a witch and instead focus on things that bring her pleasure. This is a life-changing moment for the witch, and she decides to follow Adam's advice. Although the book features a witch, it contains a great message for all of us as we face the expectations others place on us or feel encumbered by responsibilities. Why not follow your bliss and be true to the things that make us happy? And who says a witch or a boy like Adam have to behave in a certain way?

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unsure where this story was headed, I began with no small amount of trepidation. But after a few page turns, it became clear that the direction was going to be a delightful one. Beginning with a witch who has utterly failed to turn her hair a properly witchy color, she sets off to do some dastardly, witchy deeds. Finding a young boy playing with dolls, the witch decides that abduction is an appropriately witchy thing to do, and after a few not-too sharp barbs about why a boy is playing with dolls, this child takes over the story. He immediately bemoans that the dolls's hair is too short for satisfactory play, and tackles the witch's 'do. After some tugging and time, the witch now has an elegantly snakey beehive and an earful of advice. The young hairdresser made it quite clear that doing witchy things just because they were considered "witchy" is quite ridiculous, and the witch should do whatever she wants. Which is surfing.

A charming tale of being yourself.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Because we're witches, and we do witchy things!"

"But why?" asks young Adam as he plays with his long haired dolls. Adam challenges the witches assumptions of what makes a witch "witchy" and gives her a fabulous new hair style in the process. He advises "Instead of doing witchy things to feel more like a witch, you could do things you like, just because you like them." Funny and charming - this book offers a powerful message about staying true to yourself and breaking "role" assumptions without being overt. A great story time addition!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did not do much for me. A witch is unhappy with the color of her hair so to prove she really is a "real" witch, she flies to a park and decides to kidnap a boy who she finds playing with dolls. She assumes he is a bad boy because he must have stolen the dolls from his sister...but the boy is playing with the dolls because he loves doing hair and after fixing the witch's hair, they become friends. Seriously. Very strange and slightly frightening book.

[Cristina Di Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

TURCHINA la strega di Mariasole Brusa e Marta Sevilla. Una storia di cattiveria che ci farà morire dalle risate, un testo tutto da interpretare, fatto di esclamazioni e dialoghi. Ad alta leggibilità. Da 3 anni <3 Recensione a cura di Daniela Bucci https://ilmondodichri.com/turchina-la...

#turchinalastrega #nubeochoedizioni #altaleggibilità

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute book about a witch who learns that it's okay to defy expectations. As a witch, she's supposed to have spooky hair and like to kidnap children. Instead, she has blue hair and like to surf. Don't worry so much about fitting in as being yourself.

Thanks to Nubeocho for the copy.

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

A witch learns that she doesn't have to look or behave a certain way just because she is a witch. She can embrace her individual preferences and be who she really is. Cute enough, though a little confusing, especially in the beginning. Originally published in Portugal.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is weirdly paced. A witch casts a spell to change her hair, but it doesn't really work. So she goes to snatch a kid. She meets a boy who asks a bunch of questions. Eventually, it turns out he likes doing hair, so he helps with hers. So, yeah.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I really like the witch. I thought she was going to steal a little kids hair to make her hair the color she wanted. I liked the boy doing her hair.” - Lucas

I thought this was a really fun way to get the message of “don’t try so hard to be something, just be yourself” across - Mama

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Stephani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed thoughts. I like the central idea- that just because you look a certain way, that doesn’t define who you actually are- but the story itself is a bit disjointed.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funky, colorful romp.

[Y.Poston]

a delightful turn of events,
namely, what if witches did
things they liked?
FUN & funny!

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun witchy story!

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8VtD...

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this! The moral of the story is great. And I enjoyed the fact Adam loved to do hair. Breaking gender norms is my jam

[Joyce Yoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, great lessons and fun!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute picture book. This is great for learning spanish vocabulary for beginners.

[Aslı Can]

Cadıca İşler ismiyle, Doğan Çocuk tarafından çevrilmiş Türkçe'ye. Sevimli, tatlı bir kitaptı.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosas de Bruja-simplemente me encanta. Me gusta todas las cosas de brujas y el niño en esto libro, Nicolás es muy genial. Dos pulgares arriba!