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ALICE AND GRETABy Steve Simmons, Illustrated by Cyd Moore Charlesbridge Publishing 85 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 www.charlesbridge.com 617-926-0329 email: books@charlesbridge.com Alice is a good witch. And Greta...well, Greta and trouble are never far apart. But when a forgotten spell comes back to haunt Greta, she finds herself in a position where she must learn something she should have learned long ago.... Cyd Moore's vibrant, whimsical illustrations complete the magic of this clever tale. Kirkus Reviews The effects of artistic license become clear in this picture book from Simmons, who shows what happens to two witches who attend the same school, and are taught the same lessons, but find widely different uses for 
their craft. Alice's bucolic perch on a mountain has a sign that says
"Welcome!" while Greta's sign warns, "Keep Away!" Butterflies and bluebirds
attend one child-witch, buzzards and bats the other. When school's out,
the stage is set: Alice conjures a wave for a family whose boat is stranded
on a sandbar, while Greta conjures a similar wave to wash away a child's
sandcastle. More examples of their opposing worldviews follow, but most
readers will get the point, and it may be the simple predictability of
the plot they will enjoy most. By the time Greta gets her comeuppance--she
was not in school the day the most important of witchy lessons was taught,
a take on the old what-goes-around-comes-around chestnut--readers will
be anticipating the punishment, but not Alice's reward. As a result of
all her good deeds, her view from the hill  is
getting "better and better," with levitating children bearing thank-you
notes, cookies, and flowers. Moore has a style like Lynn Munsinger's,
with charmingly detailed watercolors that endlessly tinker with the symmetry
of the tale--e.g., the bats have come to Alice's side in the last scene.
(Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All
rights reserved. Independent Publisher Alice and Greta are two witches who see things differently. Whereas Alice is as rosy as the clothes she wears, Greta can't help but make trouble. Although they learn the same spells at school, these spells are used for differing purposes. While Alice may send a wave to shore to help a family's beached boat float, Greta will use a similar chant to flood a child's masterpiece sand castle. Yet, there is one important lesson Greta does not learn - the Brewmerang Principle: "Whatever you chant, whatever you brew, sooner or later comes back to you!" Indeed it does, producing one sticky satisfying mess with Greta stuck in the middle.  While
this book could have easily fallen into the trap of didacticism, it manages
instead to present the golden rule in a disarming kid-oriented manner.
Alice may be a sunny do-gooder but her self-satisfaction is well balanced
by the delight Greta feels in creating trouble. The lighthearted, lively
illustrations play a large role in the success of this title. While the
text outlines each situation, the drawings interpret each scene with specifics,
from the wands that emit either stars and sparklers or lightning bolts
to the Medusa-like hair Greta bestows on a classmate. Using a consistent
palette of pink and green, the illustrator adds to the steady flow of
the story. The chants themselves are handwritten helping to create a feeling
of authenticity. This is a book which young children will ask to hear
over and over again. It's nice to think there's a witch out there rooting
just for them.Go to the official home of Alice and Greta! Buy
this book from your favorite bookseller below! |
