"The Littlest Witch" is a children's picture book written by Jeanne Massey. It tells the story of a young girl named Willow who dreams of becoming a witch. Willow is the smallest and youngest witch in her family. While her siblings are out casting spells and learning about potions, Willow is left behind because she is too little. This makes Willow feel sad and left out. One day, as Willow is exploring the woods, she stumbles upon an injured baby bird.
One day, as Willow is exploring the woods, she stumbles upon an injured baby bird. She takes it home and with her gentle care, the bird begins to heal. Willow realizes that she has a special gift - the ability to heal and comfort.
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Lily's birthday gift from Mum is just a fancy wide-toothed comb. But when she uses it to detangle her brown curls she, suddenly, imagines herself transported to outer space, dancing on planets, racing against rockets, and whizzing down slides made of rainbows.
There are, already, a few picture books celebrating Black hair, but this latest beautifully finished debut from musician VV Brown adds a fun, fresh, and magical element to everyday haircare stories.
Brown wrote the book due to concerns about the lack of diverse literature for her dual-heritage children. And what she achieves, here, is a sense of playfulness, freedom, and imagination less often attributed to young Black characters, with a nod to an Afro hair-combing tradition steeped in Black history.
Reading about Lily and her empowering comb will undoubtedly boost children's self-esteem and encourage them to follow their dreams whatever their ethnicity or gender. I enjoyed the spread where Lily imagines various careers including the traditionally male-dominated fields of weightlifting, flying planes, and science. Lily's whirlwind space adventure could have, perhaps, been afforded a few more pages as it seemed to end as quickly as it began.
With its highly irregular rhyme and meter, this text is most suited to shared reading at home. Young children could predict Lily's birthday gift and where she will travel to with her comb. Afterwards, they could draw and talk about made-up magical adventures, using their imaginations to extend the original story. If you had Lily's magic comb, which amazing place would you travel to next? How will you get there? What would you see there? What would you do there?
The text also provides opportunities for hands-on activities. Children might enjoy comb painting, making rainbows or 'slimy cakes' with home-made 'slime'. The home corner could be kitted out with different types/sizes of hair grooming equipment: Afro picks, twist sponge brushes, empty and clean hair-grease containers, hairnets/nightcaps, and headwraps so children can explore and create their own narratives.
I adored illustrator Kate Hazell's powerful central spread with Lily's brown-skinned face taking up the entire space from edge and edge. Hazell's eye-catching kaleidoscopic scenes are full of energy, and evoke that feeling of being in the middle of a quirky dream. Her attention to detail over the variation in Lily's hair-curl pattern is also fabulous.
This engaging, positive story encourages children, especially Black girls, to be proud of their natural hair, and of who they are. And in an age where discrimination against Black British schoolchildren with Afro hair is still prevalent, the more books we have like this, the better!
Note for parents: Read about the Halo Code, a set of guidelines drawn up by a collective of 30 Black students to guard against Afro hair discrimination in the UK ( halocollective.co.uk).
This makes her feel a little bit better about being the littlest witch. But Willow still wants to be like her older siblings and wishes that she could join them on their magical adventures. She confides in an older witch, who tells her that everyone has their own unique talents and abilities, and that being the littlest witch doesn't make her any less special. Inspired by these wise words, Willow decides to embrace her own strengths and talents. She begins using her healing abilities to help other animals and creatures in need. Soon, Willow becomes known as the "Littlest Witch with the Biggest Heart". "The Littlest Witch" teaches children the importance of embracing their unique qualities and talents. It emphasizes the idea that everyone has something special to offer and that being different is something to be celebrated. The charming illustrations and heartwarming story make it an enjoyable read for young children. Overall, "The Littlest Witch" is a delightful book that encourages children to believe in themselves and their own abilities. It reminds them that being little or different doesn't make them any less important or special. It is a heartwarming tale that will inspire and captivate young readers..
Reviews for "The Littlest Witch and the Power of Imagination"
1. Emily - 2 stars
I was really disappointed in "The Littlest Witch" by Jeanne Massey. The story felt cliché and predictable, with no real surprises or twists. The characters were flat and lacked depth, making it hard for me to invest in their journey. The writing style was also lackluster, with simple and repetitive language that didn't engage me as a reader. Overall, I found this book to be quite forgettable and wouldn't recommend it.
2. Benjamin - 1 star
"The Littlest Witch" was a huge letdown for me. The storyline felt rushed and poorly developed, with little attention to detail. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, with no new ideas or interesting concepts. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real personality or growth. Additionally, the writing style was bland and uninspiring, making it difficult for me to stay engaged. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell short in every aspect. I would not recommend it to others.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I didn't enjoy "The Littlest Witch" by Jeanne Massey as much as I had hoped. The plot was weak and lacked any real substance. The events felt forced and lacked a natural flow, making it hard for me to stay interested. The characters were also quite forgettable, with no real development or depth. The writing style was plain and didn't capture my attention, making it difficult for me to connect with the story. Overall, this book didn't leave a lasting impression on me, and I wouldn't recommend it to others looking for an engaging read.