Helen Roney Sattler (1921–1992)

The youngest and smallest witch in her community, Wendy longed to join the other witches on Halloween night, as they set out on their annual cobweb-gathering flights. Judged too little and too forgetful to participate, she was helping the dispatcher keep track of her elders when Hagatha returned with a broken broom. Allowed, after much pleading, to take over Hagatha's route, Wendy was warned to keep her mind on her task, and to be sure to gather the cobwebs that the witches relied upon for all of their spells. Successful at first, Wendy became distracted when she spied some trick-or-treaters, and she was soon engaged in this fun activity. But what would she do when she discovered that the night was coming to a close, she had lost her cat (necessary for flight), and had a bagger more filled with candy than cobwebs...?

Pairing an engaging story from author Helen Roney Sattler with appealing artwork from illustrator June Goldborough, The Smallest Witch makes for a charming read. I have never before read anything from either of these creators, although I see that they are both quite prolific, and I sought this one out because of my fondness for witchy picture-books (a perennial pet project of mine). The basic story here - a little witch is somehow excluded from her elders' activities, and must find a way to participate - is one I have seen explored before, in such tales, but here there is a slightly different element, in that the witches' Halloween ride serves a larger purpose, with regard to their magic-making. I liked that element of the story, and I liked the fact that cats are required for broomstick flight, something also seen in Elizabeth Hull Froman's Eba the Absent-Minded Witch, which I read recently. I've really been enjoying my recent spate of vintage witchy picture-books, as it has allowed me to see some of the patterns followed by such tales more clearly. The artwork here manages to be cute, without making the witches themselves beautiful. All in all, a winsome little witchy tale, one I would recommend to picture-book readers who enjoy such fare.… (more)