Twitchy Witchy Itch

The countdown is on to “tea o’clock” as Itch the witch prepares to have two neighbors over for a cuppa in Tey’s community-oriented tale. As she sets out three cups and saucers, “a worry tickled Itch’s brain./ Was the house a wee bit too twitchy?/Was Itch’s home too itchy?” With onomatopoeic verve, she magically tidies signs of mess away (the external “itch” resembles sproingy dust bunnies, which may be confusing for literal-minded readers). But when guests Fidget and Glitch arrive, Itch’s house transforms again—Tey’s artwork cleverly mimics the shifting appearance of a person fidgeting, and the flickering, blurred look of a computer glitching. Another spell clears things up a little too thoroughly, though, and Itch realizes she’d much rather be with her fidgeting, glitching guests in her itchy home than in a clean house without them. Throughout, the digital and gouache illustrations offer myriad patterns and colors to explore. Ages 4–8. (June)