Elizabeth Lindsay

That motherly Yorkshire witch, Heggerty Haggerty, along with her companions - mischievous Broomstick and lazy Blackcat - return in this entertaining digital picture-book. It's the day of the village fête, and Heggerty Haggerty intends to enter her rather modest marrow - a gourd that, in its less mature form is known as a courgette (UK) or zucchini (USA) - in the fête competition. Broomstick, jealously guarding what he imagines is Heggerty Haggerty's prestige, decides that the marrow must win, and secretly uses a potion from the witch's spell book, in order to cause it to grow. His plan succeeds a little too well however, and soon a massive marrow is threatening to overtake the entire fête site...

The character of Heggerty Haggerty seems to have first appeared in 1980, in author Elizabeth Lindsay's Heggerty Haggerty and the Dreadful Drought. Then in 1983, the Heggerty Haggerty TV program debuted on Yorkshire Television, with stories provided by Lindsay, narration from actor George Cole, and artwork from Peter Rush. At least eight of the episodes from the program were turned into picture-books - four each in 1984 and 1985 - featuring a slightly expanded text from Lindsay and illustrations from Rush. A number of anthology editions of Heggerty Haggerty stories were published, and an LP was also produced. Eventually the books all went out of print, and the television program slipped into obscurity, seemingly forgotten. More than thirty years later however, in 2019, Elizabeth Lindsay began to republish some of the picture-books, this time in digital format, with new artwork from illustrator Kayleigh Eliza. Heggerty Haggerty and the Hallowe'en Ghosts and Heggerty Haggerty and the Flying Saucer are now available to readers again. That same year, Lindsay released this ebook, Heggerty Haggerty and the Magic Marrow, which, as far as I can tell, seems to be an entirely new story about these characters.

Having read and enjoyed all eight of the episode-based picture-books mentioned above, I was very happy to have a chance to revisit the world of Heggerty Haggerty in this new tale. The rural Yorkshire setting was as charming as ever, and the story theme - Broomstick using magic illicitly, thereby causing chaos that Heggerty Haggerty must undo - was both familiar and amusing. Some of the minor characters from the earlier titles - Farmer Giles, shopkeeper Mrs. Bates - also put in an appearance, which was most welcome. One new development that I noticed here, character-wise, was that more attention was paid in the narrative to Blackcat's thoughts and reactions, something that doesn't seem to have occurred all that frequently, in the earlier books. That too was very welcome, as I had frequently had the thought, when reading the earlier books, that Blackcat was underutilized. The artwork from Kayleigh Eliza herfe was charming - similar in style to that done by Peter Rush, with all of the characters being recognizable, but also a little more colorful. My only critique would be that I wanted more of it, and to see it more evenly spread out, as the book alternated between pages with nothing but text, and those featuring illustration.

I would recommend this one to fans of the Haggerty Haggerty television program and/or book series, as well as to picture-book readers who enjoy witchy fare on the sweeter side. For my own part, I hope to one day track down Heggerty Haggerty and the Dreadful Drought, to see where this character began. I also hope that Lindsay and Eliza will produce more new stories about her and her magical adventures.… (plus d'informations)

Learning that Farmer Giles and the people in the nearby village have all become ill, kindly Yorkshire witch Heggerty Haggerty decides to brew her special cold remedy for them. Her mischievous companion, Broomstick, always up to some trick, turns the page of her Spell Book, so that she brews a bump-making potion instead. Fortunately, the trick is discovered when Broomstick himself becomes the victim of his own joke, and no one else is infected...

Published in 1984, Heggerty Haggerty and the Magic Medicine is one of a number of picture-books from author Elizabeth Lindsay and illustrator Peter Rush to chronicle the magical misadventures of the eponymous witch and her two companions, Broomstick and Blackcat. Each book appears to correspond to an episode of the Heggerty Haggerty television program, which aired on Yorkshire Television, beginning in 1983. The story here is entertaining, and follows a pattern I have noticed in other books from the series, in that it is Broomstick who initiates the magical mayhem, and Heggerty Haggerty who inevitably sets all to rights. Recommended to fans of Heggerty Haggerty, and to picture-book readers who enjoy witchy adventures on the sweeter, rather than the spooky side.… (plus d'informations)

Fully aware that her companion Broomstick liked mystery and adventure, Yorkshire witch Heggerty Haggerty arranges a treasure hunt for him in this engaging picture-book. Finding a map on the breakfast table one spring morning, Broomstick immediately sets out, together with Blackcat, to follow it to the promised reward. Aided by some magical prompts from Heggerty Haggerty, and watched by friendly Farmer Giles, the pair eventually finds their way to a chest full of gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins, and they happily conclude that this has been the best treasure hunt ever...

Published in 1984, Heggerty Haggerty and the Treasure Hunt is the seventh picture-book I have read devoted to the adventures of this kindhearted witch and her two companions, who live in a small cottage outside of a rural Yorkshire village. Each book in the series is based upon an episode from the Heggerty Haggerty television program, which aired on Yorkshire Television, beginning in 1983. As it happens, the episode this book is based upon has been uploaded to Youtube, and can be found HERE. I enjoyed reading the book while also watching the episode, and was surprised to see that they were almost entirely the same. The illustrations in the book are also used in the episode, which alternates between the artwork and shots of narrator George Cole, as he reads the story. A few little bits of text not present in the television episode have been added to the book, including a brief passage introducing Heggerty Haggerty, and additional artwork is also included, covering those segments of the episode showing George Cole, as opposed to the illustrations of the characters. Other than these small differences, the episode and the book are almost exactly the same.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to watch this episode of the television show, and to compare it to the book, as this answered some of the questions I have had, while reading other titles in the series, about how these picture-books relate to the TV episodes. In any case, I did enjoy this one, although I was a little disturbed to see Blackcat enjoying the chocolate at the end of the story, as chocolate is toxic for cats, and can even be fatal, if consumed in high enough quantities. With the caveat that adult readers should be sure to stress this to their child listeners, I recommend this one to fans of Heggerty Haggerty, and to picture-book readers who enjoy witchy fare that is on the sweeter side.… (plus d'informations)

Yorkshire witch Heggerty Haggerty and her two companions, Broomstick and Blackcat, head to their local fair in this British picture-book from 1984. Broomstick, having saved up for the fair, is particularly keen to see and experience everything, not realizing that two rough locals, up to no good, have their eye on him. When the three companions, together with their friend Farmer Giles, head to the spooky Ghost Train ride, the two men attempt to kidnap Broomstick, only to find themselves foiled by Heggerty Haggerty's magical thumb, and Farmer Giles' quick actions...

Heggerty Haggerty and the Day at the Fair is the sixth picture-book about these characters that I have read, following upon such titles as Heggerty Haggerty and the Hallowe'en Ghosts and Heggerty Haggerty and the Amazing Loaf of Bread. The books are based upon the Heggerty Haggerty television program that aired on Yorkshire Television, starting in 1983, and each one appears to correspond to an episode from that program. In any case, I found this one an engaging addition to the series, and, having grown rather fond of the impetuous but essentially goodhearted Broomstick, was glad to see that he came to no harm. Recommended to fans of the series, and to picture-book readers looking for witchy fare that is on the sweeter side.… (plus d'informations)