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I love children. Eating them, that is . . .
So begins this humorous adventure for kids age 8 and up—the story of a brother and sister who, like many siblings, have their differences. Can they stick together when they meet the most terrible villain of them all?
Reviews USA Today: “Fans of Lemony Snicket’s bestselling ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ should love Keith McGowan’s beguiling debut, a modern version of the Grimm Brothers’ chilling tale of Hansel and Gretel. It matches a mismatched brother, 11, and sister, 8, against an ageless witch, Fay Holaderry, who has written her own cautionary tale, ‘How to Cook and Eat Children.’ The moral: Good scientific research beats a ruthless witch. Yoko Tanaka’s ghostly, Charles Addams-like drawings cast their own spell over a story that’s scary, funny and subversive.”
The New Yorker: “A semisweet literary treat for the kiddies (of about eight years or older)… humor that will delight and challenge the inquisitive youngster… Sol and Connie Blink are two exceedingly clever kids who, upon arriving in their new neighborhood, realize that something’s up at the house next door, the abode of an old lady named Holaderry (a.k.a. the witch). I love this character… the adults in this book are the perfect foils for the children… It’s also a sweet book, full of moments of sibling solidarity… gorgeous full-page illustrations, in hushed gray tones.”
The Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books: “McGowan’s modern retelling of the Hansel and Gretel plot is nuanced, fascinating, and gratifyingly dark… Sol and Connie are appealing in their individuality and in their at times prickly sibling relationship, and kids will enjoy the twist that this creepy old lady next door really is a witch instead of a sweet, misunderstood senior. Tanaka’s frequent softly shaded monochromatic illustrations are atmospheric and haunting.”
Publisher’s Weekly: “McGowan makes a strong debut with this contemporary recasting of Hansel and Gretel, starring 11-year-old Sol and 8-year-old Connie Blink… the story relies on Sol’s intelligence, scientific acuity and talent for research, as well as Connie’s subtle cunning, deviousness and confidence in Sol, to defeat their parents’ plot… up-to-date touches such as cellphones and the Internet make it especially accessible and appealing for thrill-seeking readers.”
Seattle Times: “Author Keith McGowan deftly reworks the Hansel and Gretel tale, complete with a dash of Roald Dahl’s “The Witches,” a pinch of Lemony Snicket’s “Series of Unfortunate Events” and a hint of Lois Lowry’s “The Willoughbys.” Young readers will particularly love the way McGowan moves back and forth between a narrative following Sol and Connie and a spine-tingling journal kept by their odd neighbor, Fay Holaderry. Yoko Tanaka’s illustrations expand the drama and spookiness of the story.” |
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Get (or Give) The Witch’s Guide to Cooking with Children:
Indie Store Near You (Indie Next List)
Barnes & Noble | Books A Million
Amazon | Borders | Indigo (Canada)
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Home About Keith McGowan Interview with Keith About Yoko Tanaka The Witch’s Guide Teachers & Lesson Plans Kids Vienna Mixed Up Files Contact Österreich Webmaster
All illustrations on KeithBooks.com are reproduced from The Witch’s Guide to Cooking with Children. Drawn by fine artist and children’s book illustrator Yoko Tanaka. Copyright 2009.
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Keith McGowan has been awarded the 2010 James Thurber residency. ___________________________
Actress Laural Merlington narrates The Witch’s Guide to Cooking with Children audiobook, an American Library Association 2010 Notable Children’s Recording. ___________________________
The Witch’s Guide to Cooking with Children has been picked by indie booksellers as an “inspired recommendation for kids.” ___________________________
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What Do Parents Say? “My 10 year old daughter and I both read this book. Being fans of Roald Dahl's "The Witches," we couldn't wait to find out what happens to the children in "The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children." We weren't disappointed. The children must out-think the witch, who is appropriately nasty, deal with mean and rather dull parents, and use their personal strengths to escape from the witch's cauldron. I found the witch's diary entries hysterically funny, as did my daughter.”
“Like a Hal Hartley movie for children, this book follows two siblings through a couple of days in an innocuous, unnamed suburban town that is new to them. There are perils - an old lady wants to eat them and the town librarian is untrustworthy. Notably, their own parents (who are not really their parents) want to get rid of them. Yes, it's Hansel & Gretel in the Twenty-first Century. But Sol and Connie can handle it. Quirky in an understated way, resourceful and brave, the siblings face their fears, reconcile their emotions, and outwit the witch in a remarkably implacable way. I'm not kidding. Hal Hartley for kids. It's weird. But weird funny, not weird weird, and not without suspense. The tone is calm, almost austere, throwing the more unusual bits of dialogue and plot into sharp relief. My kids, at least, really responded to the author's matter-of-fact presentation. No punches pulled, but no excess build-up either.”
“We bought the book together, then we read it together while my niece was in the hospital for a week. We loved it. We took turns reading it. Then we would discuss. What are the answers to the riddles? What is going to happen next? I loved the witches entries. The character would be a lovely-wicked character to play in a haunted forest or house.”
“This is an interesting take on the tale of Hansel and Gretel. I was worried that it would be a little scary for Andrew, because it was a bit creepy in parts, but he loved it.”
“This was a fun story, perfect for a tween audience (or those wishing to re-live their tween years). The witch from Hansel and Gretel has moved to the suburbs, but she’s still got her cookbook open and active.”
“Great book with a witch as one of the main characters that is not too scary. Kids will love this one. My girls ages 5, 7 sure did. ”
“My daughter loved the book, took it on car rides to read just so she could see what happened.”
Recommended by indie booksellers Every season, independent booksellers nationwide pick about 16 books in each age range as “inspired recommendations for kids.” The Witch’s Guide to Cooking with Children was chosen as one of the handful of books they recommend for children.
Apropos of the recommendation, here are three reviews from independent bookstores:
Judith Lafitte, Co-Owner, Octavia Books, New Orleans, LA
“The Witch’s Guide to Cooking With Children is a wonderful remake of the tale of Hansel and Gretel. Sol and Connie move to a new neighborhood and quickly discover that there is more to neighbor Fay Holaderry than meets the eye. It’s up to them to figure out whether they can outwit Fay at her own game.”
Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
“I loved The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children (Keith McGowan), a retelling of the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale. McGowan's update is both dark and unapologetically clever. Sol and Connie, children with less-than-parental parental figures, find themselves in danger of becoming the next meal of the neighborhood witch. Only their wits will save them! Intermediate readers will love the fast-paced, slightly scary plot.”
Emily Anderson, Inventory Manager, BookPeople, Austin, Texas
“You NEED to read this book . . . This delightful tale is as quirky as it is heartwarming, with distinct characters that readers young and old will not easily leave behind.” |
