Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a wicked witch. She was feared and known for her evil deeds. The witch had the power to cast spells and curses on anyone who crossed her path. People avoided her and the mere mention of her name sent shivers down their spines. They believed that she had a weakness - garlic. They would wear garlic cloves around their necks or place them near their doors and windows, hoping to ward off the witch's presence.
They would wear garlic cloves around their necks or place them near their doors and windows, hoping to ward off the witch's presence. The pungent smell of garlic was said to repel her and keep her at bay. It was believed that the witch despised the smell and would never come near anyone who had garlic on them.
Garlic and the Witch : A Librarian’s Perspective Review
Oh. My. Cuteness! Garlic and the Witch is maybe the most adorable graphic novel I’ve ever read! Can I please crochet these little vegetable people? The story itself is a gentle adventure, perfect for sensitive readers who don’t want anything too scary.
AUTHOR: Bree Paulsen
ILLUSTRATOR: Bree Paulsen
SERIES: none
PUBLISHER: Quill Tree Books
PUBLICATION DATE: September 6, 2022
PAGES: 160
GENRE: graphic novel, supernatural, adventure
SETTING: a witch’s home in a forest
GIVE IT TO: ES
AWARDS AND KUDOS
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY OF GARLIC AND THE WITCH
Garlic loves spending time with Witch Agnes, Carrot, and her new friend, the Count, who has proven to be a delightful neighbor to the village of vegetable people rather than a scary vampire. But despite Agnes’s best attempts to home-brew a vegetarian blood substitute for Count, the ingredient she needs most can only be found at the Magic Market, far from the valley.
Before she knows it, with a broomstick in hand, Garlic is nervously preparing for a journey.
But Garlic is experiencing another change too—finger by finger, she appears to be turning human. Witch Agnes assures her that this is normal for her garden magic, but Garlic isn’t so sure that she’s ready for such a big change. After all, changes are scary…and what if she doesn’t want to be human after all?
THE SHORT VERSION
Absolutely adorable! Perfect for elementary.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT GARLIC AND THE WITCH
The little vegetable people are so cute that I want to crochet them! I don’t really have that kind of crocheting skill, so maybe Kohl’s Cares will pick up this book for their plushies.
This book is great for Halloween at the elementary level. It’s got an adventure, but it’s not scary. Garlic gets lost in a dark forest, but it isn’t long before she is found again. There are no scary creatures or yellow watching eyes in the forest; it’s just a lot of dark green trees. I recommend Garlic and the Witch for sensitive readers who want an adventure or a Halloween book, but one that isn’t too scary.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
I really don’t have any major “didn’t likes” for this one. I will say that for me, the adventure is super-tame, but for a sensitive young reader, the thrill level is perfect. I would have no problem handing this to a second grader in the library.
I’d love to see more books like this from Bree Paulsen. Maybe the other vegetables can get their own story? Or we can learn the stories of Witch Agnes or the Count?
DIVERSITY
Witch Agnes is white with brown hair.
The Count is light green with dark hair and red eyes.
Garlic and the other vegetables are, well, vegetables until the very end, when Garlic and Carrot become human. At that point, Garlic is white with light yellow braids, and Carrot has orange skin with with orange-brown dredlocks.
ARTWORK/ILLUSTRATIONS
So cute! Lots of greens, oranges, and browns. Perfect for fall or Halloween.
THEMES
- vegetables, personification, witches, vampires, growing up, friendship, courage
LIBRARIANS WILL WANT TO KNOW
- Would adults like this book? I think many adults will appreciate the adorable illustrations, but this is definitely an elementary book.
- Would I buy this for my high school library? NO – it’s way too young
- Would I buy this for my middle school library? YES – It’s a super-cute clean read, and I think some 6th graders will love it.
- Would I buy this for my elementary school library? YES – no reservations for elementary
MATURE CONTENT
- Language: none
- Sexuality: none
- Violence: none
- Drugs/Alcohol: none
- Other: There is one witch and one vampire character. Both are friendly and helpful.
MORE BOOKS LIKE GARLIC AND THE WITCH
MORE ELEMENTARY GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEWS
- Squish by Jennifer Holm
- Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd
- Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas
That pattern was established in the Garlick case, the first of several involving witches that Winthrop, Jr. would oversee over the next decade.
The villagers would grow garlic in their gardens, not just for cooking purposes, but also as a protective measure against the wicked witch. The belief in the power of garlic to ward off evil was deeply ingrained in their culture. They passed down the tradition from one generation to another, ensuring that everyone knew the importance of garlic in keeping the witch away. Whenever the witch's name was mentioned, someone in the crowd would immediately pull out a clove of garlic and hold it tightly in their hand. It was a symbol of protection and a reminder that they were safe as long as they had garlic with them. The wicked witch remained a source of fear and mystery in the land, but the people felt a sense of security knowing that they had garlic to protect them. It was their weapon against the witch's powers. The story of the wicked witch and garlic became a part of their folklore, a cautionary tale of the consequences of evil and the power of belief. To this day, the villagers continue to grow garlic and wear it as a talisman, not just to ward off the witch, but also to remind themselves of the importance of faith and courage in the face of darkness..
Reviews for "The Curse-Breaking Powers of Garlic: Wicked Witch's Ultimate Tool"
1. Sarah - 2/5
I was really disappointed with "Wicked Witch and Garlic". The story seemed disjointed and lacked a clear plot. The characters were underdeveloped and their motives were unclear. The writing style was also quite cumbersome, with too many descriptive passages that did not contribute to the overall story. Furthermore, I found the use of garlic as a theme to be overdone and unimaginative. Overall, this book failed to capture my interest or engage me as a reader.
2. Mark - 1/5
I couldn't even finish "Wicked Witch and Garlic", that's how much I disliked it. The writing was amateurish and the story was filled with cliches. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Additionally, the pacing was all over the place, with long stretches of unnecessary descriptions followed by rushed and confusing action scenes. The use of garlic as a central element was unoriginal and brought nothing new to the table. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. Emily - 2.5/5
"Wicked Witch and Garlic" had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was too slow, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to relate to their struggles and motivations. Furthermore, the prose had a tendency to be overly flowery, taking away from the overall readability of the book. While the idea of incorporating garlic into a witch's tale was unique, it wasn't enough to save this disappointing read.