Trick or Treat: The Story of the Switch Witch and How She Came to Be

The witch and warlock youth of Transylvania look forward each year to October 31, when they join the “mortals” for Harvest celebrations. Young Abigail, a light-brown-skinned witch, wishes she could longer enjoy the humans’ holiday sweet treats. Surveilling children year-round via her mother’s brew, Abigail gets an idea: this year, she’ll offer the mortals a trick in return for their treats, which successfully garners her enough sweets to throw a whole immortal party. But when those treats, too, prove insufficient, she makes a deal with mortal adults to swap their children’s sweets for “a special present.” Jewel-toned, ethereal art by Alshalabi displays the coveted treats to enticing effect in an extended trick-or-treat origin story that offers a pragmatic approach to handling excess candy. Ages 4–7. (Self-published)