A quick and sweet introduction to a cozy little town, and a cozy little family; there's nothing particularly new here, but it's cute, fun, and just right for beginning chapter readers.

I loved this one. I'm a total sucker for cozy witch vibes, and Witchycakes delivers in the sweetest way. Blue is such a kind, thoughtful character who uses magic to help others and I adored watching them grow with gentle guidance from their mom, who is just the loveliest presence.

It gave me major Kiki’s Delivery Service energy if Kiki had stayed with her family in a warm, supportive community. The town of Shelville is full of charm, and the neighborly problem-solving in each delivery makes the magic feel grounded and meaningful.

This feels just right for upper elementary readers and cozy enough for younger chapter book fans, but with enough depth to satisfy older ones too. And the recipe at the end? I’m obsessed. Bring on book two!

This is a really sweet book. I loved the artwork and the overall vibe is just wonderful You immediately get a sense of how close Blue's community is and how caring and thoughtful Blue is as they learn more about magic. I really enjoyed the fact that while Blue did use magic to help people the true solution was always through cleverness and caring. The book is also a great age appropriate introduction to what may be new topics for some readers. Blue uses they/them pronouns, their friend has two dads that go by Mr. First name to avoid the confusion of there being two Mr. Last names, and Blue helps one of their neighbors deal with the grief of losing their pet and best friend. These topics are brought up in ways that are very simple and straight forward but may open the door for further discussion with a trusted adult or simply be used to introduce these concepts if they haven't already come up in the readers life. The focus of the story is definitely on being a good friend and neighbor and how we can all support each other in our communities. The witchy vibes and touches of magic bring so much whimsy to the story and artwork and the bakery setting further adds to this as well as setting up the delivery plot line giving Blue the opportunity to help so many people in one day. I also love that the book ends with a simple recipe giving readers a chance to make their own delicious bit of magic in the kitchen.

This is a lovely early chapter book perfect for students who are transitioning from reading picture books to more challenging texts.
Blue, the main character, and their mother run a bakery called Witchycakes. Blue is a great role model for students - always wanting to help their community members as they deliver treats across their seaside village.
The first installment sets up the town and characters well, and I look forward to sharing this and the next book with my students.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

In a magical bakery in a seaside town, lives a witch-in-training named Blue, who delivers baked goods all over town and helps their neighbors with a touch of magic. This cozy, early chapter book is full of mini-adventures, creative problem-solving, and caring friends. Not to mention the illustrations are so sweet and full of magical details that I want to go on vacation to Shellville. I’ll be recommending this book to fans of Princess in Black and Zoe and Sassafras.

Witchycakes is a cute story of a young witch practicing her magic. She goes around town and tries to use her helping magic. Though she is not always able to use her magic, she gets her community members to help others throughout the story. This is a very cozy story set in a beach community. Many young readers will enjoy this introduction to the Witchycakes series.

This was so cute! I think this will be a big hit with younger readers who are in the shorter chapter book phase. The illustrations are delightful and the baking/magic theme is well-executed.

Witchycakes is such a fun new world, full of friendship and love and animals and adventure! The characters all felt very genuine and real, despite taking place in a low fantasy world, and the illustrations added even more wonder and comfort to the book. All around a fabulous new series to look forward to for younger readers!

A delightful beginning chapter book with a young witch named Blue who works for their mother in a bakery. Blue is a witch in training, and their magic is still growing. Blue tries to help people in her community with their magic. When things don't go according to plan, Blue uses her imagination to try again.

The illustrations are A-DOR-ABLE. Seriously. So cute. I love the diversity in the characters portrayed and the love you can see in Blue's desire to help. I can see young readers falling in love with these characters and wanting Blue to solve more problems in her community.

Thank you to Random House Books for Young Readers, Kara LaReau, and Netgalley for a digital ARC. All thought are my own.

Witchycakes touches on a lot of different themes, but at the heart of it all is one simple, beautiful idea: everything feels a little easier when we’re there for each other. Whether it’s a boy who lost his beloved pet, a tired mom, or an elderly man grieving his dog, the message stays the same—kindness matters.

Blue, the main character, has such a big heart. She helps everyone in her own way, and that quiet, steady care she shows might just be the most important lesson in the whole book.

Even though this is a book written for younger readers, I truly believe there’s something in it for everyone. And I have to mention the artwork—it’s absolutely lovely and adds so much warmth to the story.

It’s the kind of book that gently reminds you how much small acts of love and support can mean.

A cozy start to a cozy series! This series follows a witch. Blue, who goes around their town and helps its citizens with their problem. Think Kiki’s Delivery Service mixed with the Disney Fairies chapter books. The artwork is beautifully integrated on each page, making it a perfect transition from graphic novels to chapter books.

I thought this was a very sweet beginner chapter book. The story was cute and magical, the illustrations were delightful. It had a very cozy, open atmosphere, and the scattered dynamic text just made it that much more perfect. I would definitely suggest this to beginner readers! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read!

This was a cute, quick read at 88 pages. I was able to read it in one sitting. It gave my Kiki's delivery service vibes but only in the sense it is a young witch doing deliveries.

Blue deliveries desserts and such that her mother has made for the people of the town. But while she is doing here deliveries she helps out each person with her magic only to cause a mess and have to fix it with out magic. lol Making for the message of their are no short cuts in life.

Lovely book for young audiences, whether the book is read by a parent or a child who can read independently or with a bit of help.

young readers will enjoy this story where the easiest solution isn't always the right one. Blue uses their brains and imagination to help various people in their seaside town with a variety of problems. Parents reading to their young ones who know a little about sailing will find some amusement at the names given to the characters in this book.

An absolutely beautiful story about how we don't need magic to be a good helper. I love the inclusivity in this book with a non-gendered protagonist and a gay couple. It is treated perfectly for the age group. This early chapter book has such a wonderful message about helping those around us and meeting them where they are.

This is a book I would have loved to read as a child, but now my children can read it (and that is no less exciting for me!). This is such an enjoyable read, complete with beautiful illustrations and a cozy, magical vibe throughout. I love the talking magical familiars and the jovial cast of characters. Thank you, NetGalley!

Review dictated by my 6-year-old who read this with me:

I really like this book because it has a lot of character and it probably took the person who wrote this book a lot of work. Also, it was something that I would recommend for a kid to enjoy because it was fun to read and I am six so I think that if someone is older or younger than me I think they are going to have fun with it. Just for reminders, I LOVE THIS!!!! If I was a different kid then I would love it too. I love it so much that I CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT IT!!!

And from me, the grown-up:

This was a really cute book with lovely illustrations. I appreciated having a child main character with they/them pronouns, and that the message is about problem-solving to help people (and all of the solutions are things real life kids can do versus a magical remedy). While my kiddo is a very strong reader and probably could have read this on her own, it was nice as a read-together. Would definitely buy this for her to reread, and recommend it for other kids around that age.

WitchyCakes: Sweet Magic is an absolute treat! It is the perfect opener for this brand-new early reader series from the ever-clever and funny Kara LaReau. In this first book, we meet Blue, their familiar Gully, and many of the residents of Shellville as Blue sets out on their rounds delivering treats from their mother's bakery. Along the way, Blue works on refining their magic skills — and though their heart is in the right place, their spells don't always land as they intend. But, as this first book reminds us, real magic lies in our good intentions and deeds.

This delicious new series features an instantly endearing main character, a cozy town full of diverse and warm characters, a villain who's not too villainous, and bonus . . .a recipe for young magical bakers to try at home. A perfect series to share with young readers and students!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the pleasure of reading an E-Arc

This early chapter book was very cute! Representation matters, and I loved seeing a nonbinary main character where it's never addressed or made a big deal of, it just is the way it is. I also loved that while she's a witch-in-training and wants to use her magic to solve everyone's problems, it doesn't always work out and she has to think up other ways to help too. I especially liked the trifle recipe included at the end - a nice simple recipe for kids and parents to make together!

This is my favorite layout for early chapter books. I think it's more appealing and less intimidating for beginning readers. This story models diversity, inclusion, and consent. Every chapter focuses on some way that Blue helps someone else. Blue is a great model of behavior and intent for kids. Pair that with magic and talking animals and you've got a winning combination.

A word of caution: this book has non-binary characters and same gender couples. If you aren't comfortable with your children reading books with these types of characters, maybe skip this one.