Overview
Four starred reviews! In this ""inspiring...delightful"" (School Library Journal, starred review) picture book offering a twist on the trick-or-treat trope, a feisty little girl has had enough of her parents picking cutesy Halloween costumes for her--this year, a witch! A little girl has been every adorable thing you can imagine for Halloween, and she is done with being cuddly, sweet, and precious. This year, she's rebelling big-time and going for a totally different vibe: the spookiest thing out there. She's going to be...a witch! With only a little help from Dad, she works hard on her witchy locks, brew, spells and enchantments, and power to petrify. But what happens when what she sees in the mirror is so spooky, she scares even herself? Nothing that an understanding dad--and maybe a quick restorative nap--can't handle.
Full Product Details
Author: Zoey Abbott ,
Zoey Abbott
Publisher: Bound to Stay Bound Books
Imprint: Bound to Stay Bound Books
ISBN: 9798855181852
Pages: 34
Publication Date: 15 July 2025
Recommended Age: From 4 to 8 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Children / Juvenile
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
""Electric accent colors infuse Abbott's inky multimedia and risograph-printed illustrations, which fittingly capture the protagonist's effort to achieve independence in this lively tale that gestures toward the push and pull of growing up.""--Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW ""6/9/2025"" For kids who are ready to break free from expectations and express themselves, this is an inspiring pick. [...] Vibrant colorized art, rich with greens, blues, purples, pinks, oranges, reds, and blacks, brings a nostalgic yet fresh feel to the story, capturing the little witch's whirlwind of emotions. The simple yet powerful message about independence and self-expression will resonate with kids and parents alike. A must-buy. Young readers love exploring their independence, and this delightful story might just inspire a few more to embrace their unique selves--just like this little witch and her dad.--School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW ""6/1/25"" Multimedia and Risograph illustrations make magical use of both generous white space and full-bleed spreads and feature vibrant pops of modern Halloween hues, including violet and acidic green. Playfully paced page turns reveal a visual transformation more frightening than even the young witch bargains for, but concise text with emphatic typography keeps the theatrical tone kind-spirited; Abbott perfectly captures youngsters' often-warring desires for autonomy and reassurance. A sly seasonal pick for kids craving a dash of agency alongside their dress-up. --Kirkus, STARRED Review ""04/15/2025"" The spirited protagonist of Zoey Abbott's This Year, a Witch! has an announcement: This year's Halloween costume will be scary instead of sweet. ""Every single year since I was a baby, I've been utterly adorable,"" she informs readers, adding an emphatic ""Ugh. Blech. Sickening! Yuck."" That adorableness shall come to an end ""because . . . this year, a WITCH! [...] Abbott's heartwarming tale is an empathetic ode to self-expression. Infused with vibrant neon colors and finely tuned humor, it's a welcome reminder that you can be a scary witch and need your dad and cat at the same time.--BookPage, STARRED REVIEW ""9/15/2025""
Author Information
Zoey Abbott is the author of This Year, a Witch!; How to Draw a Zombie; Banana; Clementine and the Lion; I Do Not Like Yolanda; and finalist for the Oregon Book Award, Pig and Horse and the Something Scary. She lives in Oregon with her family and their dog, Carrots.
