It's holiday time for Winnie the witch and her black cat Wilbur in this twelfth picture-book devoted to their adventures, and the pair head to a tropical island for some time by the sea. Winnie, impressed by the beautiful aquatic life she encounters while snorkeling, and wanting Wilbur to share in the experience, turns her feline companion into a catfish. Witnessing his pleasure at cavorting under the waves, she turns herself into an octopus. But when she loses hold of her magic wand, the witchy-feline duo must search a shipwreck on the ocean floor, if they ever want to see dry land again...

I think Winnie Under the Sea may be my favourite yet, of Australian author Valerie Thomas and British illustrator Korky Paul's stories about this quirky witch and her somewhat maniacal cat! The story was an entertaining variation on the usual Winnie the Witch theme of a spell gone wrong, or having unexpected consequences, while the artwork was amusing, and full of clever references. I liked that Winnie's ipad had what looked like a (half-munched) pumpkin, rather than an apple, and that she transforms the little yellow boat into a yellow submarine, at the end of the tale. Most of all, I liked the picture in which she and Wilbur emerge from the ocean, which is a clear homage to Botticelli's 'The Birth of Venus.' That one got a chuckle! Winnie Under the Sea is a wonderful addition to this appealing witchy series, one that I hope will continue for some time! ( )