A review by vinpauld
The Witch Family by Eleanor Estes

4.0

This charming book is a wonderful ode to childhood imagination. Amy and Clarissa, two seven-year-old best friends, enjoy hearing tales about Old Witch and her wicked antics. They also enjoy sitting down and drawing pictures of the Old Witch's naughty hijinks. To them, the tales they hear about the Witch from Amy's mother, are as real as any events in a history book. The power of their imaginations, along with the magic of their drawings, brings the world of Old Witch to life. Anything they draw, including a little girl witch and a baby witch, magically come to life and are added to the magical realm inhabited by Old Witch. The book is somewhat episodic, which seems appropriate for a story that affirms the power of storytelling, but those looking for a strong narrative drive might be disappointed. The book is gentle and sweet and should be a great treat for young girls under the age of eight. It will probably be best appreciated by younger children and those adults who still have the ability to remember what it was like to find magic in something as ordinary as a bumblebee. As an illustrator, one of my favorite things about this book are the wonderful pen and ink drawings by Edward Ardizzone which make up an integral part of this enchanting book.