Paul Coltman

"This witch what I watch / lives in a cottage / all shaggy with thatch. / I watch from 'er ditch," begins this spooky piece from English poet Paul Coltman, and his daughter, the illustrator Gillian McClure. Using a distinctive dialect, Coltman spins the tale of a young boy who finds himself drawn inside by the old witch he has been watching, and pressed into service in helping with her chores. As he reluctantly participates in these more mundane activities, he imagines (or does he?) the magical goings on that must occur at other times.

I liked the open-ended nature of Witch Watch, as the reader is never entirely sure whether the old woman really is a witch, or whether the magical component of the story - seen on the pages facing the 'main' narrative involving the boy and old woman, as well as in some clever images that appear in various mirrors - has been imagined by the boy, as I think this reflects the fact that children often respond as much to possible reality, as to the reality they have directly experienced. The artwork is deliciously spooky, with witches of all kinds flying through the air - I loved the endpaper illustrations! - and somber bluish hues that suit the subject matter.

All in all, an engaging witchy title! I think the language might be a little off-putting for younger American readers, but if they can adjust to that, then this would make a fun, slightly different Halloween read!… (meer)