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Cauldrons and black cats, brooms and spells, warts on noses and horrible cackles. From Mildred Hubble in The Worst Witch to the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, witches in children's and middle grade literature come in all shapes and sizes. Bad or good, traditional or revamped, old or young, children's authors love to write about them and all they encompass. But with so many to choose from, which children's and middle grade books are the most magical?
"Why children's books?" you may ask. Well, because amongst the hard-hitting literary fiction and complex genre fiction we readers enjoy, stopping to read a book that doesn't ask more of you than necessary, a book that carries you back to your childhood, a book that allows you to see the world from a learning point of view, can reconnect you to why you love reading in the first place. As well as that, it can help with your writing too by showing you how to take it back to the effective basics of sentence structure, themes, etc. in a shorter word count.
So, which witchy children's books can adults enjoy too?
C is for Coven by Andrea Stein
A board book? Suitable for adults? Yes! Hear me out...
It's for baby witches of all kinds!
If you've just gotten into practising witchcraft, this book is a beautiful thing to own and introduces you very easily to the main components of witchcraft. With a delicate illustration on every board page, this book would make a glorious gift for any sabbath or birthday to a witch-loving person or family.
If you have children and practise witchcraft or know someone who does—or if you just love a great rhyming book—C is for Coven is ideal. As a reinterpretation of the alphabet book we all started our reading journeys with, it's the easiest book ever to read.
Reading Age: Baby - 10 years
Illustrated: Yes
Published in: 2020
Millie's Rating: 5/5
Gobbolino the Witch's Cat by Ursula Moray Williams
Although Gobbolino the Witch's Cat was first published in 1942, making it the oldest book on this short list, this charming story feels timeless.
We follow Gobbolino, a witch's cat who isn't very good at being such. Nor does he want to be, thank you very much. What he really wants to be is a kitchen cat. Alas, although he may not look like a traditional witch's cat, he still possesses the magic of one—accidentally frightening or unnerving whomever he meets. Time after time, Gobbolino gets rejected and rejected. All he wants is to find a loving home that accepts him for who he is.
Young and adult readers alike will adore Gobbolino and be able to empathise with his plight. If you want a feel-good story with sad undertones, this one is for you.
And if you love this book, you're in luck! There is a second, The Further Adventures of Gobbolino and the Little Wooden Horse.
Reading Age: 7 - 10
Illustrated: Yes
Published in: 1942
Millie's Rating: 4/5
Carbonel by Barbara Sleigh
You might be thinking, "Another cat? With another weird name?" Yes, but with a difference!
Unlike Gobbolino, Carbonel is a secondary character in this book about a young girl, Rosemary, who is tricked into buying Carbonel and a dodgy broom from an old woman at the market. Is this woman a witch? Maybe...
While Gobbolino is friendly and sweet, Carbonel is haughty and demanding. After all, he is a Prince of the Royal Blood, and he needs Rosemary to help return him to his rightful throne.
As Rosemary gets to grips with magic and broom flying, she finds fun, adventure, and friendship along the way.
Reading Age: 8 - 11
Illustrated: Sparsely
Published in: 1955
Millie's Rating: 4/5
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Every year, the youngest baby of the Protectorate is left in the woods as a sacrifice to the witch in the forest. However, Xan is no bad witch. She rescues these babies, feeds them starlight, and gives them to loving families. One year, she accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead. This enmagicks the baby, Luna, so Xan raises her herself. But why do the people of Protectorate think the witch is bad? Why don't the parents fight it? And what are the consequences of an enmagicked child?
This book is reminiscent of classic fantasy, but for young readers. It features a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon named Fyrian, who each help Luna in their own ways.
On top of that, the story and characters are wonderfully complex and memorable. Barnhill utilises witches and witchcraft in a way practising witches will appreciate. Not only does she craft a story of identity, wonder, lessons, secrets, and prejudice, but also one of forlorn parental love that I haven't seen in stories for this age group before.
Reading Age: 8+
Illustrated: No
Published in: 2016
Millie's Rating: 5/5
Like A Charm by Elle McNicoll
Unlike the other books on this list, Like a Charm features magic and witches in an updated and different way.
Set in Edinburgh, this novel follows Ramya as she discovers a world full of magical creatures that only she can see. With this newfound sight, Ramya decides to uncover the truth behind Hidden Folk. However, she must heed her grandfather's warning: Beware the Sirens.
Along the way. Ramya learns more than she bargained for. Family secrets are unveiled, the Hidden Folk challenge her perspective on the world and the people in it, and she finds herself in a way she didn't even know was possible.
If you didn't know, Ramya is dyspraxic—and this comes into the plot. The drive Ramya has as a result of her dyspraxia is embedded in the story, and idea of her literally experiencing the world differently was a lovely parallel to neurodivergence. The way everyone else handles Ramya's dyspraxia is also done well because it's unfortunately true to reality; she's considered a burden and isn't helped to succeed in a way that's unique to her. But her journey into the world of the Hidden Folk encourages her to embrace her abilities and do things in ways that feel right for her. It's an encouraging story of inner strength and bravery.
Reading Age: 8 - 12
Illustrated: No
Published in: 2022
Millie's Rating: 3/5
The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson
All 12-year-old Marinka wants is a friend, but that’s not so simple when your grandma is Baba Yaga, a guardian who guides the dead into the afterlife, and your house with chicken legs means you never stay in the same place for long. Worse yet, she’s being trained as the next Yaga. When Marinka finally has a chance at making a friend, she risks everything—and loses her grandma in the process. Now she’s all alone, what can she do?
This is one of the folkiest, witchiest children's book ever—the atmosphere is warm and magical, mystical. Marinka feels very real. Marinka makes annoying mistakes, but she is only twelve so you can forgive her for it. She's learning. The house is its own personality, as is Marinka's bird. Baba Yaga feels as classic as ever, which works. I didn't feel like she needed revamping, especially in a story like this—for children. The plot was simple but filled with so many themes: family, loss, new beginnings, learning from mistakes, coming of age.
Reading Age: 8+
Illustrated: Yes
Published in: 2018
Millie's Rating: 5/5
What did you think to this list? Be sure to leave your recommendations in the comments below.
Display cover image credit: Alexia Rodriquez on Unsplash