Old Black Witch! [Library Binding]

Wende Devlin (Author), Harry Devlin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1992

Nicky and his mother's efforts to turn an old New England house into a tearoom are hampered by the old witch who haunts the place, until they learn how well she cooks.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Juv) (October 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027291855
• ISBN-13: 978-0027291858
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,954,191 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bewitching from cover to cover!, May 20, 2002

By 

Matthew L. Mutchmore (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Old Black Witch! (Library Binding)

This is undeniably my favorite book of all time.

I don't say this lightly. Wende and Harry Devlin's Old Black Witch is the first book that I have any memory of. If I'm feeling low, I still get it out and give it a quick read, even today. It still brings a smile. You could say this book is my oldest friend.

My copy has seen more wear and abuse than any book should. Not only did I draw on it (on almost every page) but I also took it into the bath tub, added a few of my own crayola styled illustrations and cut pages out--removing them to cut out the Old Black Witch herself, so I would have a facsimile to play with.

Several years ago, I spotted a paperback reprint and bought one for myself and my nephew. He was completely indifferent to it. I guess a pancake making New England Witch can't compete with Pokémon in the eyes of a modern child.....but she sure wins out with me.

If you ever find a copy of this, do yourself a favor and grab hold of it.

The pancake recipe on the back is great too!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All time favorite, February 22, 2005

By 

J. B. England "History ann" (PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Old Black Witch! (Library Binding)

As a child I delighted in both the story and the pictures in this wonderful book. As an adult, I love sharing this book with my two children, both of whom count this book as an all time favorite. My daughter and I have made the pancakes from this book and the magic nut cake from "Old Witch and the Polka Dot Ribbon" many a time. And for some reason, when she is sick or sad, this is still the first book she drags out for comfort.

Me too. To this day I love to snuggle down under a mountain of covers in a cold room on a dark stormy night just like old witch. I don't know why, but this book is a source of comfort as well as plain old pleasure, in our family.

And this book is in no way racist at all. As a scholar who has studied the history of racism in America, I do not believe there is any racism in this book--except for the fact that everyone in it is white. This is more a reflection however of the descrimination and separation present in American society, rather than any perpetuation of negative stereotypes.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RACIST???? I think not!, February 24, 2006

By 

Musical Powers "music aficionado" (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Old Black Witch! (Library Binding)

Why do people with an ax to grind find the need to extrude fault with something as innocent and as charming as this book? AND INDEED, IT IS A VERY CHARMING AND LOVELY BOOK! The word police seem to be at it again. Since when does the WORD "black" ONLY refer to a specific ethnicity? That idea in and of itself may be construed as racist and in my opinion reveals the true bias of some previous reviewers. This amusing book will certainly do no harm to anyone's children and will very likely be enjoyed by the adult reader as well. Don't forget to try those blueberry pancakes, as they are not to be missed!