The Knitting Witch

Outlandish humor and lightly scary fairy tale magic permeate this fantasy adventure by the late Kassirer (Magic Elizabeth), which was recently uncovered by the author's daughter. Ivy Lou "was known far and wide for the well-practiced tantrums that she threw." To prevent her from blowing her top, the child's wealthy parents fulfill her every wish, providing her closets overflowing with clothes, a pirate ship with a real crew, and, of course, a horse. And when a green-faced witch with a knack for knitting offers to stitch up some magical playmates for Ivy Lou, the family hires her. But Ivy Lou quickly regrets this decision when the witch knits a black scarf that makes her parents and house disappear, and whisks her to an alternate world located in the witch's "horrid little hut," where Ivy Lou struggles to learn spell-casting and potion-making. Though abundant detail occasionally slows the story's pace, an omniscient narrator injects wit into the image-rich narrative, which overflows with ink-and-watercolor illustrations by Richardson that depict Ivy Lou's life with fantastical flair. It's a trope-filled tale that takes cues from the Brothers Grimm and Roald Dahl, providing a satisfying happily--and humbled--ever after. Ivy Lou's skin tone reflects the white of the page. Ages 7-10. (Oct.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Extreme brattiness meets extreme witchiness in this merrily plotted tale.

"Through simple prose, Norma Kassirer creates a magical adventure that is just right for independent young readers. With a poet's command of imagery and a mastery of narrative, Kassirer offers a fully imagined world in The Knitting Witch that you won't soon forget."—Geoffrey Gatza, author of The Albatross Around the Neck of Albert Ross

"... Norma Kassirer spins a tale of the mysterious passed off as truth and truth masquerading as fiction, matched ink for ink with Mark Richardson's fantastical drawings, which will catch the fancy of every spellbound reader."—Edric Mesmer, Poetry Cataloger, University at Buffalo

"As a teacher, I knew immediately this book would be a perfect read-aloud. As a writer, I loved the voice and humor of the narrator. As a reader, the story entertained me from the first word to the last."—Nora Raleigh Baskin, award-winning author of Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story and Anything but Typical

"The author of Magic Elizabeth offers another winner with this tale. [...] With striking, memorable illustrations by Mark Richardson, Norma Kassirer's tale about a special relationship between a little girl who is prone to outbursts and a witch who has a penchant for knitting—and a memorable little star, too—will delight Norma's loyal fans!"—Donna White, Director of Brighton Place Library, Tonawanda, N.Y.

" . . . reads like a bedtime story and will have kids giggling at Ivy Lou's outrageous behavior."—Avi, Newbery Award-winning author of Crispin: The Cross of Lead