Zoom Broom [Paperback]

Margie Palatini (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 2000 | Grade Level: P and up

Gritch the Witch is hungry and her batscotti andeek! Spresso snack isn`t quite doing the trick. She wants a more filling, furry snack. She wants bunny. On her way to the Farmer in the Dell`s rabbit-ridden place, she and her broomstick experience a crash landing, shortly after her old broom stalls in midair: " It spit. Sputtered. Coughed. Chugged. Choked. And then it gave out a long gasping, gurgly gurgle, did one loop-d-loop, and tailspinned toward ground zero. " Desperate for a new vehicle, she ends up at Foxy`s, a used-vehicle lot marked by signs such as " Foxy`s: We`ll take you for a ride. " Foxy tries to sell her a magic carpet from " A Lad in the East," then he attempts to unload Cinderella`s pumpkin coach: " Very low mileage. Used only once. Runs like a charm. " The fox`s cheesy sales tactics don`t go over very well: " Save the spiel, cut the chit-chat, and can the flim-flam, Foxy! " She shouts. Her fury only escalates when she asks, " Which one is the one I want? " --Catapulting them into an infuriating " Who`s on first" -style repartee over " Witch 1," the name of a certain model of broom. Zoom Broom, Margie Palatini`s over-the-top sequel to the immensely popular Piggie Pie, is as smart-alecky and fast-paced as they come, and Howard Fine`s colorful, action-packed, almost grotesquely intense illustrations are perfect for this wild and witchy ride. (Ages 4 to 9) --Karin Snelson

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Gritch the Witch is hungry and her batscotti and eek!spresso snack isn't quite doing the trick. She wants a more filling, furry snack. She wants bunny. On her way to the Farmer in the Dell's rabbit-ridden place, she and her broomstick experience a crash landing, shortly after her old broom stalls in midair: "It spit. Sputtered. Coughed. Chugged. Choked. And then it gave out a long gasping, gurgly gurgle, did one loop-d-loop, and tailspinned toward ground zero." Desperate for a new vehicle, she ends up at Foxy's, a used-vehicle lot marked by signs such as "Foxy's: We'll take you for a ride." Foxy tries to sell her a magic carpet from "A Lad in the East," then he attempts to unload Cinderella's pumpkin coach: "Very low mileage. Used only once. Runs like a charm." The fox's cheesy sales tactics don't go over very well: "Save the spiel, cut the chit-chat, and can the flim-flam, Foxy!" she shouts. Her fury only escalates when she asks, "Which one is the one I want?"--catapulting them into an infuriating "Who's on first"-style repartee over "Witch 1," the name of a certain model of broom. Zoom Broom, Margie Palatini's over-the-top sequel to the immensely popular Piggie Pie, is as smart-alecky and fast-paced as they come, and Howard Fine's colorful, action-packed, almost grotesquely intense illustrations are perfect for this wild and witchy ride. (Ages 4 to 9) --Karin Snelson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Gritch the Witch, the flamboyantly grotesque antiheroine of Piggie Pie, spells trouble in this broom-buying caper. As the story begins, Gritch snacks on a "batscotti" bat-wing cookie, but her stomach growls for "Rabbit Rye," and she fixates on obtaining its main ingredient. "So with a Hi-ho and a Der-io, Gritch grabbed her hat, to her broom gave a whistle, and away they all flew like... And away they all flew like..." At this point, in midair, Gritch learns that her trusty vehicle has given up the ghost. After a slapstick tumble into a haystack, she dusts herself off and marches to a broom showroom. There (in a sly reference to a Laurel and Hardy routine), a fast-talker named Foxy tries to interest her in a broom named "Witch 1," instigating a silly "Which one?"/ "Witch 1!" conversation. Palatini loads the story with off-hand references to such witchy standbys as "Hansel and Gretel," The Wizard of Oz and the TV series Bewitched and pokes fun at the stereotypically sleazy salesguy. Fine makes his own visual asides to pop-culture sorcery, and shows the porky wiseacres of Piggie Pie driving past Gritch in their own shiny car. His vertiginous perspectives and distorted caricatures aren't quite as extreme here as in the witch's debut, yet Gritch remains one ugly and unpredictable customer in this fast-paced comedy. Ages 4-9.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Disney Press (August 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786814675
• ISBN-13: 978-0786814671
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wow. My very first picture book -- PIGGIE PIE!, is celebrating
it's fifteenth anniversary this year! It tickles me to know that
'Gritch' is still giving giggles.
Visit her and my other characters on my website: www.margiepalatini.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun for both kids and adults!, December 21, 2001

By 

S. A. Farley "sally1590" (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zoom Broom (Hardcover)

This book was so fun to read. The story is about a cranky witch whose old broom goes kaput and how she tries to replace it. Adults will get a kick out of references to The Wizard of Oz and smarmy car salesmen. Kids will love the vivid illustrations and the hilarious language. The exchange between the salesman and the witch is a crack-up.

This story was a bit over my 4 year olds head, but kids 5 and up will surely enjoy it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Bewitching!, July 27, 2005

By 

C. Voogd "dbbldutch" (Spokane, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zoom Broom (Paperback)

This "sequel" to Piggie Pie is fantastic! It's one of those books you don't mind reading, out loud and in character, over and over, whether your grandchild has fallen asleep or not.

The illustrations are rich and fun to see. If you're a long-distance grandparent, buy two copies--mail one to your grandchild and keep one for yourself. I'll be buying all of margie Palatini's books!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ZOOM BROOM is the ultimate "Foxy" story for kids!, October 27, 2001

By 

"saralynp" (coarsegold, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zoom Broom (Paperback)

I've read it over and over and OVER again. I love it just a little more each and every time. My 7 year old son loves ZOOM BROOM almost as much as PIGGIE PIE! The book is thoroughly clever and doesn't lack a thing! The artwork is delicious, the words are precocious and the creativity divine. My son even recites the story from heart, almost word for word. Thank goodness for the fabulous artwork or he would give up reading for story telling. This is a must have Margie Palatini, Howard Fine creation!