Jenny Samways

It was a wet and windy day in Letterland, and the Quarrelsome Queen was convinced that the Wicked Water Witch was responsible for the wet weather. That malicious magic-maker, in the meantime, angry at being falsely accused, decided she'd show the queen and all of the other Letterlanders what true spells looked like, turning them into worms, whales, wasps and wooden figurines in turn. But with the entire population immobilized in wooden captivity, who would speak to the witch? Fortunately she had another spell up her sleeve, restoring all her victims to their original forms and leaving the countryside bathed in warm, wonderful weather...

If there seems to be a superfluity of "Ws" in The Wicked Witch's Wish, that is no accident, as the book is one of the alliterative Letterland series, created by educator and psychologist Lyn Wendon as a means of teaching phonics using a story-based, multi-sensory approach. Each volume focuses on a specific letter—Annie Apple's Adventure, Bouncy Ben's Birthday, etc.—and is designed to help reluctant learners gain the confidence and skills they need to become readers and writers. This entry in the series, penned by Jenny Samways and focused on the letter W, is devoted to the story of the Wicked Water Witch, and that (of course) is how I discovered it, in one of my periodic searches for new or new-to-me witchy picture-books. I'm glad to have come across it, both as an engaging and well-illustrated witchy tale (always of interest to me) and because it introduced me to the Letterland series and program, which looks like a very helpful pedagogical tool for early childhood educators.

I found the story here amusing and ultimately heartwarming, as the witch transforms her fellow Letterlanders into one thing after the other, only to find that in the end, she's happiest when they are themselves. I also enjoyed the accompanying artwork from illustrator Jane Launchbury, who appears to have contributed the illustrations for the rest of the Letterland series, and who has also contributed to and illustrated Witch Stories for Bedtime, which is currently on my to-read shelf. Although created for young children struggling with reading acquisition, I think this book has broader appeal, and would entertain any picture-book audience with a taste for witchy tales.… (plus d'informations)