The Witching Hour by Jennifer Harris

I saw this cover and found it so magical and full of love that I had to take a peek. 

 

THE WITCHING HOUR

by Jennifer Harris

Illustrated by Adelina Lirius

Tundra Books

Picture Book

ages 3 to 7

32 pages

A family of witches desperately tries to entertain a cranky baby in this delightful picture book for fans of Little Witch Hazel and Go the F**k to Sleep.

In the witching hour between dinner and bedtime, anything can laughter, tears, fun screaming, not-fun screaming . . . parents, siblings, pets and neighbors are all familiar with this dreaded time of day.

What happens when that cranky baby is part of a family of witches?

Turns out, it's pretty much the same, except sometimes the toys levitate and the soothing songs sound a little different . . .

The Witching Hour is a spare, slyly funny and deeply familiar slice-of-life story featuring a fussy little witch and their increasingly desperate family.

AMAZON     /     GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Whimsical tones accompany the difficulties of the last hours before bedtime to form an adorable read.

A small mishap at dinner makes a difficult start to the evening hours. Already growing tired, the youngest easily cries. The witches try their best to calm her down, but the usual tricks aren't working. 

This is an enjoyable twist on a familiar situation. By the end of the day, it's not unusual to feel tired or have the need to relax, and babies tend to let their emotions flow. Toys, silly antics, and extra attention might solve the problem but don't always work. These witches try all sorts of things to cheer the baby up, and that with a touch of magic as toys levitate, pink poodles appear, or a broomstick offers a ride. It's familiar and, yet, carries enough fantasy to invite to dreams.

There's a lovely sense of care and warmth as the witches go out of their way to comfort the baby. It was especially nice to see an older sibling helping out as much as it could. Even fairies get involved to give an extra sense of community and support, while the bats and magical sparkles make sure to keep the imagination involved as well. 

Colorful illustrations make each scene inviting and keep the atmosphere light. These hold fun details, which invite readers/listeners to come back and explore each moment again on their own. The text flows smoothly and, usually, consists of a short phrase, which flows as smoothly as a lullaby. This makes it a lovely read-aloud even for more impatient listeners.