How to Be a Witch by Gabrielle Balkan & Shana Gozansky, illustrated by Carmen Saldaña - OPTIONAL

How to Be a Witch by Gabrielle Balkan & Shana Gozansky, illustrated by Carmen Saldaña. PICTURE BOOK. Penguin Young Readers Group (Penguin Random House), 2024. $20 9780593751190

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A witch-themed nonfiction picture book where the authors introduce readers to the world of real witches and their daily practices.

This was definitely not what I was expecting. It talks about how real witches look, act, and believe and invites the reader to try their own hand at a spell of gratitude. The illustrations are cute, and I get the overall message that “witches are just people like you!” but it just rubbed me the wrong way. If you have any families that didn’t like the Harry Potter series, they will also definitely not like this book.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes