A Is for Apple, W Is for Witch [Hardcover]

Catherine Dexter (Author), Capucine Mazille (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 5, 1996 | Age Level: 9 and up

Apple is teased by the kids at school because her mother is a witch, so, one day, to teach mean spirited Barnaby a lesson, Apple attempts to use a tiny spell she really does not know and quickly finds herself in serious trouble due to the results.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ten-year-old Apple Olson leads a fairly normal life except for the fact that her mother is a witch?not the green-faced, evil-spirited variety, but a "minor, neighborhood type" who uses spells for "small, everyday things." Trouble brews when Apple, annoyed by a pesky classmate named Barnaby, decides to try out some of the powers she has inherited from her mother and ends up turning him into a slug. As might be expected, one experiment in sorcery leads to another, and Apple soon discovers the pitfalls of being a witch. Those who enjoy reruns of Bewitched will be drawn to Dexter's (The Mazemaker) mild-mannered fantasy. Extra doses of spells and magic?Apple's first flight on a broomstick, for instance?compensate for the formulaic plot. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5?Apple Olson, 10, becomes upset when Barnaby, a classmate, calls her mother a witch. He doesn't know that it's true. Mrs. Olson promises to teach her daughter about witchcraft when she is 16, but the impatient, curious girl eavesdrops on her mother, overhearing part of a transformation spell. Apple tries the spell herself, successfully turning a rock into a frog. And the next time Barnaby provokes her, she turns him into a slug. Unfortunately, casting spells makes the girl's life increasingly complicated, and she must turn to her parent to help her out of her tangle. In the end, Apple promises that she will wait a few years to learn to use her abilities properly. Set in a typical American town during the Halloween season, this story should appeal to middle-grade readers. The characters are likable and realistically drawn, but the plot contains some weak spots. Barnaby's comments about Mrs. Olson seem contrived, as he has never met her. Also, while the woman points out that not all witches conform to scary, evil stereotypes, she does possess a cauldron and a flying broom; Apple herself gets a familiar, a black kitten. Nevertheless, young readers who enjoy light magic stories laced with humor may appreciate this tale. A few pen-and-ink sketches illustrate the text.?Mary Jo Drungil, Niles Public Library District, IL
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; 1st edition (July 5, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564025411
• ISBN-13: 978-1564025418
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,022,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A is for Apple, W is for Witch, September 25, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Is for Apple, W Is for Witch (Paperback)

I'm 9 and I loved this book. It was fun to read it before Halloween. I liked it because it was full of magic. I liked reading about Apple and wish I could be like her. It was easy to read and understand. I couldn't put it down, even at 10:00 at night!!!