A Job for Wittilda [Hardcover]

Caralyn Buehner (Author), Mark Buehner (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 6, 1993 | Age Level: 3 and up

Wittilda needs a job--her 47 cats are down to their last dried rat. She even has her own transportation--her trusty broom. Full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This wacky picture book supports the theory that it often takes some trial and error to locate just the right type of employment--even if you're a witch. When Wittilda--who is fond of spiders, batwing stew and roast newt--finds her kitchen cupboard bare, she realizes that she must get a job in order to feed her 47 cats. A stint at Aunt Bort's Hair Palace doesn't pan out, but an advertisement for a pizza delivery person holds promise. Wittilda puts her brooming skills to good use and after a snag or two she lands the position. Caralyn Buehner's ( The Escape of Marvin the Ape ) creation of a witch with a heart of gold gives her story a comforting tone, while equal dashes of adventure, magic and reality prove a captivating mix. Mark Buehner's (illustrator of The Adventures of Taxi Dog ) sumptuous oil and acrylic paintings exhibit his flair for depicting the play of light and shadow, and for deploying a variety of arresting perspectives. Wittilda's kind smile, cat's-eye glasses and huge bulbous nose give her heaps of personality. Scenes showing bug-eyed felines scanning the want-ads and sitting around the table--napkins tied around necks--for a pizza meal are especially humorous. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-When you're a witch with 47 cats and are down to your last dried rat, it's time to get out the want ads. Wittilda's attempt to work at a beauty shop ends in disaster, so she goes to Dingaling Pizza, where the applicants are told, "'Five pizzas each to deliver. The first one back gets the job!'" Wittilda balances the boxes on one hand as she flies over town on her broomstick. She is slowed down when she helps a kitten caught in a tree, but still makes her deliveries in time to land the position. The last page shows the witch and 48 cats all eating pizza together by candlelight. The rhythmic language has an effortless flow, and both text and artwork are a great mix of the traditional and the contemporary. The illustrations (oil over acrylic) are a delight, with comic touches to discover at every rereading. The evening scenes showing Wittilda flying through a luminous moonlit night are especially effective. The best book to date by this husband/ wife team, this one is a winner for group sharing.
Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (September 6, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803711492
• ISBN-13: 978-0803711495
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,556,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The husband-and-wife team behind the best-selling Snowmen at Night and Snowmen at Christmas, Caralyn and Mark Buehner are also the creators of the award-winning Fanny's Dream. Upcoming collaborations include an original fairy tale about a lonely princess who decides to become a hairdresser. They live in Utah with their nine children.

You can find more information about Mark and Caralyn's books and upcoming signings by visiting their website at www.buehnerbooks.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If My Pizza Guy Rode a Broom Maybe the Pizza Would Be Hot, November 28, 2001

By 

Terrie (Little Chute, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Job for Wittilda (Hardcover)

The 47 cats that witch Wittilda has taken in and cares for are down to their last dried rat! Wittilda goes job hunting and becomes a pizza delivery person with the added edge of swift broom locomotion. She loves her job but the competition is fierce. She gets in a bind when she has to choose between her kind hearted ways and her job. This is such a fun book with super illustrations. There's loads of humour, bright colors, and clever little details to search for, hidden among the hubbub on each page. Wittilda will win your heart.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun book for any day . . . not just Halloween!, October 31, 2003

By 

mamareadssomuch "mamareadssomuch" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Job for Wittilda (Hardcover)

Wittilda, the witch, has MANY cats but needs to find a job. So she trys for a job at a pizza place but the test is to deliver 5 pizzas as fast as you can and if you are the first applicant back, the job is yours! Well, Wittilda gets on her broom and starts delivering the pizzas but finds ANOTHER stray kitty ... so does she stop and rescue the cat or deliver more pizzas?! Read the book and find out.

Fun story with darling illustrations.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful childrens tale of a problem solving witch., September 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Job for Wittilda (Hardcover)

Wittilda the Witch needs to provide for her 47 cats. She seeks a job that matches her talents and finally gets a chance to deliver pizzas. Her broom helps beat the competition. However, just when everything is going great she is forced to make a decision that concerns someone in need. The time it takes to rescue a friend, could cost her the pizza delivery job. Excellent illustrations by Mark Buehner, the same talented artist who did the Taxi Dog books. A perfect Halloween favorite.