The Little Leftover Witch

Sometimes when you revisit a childhood favorite you discover that much of what made it wonderful is "between the lines" and not there at all, just images you invested in it. But The Little Leftover Witch is really just as wonderful, funny, vivid and haunting as I thought at the time.This was my FAVORITE book when I was seven, and took it just as a literal fairytale about what would happen if a little witch girl got left on a tree outside a human family's window on Halloween. At the time I much preferred mischievous Felina to sweet Lucinda. It's surprisng to read it again at this distance and see just how perfectly Laughlin captured the behavior of small girls without either fudging on their maturity or condescending to them! I also found myself entirely in love with the world of the Doons. In fact, I reread the book as soon as I finished. This family is nice-- and yet, still believable. Mrs. Doon loses her temper (well, only after severe provocation when Felina brings the cat to the supermarket!)... and there are family traditions and little bits of individuality everywhere.What I missed, reading this as a child, was the metaphor for adoption-- and the metaphor of how love can truly change a person. In the world of the Doon's, Felina's witchiness is a fact-- not a delusion-- and everyone in the town buys into it. But in the hands of the adult reader, Felina's witchiness is every lonely child's feeling of not belonging. No wonder all kinds of children love this book! It has everything-- terrific writing (brief enough for early-ish readers), memorable characters, humor, adventure-- and a terrific depiction of the power of love.

My mother-in-law, a former teacher, passed along her copy to us two years ago. We are just about to begin reading it for the third time as part of our autumn traditions. A great example of what unconditional love can do! Age appropriate from about four on, although I had a young three-year-old who liked to listen to it as well. Our paperback copy has pictures on almost every turn of the page.

I read this book when I was a small girl and never forgot this charming story although I did forget the title. After searching for years through every children's witch book I found it by chance just sitting on a shelf in the library I work at. I was so happy to relive this wonderful childhood memory of Felina (Lucinda) and the Doon family.

This book brings back warm family memories of fall and mother's willingness to help us develope our own imagination. This book is about family and finding someone to love you even if you are a "Little Leftover Witch."

The Little Leftover Witch is a great story, especially at bedtime. When we were younger, my little sister and I would read it together at bedtime. She absolutely loved it and so did I. We must have read it at least 10 times. I plan on holding on to it and reading it to my kids someday.