The youngest witch in all of Witchville, Wanda was forever forgetting to clean up after herself. One day her frustrated mother, pushed to the brink by her daughter's latest inconsiderate action, decided that Wanda must be punished. Set down on the edge of the human world, the little witch was instructed to do a good deed amongst the people she encountered. Only then would she be allowed to return to her home. But how could Wanda meet this requirement, when the humans she came across, although invariably kind to her, wanted nothing of her? Only when she met a little human boy, himself being punished, did she get an idea of how she could perform her good deed...

Originally published in 1970 in the Netherlands as De kleine Heks Elena, this lovely little witchy picture-book was translated into English that same year, and released here in the states as The Little Witch Wanda. Author Mariette Vanhalewijn and illustrator Jaklien Moerman seem to have worked together on a number of picture-books, but only this one and Princess Penelope's 365 Dresses appear to have been translated. I will definitely be tracking down the latter, as I found this one so enjoyable! The story was engaging, and featured a goodhearted little heroine, while the artwork was charming. I loved Moerman's use of color here - the purples and greens, the whitish shade of Wanda's hair - and her stylized, folk-art feeling characters managed to be both cute and beautiful (two things that don't always go together, in my estimation). Recommended to picture-book readers who enjoy witchy fare on the sweeter side, as well as to those who enjoy vintage illustration styles. ( )