  | Leila, the perfect witch Author: Drago, Flavia Z. | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
Leila Wayward is a little witch who excels at everything she does. She dreams of winning the Magnificent Witchy Cake-off! As the youngest in a long line of masters of the Dark Arts of Patisserie, Leila wants her entry to be perfect. But even with the most bewitching of recipes, she realizes a terrible truth: she's a disaster in the kitchen.
Download a Teacher's Guide
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 3.30 Points: .5 Quiz: 517661 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (04/15/22)
School Library Journal (06/03/22)
Booklist (07/01/22)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (+) (00/09/22)
The Hornbook (00/09/22)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 06/03/2022 PreS-Gr 1—Hardly more than a bit player in Gustavo the Shy Ghost, here Leila stars. Feeling that her many trophies are not enough, she aims to ace baking for the "most important" prize, even at the cost of family fun. But when disaster dogs her practice, her sisters come through, coach her, and advocate trying again. Their support sends her confidently to the competition—and when she loses, Leila gracefully concludes that having fun makes her feel like a winner. With her magenta hair, greenish skin, and buck teeth, Leila might not be quite as cute as Gustavo (who can be spotted in the bake-off audience), but the pale blue-and-violet-toned illustrations are just as detail-filled and amusing (as in Gustavo, there are depictions of pentagrams, skulls, a "devilish" goat, etc.). A few words ("alchemy," conjurer," "coven," "patisserie") will challenge readers, but the pro-family, anti-perfectionist message is upbeat and engaging. VERDICT Another Drago book destined for wide circulation, not only at Halloween.—Patricia Lothrop - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 07/01/2022 Mexican author-illustrator Drago brings her distinct, charmingly macabre style to a sweet new picture book that pairs perfectly with her earlier work, Gustavo, the Shy Ghost (2020). Leila is a talented young witch who excels in flying, conjuring, shapeshifting, and crafting and has a bookcase packed with trophies. But Leila hasn’t yet won the trophy she covets most: that of the Magnificent Witchy Cake-Off. Finally old enough to compete, Leila is determined to make her family (“experts in the Dark Arts of Patisserie”) proud. Despite her lineage, the little witch quickly discovers that she is not a natural in the kitchen. After one cake attempt goes spectacularly wrong, Leila’s family comes to the rescue and teaches her their baking tricks. When the day of the cake-off arrives, Leila doesn’t win, but she has a good showing and lots of fun in the process, which is just as important for kids to see. Purples and greens prevail in the childlike but cleverly detailed illustrations. An upbeat story of persistence and taking pleasure in doing your best. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
Booklist - 07/01/2022 - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
