The Warthog's Tail

A witch's daughter fetches a bucket of water but a warthog impedes the path to her front door. "Too young to cast spells," she wonders how to dispose of the beast. She attempts a series of spells anyway, uttered as bossy commands that work no magic ("Stick, stick beat dog. Dog, dog bite warthog so I can get home in time for Trick or Treat"). Finally, an "old man" suggests she try "persuasion"; his suggestion works, setting off a chain of rather nasty effects that nonetheless achieve the girl's desired results. Atwell's (Pearl ) artwork is oddly inconsistent here, and does little to buoy the mean-spirited message. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)