Leila, the Perfect Witch

Author-illustrator Drago mixes a dash of family support with a measure of witchy worldbuilding in this tasty tale about a young witch developing grit. Though she’s the fastest flier, most cunning conjurer, and sneakiest shape-shifter in her coven, green-skinned Leila Wayward has her heart set on winning “the most important trophy of all” as champion of the Magnificent Witchy Cake-Off. She comes from “a long line of... experts in the Dark Arts of Patisserie,” but the proof is in her disastrous first batter: Leila lacks ace baking skills. An assist from her sisters, portrayed with varying skin tones, proves the perfect recipe for dealing with the Cake-Off, no matter how things turn out. In colored pencil textures, multimedia illustrations are filled with witch-centric detail, including clever nods to fairy tale fodder. Ages 3–7. (July)