Halloweena

by Miriam Glassman

Book Overview

When crotchety old witch Hepzibah is given a human child to take care of, she's horrified (not a wart on her, poor thing).And when, after years of careful training in witchery, the child, Halloweena, asks for human playmates, Hepzibah is aghast. Nevertheless, she wants to see Halloweena happy, and as she tries to find friends for her daughter, Halloweena proves she is indeed a good witch-in-training by conjuring up a way to keep them both happy.A...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 068982825X
• ISBN13: 9780689828256
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Atheneum Books
• Length: 30 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.7" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Enchanted Children

I had the pleasure of seeing Victoria Roberts read "Halloweena" (in the presence of the author) to a group of children, many of whom I thought would be too young to appreciate it. The children were enchanted, one and all--and the parents were, too. Whatever the kids may have missed didn't bother them at all. As Ms. Glassman said, this is a book about parenting, and it is a visual and narrative delight.

A REAL TREAT FOR HALLOWEEN

I came across this book and fell in love with the witty halloween humor and the cunning illustrations. Kids five and up will adore the fairy tale references. It's become a nightly bedtime story in our house! Each time, my son and I are able to find a new joke or detail in the zany illustrations to enjoy and laugh over. A wonderful story for parents and kids to share.

May Be Too Subtle For Young Readers

This is a cute book with clever, engaging text and detailed cartoonish illustrations that are full of the madcap antics of witch Hepzibah and Halloweena, her adopted human baby girl. When Hebzibah's sister Zillah drops the baby off on her, she tries everything to raise a respectable witchling and does pretty well. I liked this book a lot and found most of the humor to be fun and original. There is one page with severed arms and another where Hepzibah is baking Lady Fingers and (Yuk!) they actually ARE lady fingers. I could have done without these, but the homelife of Hepzibah and Halloweena is really charming in a wacky, witchy sort of way. I would say ages 10 and up will enjoy this book's humor. The text is full of tongue-in-cheek word play. There's a nice message about accepting people as they are and unconditional love. The ending is sweet. I think younger kids will miss some of the subtle humor and there are better Halloween stories for young kids, but for a slightly older readership, it's fresh and funny.