The Knitting Witch - by Norma Kassirer (Paperback)

About the Book

"Ivy Lou seems to have it all-except friends. So when a witch appears and knits up some magical playmates, Ivy Lou's parents hire her. Things quickly worsen as Ivy Lou finds her new friends, parents, and fancy house disappearing, leaving her captive in the witch's hastily knit Horrid Little Hut. The witch has her own motives-to groom Ivy Lou to be a witch's child. Ivy Lou, who turns out to be terrible at making potions, casting spells, and riding on a broomstick, has met her match. Even her threat of Tantrum Number Three, to turn herself inside out, doesn't faze this witch. Finally, as the witch is out on her nightly broomstick rounds, a terrified Ivy Lou, enchanted knitting needles in hand, has only until midnight to unknit the Horrid Little Hut and restore the life she knew"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A delightfully eerie fairy tale about magic, mischief, and finding your way back home, The Knitting Witch invites readers into an enchanting story that's equal parts spooky and heartwarming.

"Extreme brattiness meets extreme witchiness in this merrily plotted tale."--Kirkus Reviews

"A thoroughly enjoyable throwback that gives readers a playful push towards gratitude."--Booklist

Ivy Lou has everything a child could want--except friends. When a peculiar witch appears and uses enchanted knitting needles to craft magical playmates, Ivy Lou thinks her luck has changed. But this witch has plans of her own. Soon, Ivy Lou's elegant house is replaced by a horrid little hut, and she's being groomed to become a witch's child herself.

Potions, spells and broomsticks fill Ivy Lou's days, but even her most fearsome tantrums fail to impress the witch. As midnight approaches, Ivy Lou must race to unravel the witch's dark magic with only a pair of knitting needles--and her wits--to guide her.

Here's what makes The Knitting Witch unforgettable:

• Spellbinding Storytelling: A whimsical, slightly spooky tale that explores childhood bravery, gratitude, and cleverness.
• Rich Illustrations: Gorgeous full-color art on 21 pages, plus partial and spot illustrations, vividly bring Ivy Lou's magical world to life.
• A Modern Classic: Written by Norma Kassirer, beloved author of Magic Elizabeth, whose timeless style has captivated generations.
• Perfect for Fall & Halloween: Witches, magic, and a dash of mischief make this an ideal pick for the season and a standout gift.

A feast of magic, humor, and adventure, The Knitting Witch is perfect for young readers ready to be whisked into a world where anything can happen--especially if you have a little yarn and a lot of heart.

Review Quotes

Naughty children, vile comeuppances, and knitting needles so perverse they seemingly belong to a more Lovecraftian world than our own - these are the hallmarks of a great book for kids. A wry combination of unnerving, perturbing, and thoroughly engaging. This book's a hoot!--Betsy Bird, author and contributing writer to School Library Journal

"Descriptions of the renowned tantrums are a riot, and the sly humor and dark tone make for a memorable reading experience. A thoroughly enjoyable throwback that gives readers a playful push towards gratitude."-- "Booklist"

"Extreme brattiness meets extreme witchiness in this merrily plotted tale."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Outlandish humor and lightly scary fairy tale magic permeate this fantasy adventure..."-- "Publishers Weekly"

" . . . reads like a bedtime story and will have kids giggling at Ivy Lou's outrageous behavior."--Avi, Newbery Award-winning author of Crispin: The Cross of Lead

"... Norma Kassirer spins a tale of the mysterious passed off as truth and truth masquerading as fiction, matched ink for ink with Mark Richardson's fantastical drawings, which will catch the fancy of every spellbound reader."--Edric Mesmer, Poetry Cataloger, University at Buffalo

"As a teacher, I knew immediately this book would be a perfect read-aloud. As a writer, I loved the voice and humor of the narrator. As a reader, the story entertained me from the first word to the last."--Nora Raleigh Baskin, award-winning author of Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story and Anything but Typical

"The author of Magic Elizabeth offers another winner with this tale. [...] With striking, memorable illustrations by Mark Richardson, Norma Kassirer's tale about a special relationship between a little girl who is prone to outbursts and a witch who has a penchant for knitting--and a memorable little star, too--will delight Norma's loyal fans!"--Donna White, Director of Brighton Place Library, Tonawanda, N.Y.

"Through simple prose, Norma Kassirer creates a magical adventure that is just right for independent young readers. With a poet's command of imagery and a mastery of narrative, Kassirer offers a fully imagined world in The Knitting Witch that you won't soon forget."--Geoffrey Gatza, author of The Albatross Around the Neck of Albert Ross

About the Author

Norma Kassirer, writer and artist, became best known for her middle-grade children's classic Magic Elizabeth, first published in 1966 and featured in Eden Ross Lipson's New York Times Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children. Another middle-grade novel, The Doll Snatchers, was published in 1969. In addition, Norma was the author of numerous books and short stories for adults. Norma's daughter Sue Kassirer was thrilled to recently rediscover the original manuscript for The Knitting Witch, a story she had loved as a child. Wanting to share it with today's children, Sue proceeded to edit and gently update the story, drawing on her many years of experience as a children's book editor at Simon & Schuster, The Viking Press, Random House, and Harper Collins.

Mark Richardson is a freelance illustrator working primarily in watercolor and ink. His illustrations mostly focus on picturing fictional subjects within children's literature. He also draws inspiration from the natural world and is engaged in an ongoing series of portraits of the birds that pass through his own property in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, where he maintains a studio and shares a home and garden with his wife, Barbara. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Mark enjoys painting large landscapes that reflect upon his travels. He is also a bookbinder. Many of his artworks find their way into the hand-bound books that he produces in limited quantities from his studio.