Broom for Two

After forgetfulness leads to a tattered broom, a young witch struggles to pass her first flying test until staging a rescue in this companionable story. With alliterative prose, Maruno describes the protagonist’s challenges after finding her broom, now bent, broken, and chewed where she left it in the woods. The witch “Dipped and doodled,/ Rose and sunk,/ Flew in a circle/ And landed BUMP!” Neither spells nor further practice bring about a smoother ride, and Little Witch flops the test, leaving her scowling. Hearing a cry for help that night, the witch flies to the aid of a critter whose home has been struck by lightning, and coincidentally discovers that a companion provides just the counterweight she needs. Ritchie’s action-forward renderings echo the book’s themes with casually drawn lines that twist and curl, and colors that fluidly move across the page, enhancing the story’s quite literally uplifting aspects. Ages 3–7. (Aug.)