The Worst Witch is the story of Mildred Hubble, a young witch who is often in trouble at school, often through no fault of her own.
The Story: Mildred Hubble is in her first year at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches and has already been sent to Miss Cackle’s study on several occasions for causing trouble. One day Miss Hardbroom, Mildred’s form mistress, announces that Mildred’s class has been chosen to do a display at the Halloween celebrations. All goes well until Mildred’s broomstick misbehaves during the display so she runs away from school. Mildred comes across a group of witches who are plotting against the school and she is horrified when she hears their plan. Will she keep running or can she save the Academy?
It’s only half way through the first term, Mildred’s broomstick has snapped in half and she’s made an enemy out of Ethel, a smug young witch. She also has to contend with nasty remarks from Miss Hardbroom, who appears and disappears when least expected. However, Mildred always tries her best and has a strong relationship with her best friend Maud who supports her through thick and thin.
The Worst Witch is a great story to read for Halloween and with only ten chapters it’s a short book for a beginner reader. We read the story in one sitting, my daughter was eager to hear about Mildred’s spells and loved her attempts to train her new kitten. There is lots of humour in the story, we found the spell that Mildred casts on Ethel very funny and couldn’t wait to see whether Mildred could reverse it. Ethel gets her own back on Mildred when she lends her a broomstick but ultimately her conceitedness leads to her downfall. The results of Midred’s potion test also amused us and her final spell was brilliant! (we don’t want to give too much away, you’ll have to read the book!).
We can’t wait to read more of The Worst Witch stories. They’re the perfect prequel to reading Harry Potter.
Age Range: 6 +
Author / Illustrator: Jill Murphy
The Worst Witch is the tenth book that we have read for the 2015 Classics Challenge
My daughter loved these books! When she started reading ‘chapter’ books she wanted me to buy her every one in this series!
I think I must have read The Worst Witch as a child but I didn’t remember the story. It will be good to read them all again 🙂
My daughter won a prize pack of these packs a few months ago. She tore right through them and loved them! Thanks for sharing in the Kid Lit Blog Hop. 🙂
We can’t wait to read the next stories 🙂
My son might enjoy these-I’d forgotten all about The Worst Witch, thanks for the reminder 🙂
You’re welcome. I had forgotten about her too until I found a copy of the book in a charity shop 🙂
I loved the worst witch and my eldest really likes them too 🙂 thanks for sharing with #readwithme
It’s so lovely when our children enjoy hearing classic stories that we also enjoyed when we were younger 🙂
I remember The Worst Witch stories from my childhood and really loved them. Visiting from #PoCoLo
I read The Worst Witch as a child but couldn’t really remember the story.
Aw I remember these books! How lovely! Can’t wait for my boys to be old enough for ‘proper books’! #readwithme
Time will fly by, I have a friend who read chapter books to his boys from the age of three!
I adore The Worst Witch books, I was so pleased when my daughter was old enough to read them – a true classic
Definitely, they’re timeless 🙂
I remember reading these books when I was a girl! The names of the characters are sealed in my memory! 🙂
It’s interesting how some books stick with you forever!
I’ve heard great things about The Worst Witch but haven’t read any yet! Thanks for the great review! Definitely going to read it when I can find it! Thanks for sharing your wonderful reviews at the Kid Lit Blog Hop Catherine!
It’s a great read for this time of year 🙂
The Worst Witch was one of my favourite stories when I was a girl I will definitely be buying them for my children 🙂
It seems that lots of people have fond memories of The Worst Witch from their childhood 🙂
The old ones are most definitely the best – I can remember my sister reading these 🙂 Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo x
It’s great when books can be read and enjoyed by more than one generation 🙂
I loved these books as a child and my son has just tried reading it after trying Winnie the Witch. #MMBC
We’ve read the first two and just found the rest of the set in our local library (in German!).