Diary of a Witch

Are you scare of witches? After reading this diary with delightful illustrations, you will find them not scarey. It’s a great book for children who are afraid of the witches in fairy tales. I found myself smiling big smiles as I read the diary. It’s a delightful book!

Told in rhyme, this is a witch telling her story to her diary.
The wallpaper front page has a few sketches of scenes, such as broom, hat, cauldron, cat, but there’s also a hilarious shot of a jousting knight after a running spellcaster. See what happens when you forget your broom?
This redheaded witch has a heroic honker.
There’s an early shot of her reading about 80s glamour while complaining about her frizzy hair. Then she ditches the robe for heels and a leather miniskirt. . . kinda disturbing. The fact she’s in a fast car with a younger man might indicate her version of a midlife crisis.
So, basically she’s reexamining her life, trying to decide if being bad is a bad idea.
It’s cute, and not at all scary, but then I doubt it was meant to be.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

This illustrations in this book are just fabulous. A witch is writing in her diary about how she wishes her life were different, and the pictures of her committing her witchy deeds as well as trying on red high heels and a leather mini skirt or a fairy costume are just too cute and hilarious. The story is fun too, though it tries too hard to force a rhyming scheme and ends up having an awkward rhythm as well as trying to force rhymes like "fairy" and "flowery." If it were written in simple prose rather than trying to be poetic, it would be a five star read for me for sure! As the text has an awkward flow and sometimes doesn't make much sense (trying to force rhymes again), this is still a solid, fun, 4 star read. Would make a great bedtime story around Halloween (or anytime!)

First I would like to thank Netgalley for this advanced digital copy. I really loved this book! I loved all the illustrations and the story line was amazing. I am a witch fanatic! The story follows a witch who writes in her diary of how tired she is being a witch and tries to be everything else. This book would be amazing around the Halloween season. I will be looking for this book to add to my spooky bookshelf in August. I highly recommend this to kids of all ages especially ones who love witches!

A really lovely and cute books for children. The illustrations are awesome.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

3.5★
The illustrations are to die for! This rather - ahem - unattractive witch is tired of casting spells on princesses and wants to reinvent herself. She tries hairstyles, clothing changes (leather mini-skirt and red stilettos, thank you very much), and thinks she'll apply to be a fairy.

The pictures are spooky but funny and complex. Children (oh heck, even adults) will have fun noticing all the little things - the Lizard Egg and Skunk Extract Shampoo. ACK!

She loves her cat but would like a nice young fella. Perhaps it's time for a freshen up?

[My Goodreads review includes an Illustration of her green breath making birds fall out of the sky!]

I love the idea, I love the illustrations. I believe this is originally from Argentina and has come to NetGalley by way of CrackBoom books and Chouette Publishing in Canada, and I'm pleased to see it in the marketplace.

I don't know how it read in its original language, but in English, the poetry lets it down. It would take very little to fix it so it's more natural, less awkward, and has a more pleasing lilt. It may seem like a petty point, but just imagine Dr. Seuss books without those rhymes to go with his wacky artwork.

So I've dropped off a star, but the illustrations and the idea are so good, I'm delighted to thank NetGalley and the publishers for letting me enjoy a preview copy.

For more illustrations, see Jennifer(Jen/The Tolkien Gal)'s review on Goodreads. She has more patience than I with pictures! Thanks, Jen!

I need a sequel, now!

This is a diary of a repentant witch, who decides to turn her life around from wickedness to wonder, while still embracing her quirky charms. [Look I did a joke, mom]

I enjoy how there is an illustration on the left page with a diary entry on the right. It's such a well structured book. The illustrations are dark but not gloomy - Potteresque and so sweet. I love that the lightning gets brighter as the book goes on - it's a wonderful way to show character development.

"It's really not very nice to have hairs on your chin and crazy fizzy hair."

She doesn't enjoy what she eats or does anymore. There's some really funny stuff - she wants to try out high heels and a black leather miniskirt.

And you know what, she wants to settle down and find a man in her life and it is so cute. I love that a witch gets a happy ending. This is the kind of kid's book I'd love to read to my kids someday. But hey, she has her cat.

She then sets out to get a job as a princess/fairy. She denounces the whole deal with Hansel and Gretel, and even gets indirectly involved with fairy tales. Ultimately, she decides on a holiday.

Conclusion
Why is this book only 30 something pages? Our witch needs a spin off series! I'd love a series with more middle-grade level writing, maybe around 200 pages with occasional illustrations. Children and I would eat it up!

I am an elementary school art teacher and I read to my students all the time. The pictures in this book are awesome! They are so colorful and details. I just love them. The book written like a diary with short entries. This is a rhyming book which kids love. The witch is just looking for her perfect match. I would for sure purchase this book to read to my students in October. Cute!