Room on the Broom

by Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

The fun adventure of a witch and her cat as she tracks down missing items is the purrfect story for the Halloween and fall season. Children will delight in the unusual characters that the witch stumbles across on her journey.

This fun family read-aloud is the perfect way to start Halloween celebrations with a sweet-but-slightly-spooky story that makes it an ideal gift book

The witch and her cat couldn't be happier, flying through the sky on their broomstick-until the witch drops her hat, then her bow, then her wand! Luckily, three helpful animals find the missing items and all they want in return is a ride on the broomstick. But is there room on the broom for so many new friends? And when disaster strikes, will they be able to save the witch from the clutches of a hungry dragon?

From the acclaimed creators of The Gruffalo, this enchanting story of quick wits and friendship is full of humor and adventure-and just the right amount of spookiness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780803726574
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/27/2001
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	45,954
Product dimensions:	11.44(w) x 10.13(h) x 0.34(d)
Lexile:	AD600L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Julia Donaldson lives in Glasgow, Scotland.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"The story is in rhyme, bouncing merrily along, full of fun. The illustrations are witty and wonderful. The result is a surefire read-aloud hit." -School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

In this lightweight, witty story, helpful animals find "room on the broom" of a generous witch. At first, a striped cat accompanies the cheerful sorceress: "How the cat purred/ and how the witch grinned,/ As they sat on their broomstick/ and flew through the wind." Next, a spotted dog retrieves the witch's flyaway black hat and asks to come aboard. The three riders soon welcome a green parrot (who finds the witch's lost hair ribbon) and a frog (who rescues her wand from the bottom of a pond). When threatened by a dragon, the loyal animals form a "Brementown Musicians" chimera whose "terrible voice,/ when it started to speak,/ was a yowl and a growl/ and a croak and a shriek." The witch repays them by conjuring a cushier vehicle. Donaldson and Scheffler, previously paired for The Gruffalo, emphasize the airborne animals' contentment and evoke sympathy for the broom's driver. In Scheffler's comical panels and insets, the witch has a warty nose and lace-up boots, but wears a pleasant smile; Donaldson puts a spooky/silly spin on the folktale format. The metrical rhyme and goofy suspense aren't groundbreaking, but readers will likely find it refreshing to see a witch playing against type. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 3-A witch and her cat pick up a dog, a bird, and a frog, and fly off on her broomstick. The frog jumps for joy, the broomstick snaps in two, the animals land in a bog, and a dragon captures the witch. What to do? As in the Grimms' "The Bremen Town Musicians," the animals, covered in mud, stand on each other and "yowl," "growl," "croak," and "shriek," scaring the dragon and saving the witch. All's well that ends well for the witch conjures up a super broom with seats for the cat and dog, a nest for the bird, and a pool for the frog. The story is in rhyme, bouncing merrily along, full of fun, and not at all scary. The illustrations are witty and wonderful. All the characters, even the dragon, have the same goofy grin and large, round eyes. Dressed in a purple skirt, red blouse, and black cape and hat, the witch, with a long, ginger braid, is more friendly than frightening. The image of the red dragon carrying her, passed out cold, is a hoot. And her cat is not the traditional black cat; it looks more like a baby tiger. The result is a surefire read-aloud hit.-Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

"The story is in rhyme, bouncing merrily along, full of fun.  The illustrations are witty and wonderful.  The result is a surefire read-aloud hit." -School Library Journal

"The wart-nosed witch and her passengers make magic that is sure to please. Effective use of brilliant colors set against well-conceived backgrounds detail the story without need for text—but with it, the story—and the broom—take off." -Kirkus Reviews 

"In this lightweight, witty story, helpful animals find "room on the broom" of a generous witch." -Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

Josie Lawrence narrates this beloved children’s story, emphasizing the author’s crisp rhymes and satisfying rhythms. Sound effects of a strengthening wind set up the story as a witch and her cat mount a broomstick for flight. The wind leads the witch on dashes to retrieve belongings that have been swept away. Fetching them, she encounters a series of other creatures. Lawrence portrays a panting dog with a Cockney accent, a polite bird with proper enunciation, and a menacing fire-breathing dragon bent on “witch and chips” for tea. Lawrence’s blend of scratchy and kindly tones creates an engaging witch. Her words are wedded to the sound effects and music, making this production even more dynamic. S.W. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2020 - AudioFile

Josie Lawrence narrates this beloved children’s story, emphasizing the author’s crisp rhymes and satisfying rhythms. Sound effects of a strengthening wind set up the story as a witch and her cat mount a broomstick for flight. The wind leads the witch on dashes to retrieve belongings that have been swept away. Fetching them, she encounters a series of other creatures. Lawrence portrays a panting dog with a Cockney accent, a polite bird with proper enunciation, and a menacing fire-breathing dragon bent on “witch and chips” for tea. Lawrence’s blend of scratchy and kindly tones creates an engaging witch. Her words are wedded to the sound effects and music, making this production even more dynamic. S.W. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2020 - AudioFile