''A Very Brave Witch'' is a children's book by

Alison McGhee Alison McGhee (born July 8, 1960) is an American author, who has published several picture books, books for children, and adult novels. She is a New York Times bestselling author, and the winner of numerous awards. Education McGhee attended Holl ...

and illustrated by

Harry Bliss Harry Bliss (born March 9, 1964, in Rochester, New York) is an American cartoonist and illustrator. Bliss has illustrated many books, and produced hundreds of cartoons and 25 covers for ''The New Yorker''. Bliss has a syndicated single-panel comi ...

. Released in 2006 by

Simon and Schuster Simon & Schuster () is an American publishing company and a subsidiary of Paramount Global. It was founded in New York City on January 2, 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. As of 2016, Simon & Schuster was the third largest publ ...

, it is about a young witch who is afraid of humans, until she meets one.

Synopsis

The book opens with a young witch talking about how she loves Halloween, from the decorations to the costumes. She then says that witches are terrified of humans, as they do not look like them. The little witch isn't afraid of them and goes to the nearby town to investigate them up close, in the process discovering that the neighborhood children are trick or treating. She initially misunderstands them to say that they are "trick a tree" and proceeds to perform aerial maneuvers on a nearby tree to show that she is best at "tricking a tree". This results in her falling off her broom. The children show concern for her, assuming that she is another human child in costume. Talking with them, she finds that they are not so bad and that one girl dressed as a witch has always dreamed of flying. This delights the young witch, who immediately invites her to fly on her broom. They soar off into the sky, much to the delight of the two children and the horror of the nearby adult witches.

Release

''A Very Brave Witch'' was first published in hardback on August 4, 2006, through Paula Wiseman Books. An audiobook adaptation narrated by

Elle Fanning Mary Elle Fanning (born April 9, 1998) is an American actress. She made her film debut as the younger version of her sister Dakota Fanning's character in the drama film ''I Am Sam'' (2001). As a child actress, she appeared in several films, inc ...

was published in 2007 through

Weston Woods Studios Weston Woods Studios (or simply Weston Woods) is a production company that makes audio and short films based on well-known books for children. It was founded in 1953 by Morton Schindel in Weston, Connecticut, and named after the wooded area near h ...

; the work was also given a paperback and ebook release, again through Paula Wiseman Books. The work sold well upon its initial release and placed on the '' New York Times' Bestseller List for Children's Books'' for the week of October 22, 2006.

Reception

Kirkus Book Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' wrote: "This gently humorous story is teamed with appealing, warm, yet appropriately spooky watercolors that depict the very brave witch on what is, naturally, her favorite holiday." and ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...

'' wrote: "Bliss channels

Charles M. Schulz Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz (; November 26, 1922 – February 12, 2000) was an American cartoonist and the creator of the comic strip ''Peanuts'', featuring what are probably his two best-known characters, Charlie Brown and Snoopy. He is wid ...

in his voice-bubble dialogue and expressive drawings of children with circular heads, simple mouths and dot-eyes with parentheses-shaped eyelids. Like Michael Rex's Brooms Are for Flying! and David Costello's Here They Come! , this tale demystifies the amiable protagonist and her non-green counterpart alike." '' The School Library Journal'' wrote:"Done in black ink and watercolor, the cartoon artwork captures the holiday's spirit with crisp fall colors and amusing details. Busy witches decorate their creepy-looking mansion by hanging skeletons, un-caging bats, and sprinkling spiders out the windows. In the "Sub-Basement Costume Unit," a seamstress is hard at work sewing a monster paw; costumes line the walls (

Frankenstein ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific ex ...

, a space creature, etc.); and politician masks share space with a jar full of eyeballs." ''

Common Sense Media Common Sense Media (CSM) is an organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children.

'' wrote:"Witches, ghosts, and robbers all make appearances, and while their presence might raise tensions for the youngest children, nothing truly scary happens." It was a ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' Bestselling Book. Rebecca Young reviewed the book for the ''

New York Times News Service This is a list of assets owned by the New York Times Company. Business units Media properties * ''The New York Times'' * ''The New York Times International Edition'' * ''The New York Times'' ''International Weekly'' * '' T: The New York Times S ...

'', calling it endearing. '' AudioFile'' reviewed the audiobook adaptation, praising Fanning for her voice and inflections.

Film adaptation

An animated short cartoon based on the book was released in 2007 by

. The film, directed by Virginia Wilkos, features the voice of actress

in the lead role. It was also released on DVD in 2009.

References

External links