Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-12-05 08:51:17
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Phoebe Wahl
- ISBN：0735264899
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
An earthy and beautiful collection of four stories that celebrate the seasons， nature， and life， from award-winning author-illustrator Phoebe Wahl。
Little Witch Hazel is a tiny witch who lives in the forest， helping creatures big and small。 She's a midwife， an intrepid explorer， a hard worker and a kind friend。
In this four-season volume， Little Witch Hazel rescues an orphaned egg， goes sailing on a raft， solves the mystery of a haunted stump and makes house calls to fellow forest dwellers。 But when Little Witch Hazel needs help herself， will she get it in time？
Little Witch Hazel is a beautiful ode to nature， friendship， wild things and the seasons that only Phoebe Wahl could create: an instant classic and a book that readers will pore over time and time again。
Little Witch Hazel is a tiny witch who lives in the forest， helping creatures big and small。 She's a midwife， an intrepid explorer， a hard worker and a kind friend。
In this four-season volume， Little Witch Hazel rescues an orphaned egg， goes sailing on a raft， solves the mystery of a haunted stump and makes house calls to fellow forest dwellers。 But when Little Witch Hazel needs help herself， will she get it in time？
Little Witch Hazel is a beautiful ode to nature， friendship， wild things and the seasons that only Phoebe Wahl could create: an instant classic and a book that readers will pore over time and time again。
Reviews
Elisabeth
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This was a delight from start to finish。
Arminzerella
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This follows the adventures of Little Witch Hazel through 4 seasons。 In spring she rescues an owlet。 In summer she enjoys a lazy day with friends。 In fall she and her neighbors investigate a strange howling noise。 In winter， after tending to her neighbors' ailments， she has to make it home in a snow storm。 Full of plump creatures - animal， fae， and otherwise。 Little Witch Hazel herself is round and rosy-cheeked。 She's also caring and capable。 Other things to like about this book: Little Witch Ha This follows the adventures of Little Witch Hazel through 4 seasons。 In spring she rescues an owlet。 In summer she enjoys a lazy day with friends。 In fall she and her neighbors investigate a strange howling noise。 In winter， after tending to her neighbors' ailments， she has to make it home in a snow storm。 Full of plump creatures - animal， fae， and otherwise。 Little Witch Hazel herself is round and rosy-cheeked。 She's also caring and capable。 Other things to like about this book: Little Witch Hazel uses her library！It's a very frazzled Mousepappa who stays at home caring for his mouselings。LWH has leg hair。Messages - that wild things often leave unexpectedly， but you can hope to meet again， that you can enjoy a day even if you don't get anything done， that witches look after the people in their community。 。。。more
Nikki Glassley
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Actually， literally stunning。 Phoebe Wahl's illustrations and stories are always perfection， but something about this entire book- the whimsy， the classic feel， all of it， all together- it's like picking up a book you've always loved but had forgotten about until you saw it again。 Actually， literally stunning。 Phoebe Wahl's illustrations and stories are always perfection， but something about this entire book- the whimsy， the classic feel， all of it， all together- it's like picking up a book you've always loved but had forgotten about until you saw it again。 。。。more
Abigail
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Author/illustrator Phoebe Wahl follows the eponymous Little Witch Hazel through the four seasons in this delightful picture storybook， depicting a woodland world full of enchantment and friendship。 In Spring: The Orphaned Egg， Hazel cares for an abandoned egg， raising Otis the owl when he hatches。 Summer: The Lazy Day sees our witchy heroine attempting to get some work done， only to finally give in to the relaxation and pleasure-seeking of her peers。 Autumn: The Haunted Stump sees Hazel and her Author/illustrator Phoebe Wahl follows the eponymous Little Witch Hazel through the four seasons in this delightful picture storybook， depicting a woodland world full of enchantment and friendship。 In Spring: The Orphaned Egg， Hazel cares for an abandoned egg， raising Otis the owl when he hatches。 Summer: The Lazy Day sees our witchy heroine attempting to get some work done， only to finally give in to the relaxation and pleasure-seeking of her peers。 Autumn: The Haunted Stump sees Hazel and her friends investigating a very spooky sound， and making a new friend in the process。 Finally， in Winter: The Blizzard， Hazel finds herself the one in need of help， after her many good deeds aiding all of her friends。 Fortunately， Otis is nearby， and all ends well。。。Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest is the first book I have read from Wahl， but I certainly hope it will not be the last！ I had never heard of her before having this one recommended to me， so I am glad to have that oversight corrected， as her story was engaging and her artwork simply charming。 I sought this one out （and had it recommended to me） largely on the strength of my interest in witchy picture-books， but having now read it， I think Hazel is less of a witch， in the traditional sense， and more of an elf or woodland sprite。 Her "magic" consists of herbal concoctions and traditional healing， rather than casting spells or enchantments。 Of course， I suppose one could argue that the figure of the witch initially does come from the Wise Woman herbalist/healer archetype， so perhaps Hazel is a witch after all。 Whatever the case might be， she makes an appealing little heroine， and I hope that Wahl will revisit her world， with its cast of animals and magical creatures， and its days of fun and friendship。 I was reminded a bit here of the work of such greats as Elsa Beskow， as well as such books as Marilyn Nickson and Fritz Baumgartne's Nicky and His Forest Friends。 Highly recommended to young fairy-tale enthusiasts， or picture-book readers who enjoy seasonal stories with some magic in them。 。。。more
Candace
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This book takes us through a gentle year with Little Witch Hazel and it was an absolute lovely time。 It harkens back to the style of some classic picture books from a generation or two ago， but with some modern touches and wider representation and themes。 I would love to have more Little Witch Hazel stories！
Pinky
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Little Witch Hazel raises Otis， until he is big enough to go out on his own。 Otis saves Hazel from a frozen demise and tucks her back safe inside her home。
June
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A story about a little witch from each season。Spring - rescues an egg and raises an owl。Summer - Enjoys the day and leaves her errands for tomorrowFall - Discovers who is haunting a stump - someone in need of a friendWinter - After treating her neighbors she is rescued from a blizzard。
Christany
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Beautiful artwork and sweet little stories sectioned by season with a cozy， cottagecore / forestcore vibe。 Absolutely my jam！
Shanley
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simply enchanting
Kristina
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Adorable。 I want to live in this world。 I loved the inclusion of a main character who wasn't straight-sized。 Adorable。 I want to live in this world。 I loved the inclusion of a main character who wasn't straight-sized。 。。。more
Jae
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Simultaneously old fashioned and contemporary， utterly delightful， cottagecore dreamscape。
Rebecca Caufman
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This book has 4 chapters， one for each season and chronicles a Little Witch Hazel's year。 This book has 4 chapters， one for each season and chronicles a Little Witch Hazel's year。 。。。more
Jennifer
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This book caught my eye at the library- I picked it up on the title alone。 A few days later， I read Betsy Bird’s review and I knew I was in for something special。 I want to crawl inside this book and live in the pages。 Pure magic。
n
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CUTESTTT BOOK THAT I’VE EVERR READDDDD
Tompkins County Public Library Youth Services
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I had high hopes for this book and it exceeded expectations！ This would be the most perfect lap-sit read aloud。 Earthy， warm， and kind。 I also love that Little Witch Hazel has a big round body and hairy legs。 Kids will love the stories and the cozy details， and it’s the perfect update for all of us adults who grew up on David the Gnome。
Betsy
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I don’t think anyone really understands what “subversive” means anymore。 At least not when we talk about books for kids。 There was a time when children’s books， particularly picture books， could go a little wild and adults were the ones left shocked。 Whether it was the horror of Slugs by David Greenberg and Victoria Chess， the unapologetic nudity of Maurice Sendak’s In the Night Kitchen， or the surprise ending awaiting you in books like Zeralda’s Ogre by Tomi Ungerer， books for children that up I don’t think anyone really understands what “subversive” means anymore。 At least not when we talk about books for kids。 There was a time when children’s books， particularly picture books， could go a little wild and adults were the ones left shocked。 Whether it was the horror of Slugs by David Greenberg and Victoria Chess， the unapologetic nudity of Maurice Sendak’s In the Night Kitchen， or the surprise ending awaiting you in books like Zeralda’s Ogre by Tomi Ungerer， books for children that upset expectations are what keep our shelves interesting。 Sometimes I get worried that they’re not allowed to be surprising anymore。 Everything gets churned through the same corporate press， rendering them relatively flat and samey。 Maybe that’s why I get so excited when I come across something that looks innocuous， and then sneaks up on the reader in unexpected ways。 There is nothing about the outward appearance of Little Witch Hazel to suggest that it is in any way subversive。 Anyone might write it off as a sweet looking bedtime book。 And it IS a sweet bedtime book。 It’s just also smart， sassy， upsets the gender normies， is pro-breastfeeding in public， has a heroine that doesn’t shave her legs， is body positive， portrays the differently abled 。 。 。 and is about a tiny witch in the woods。 Did I mention that it’s also excellent？ I feel like that should factor in。 Four seasons。 Four stories。 Each one starring Little Witch Hazel。 In the spring story “The Orphaned Egg”， Little Witch Hazel discovers just that。 After taking the egg home it soon becomes a fuzzy little baby owl and she promptly names him Otis。 But what happens when wild things grow too big for houses？ In the summer story “The Lazy Day”， Little Witch Hazel has a million things to do 。 。 。 and a million friends determined to help her enjoy the day。 The autumn story “The Haunted Stump” sets up an appropriately spooky tale， when everyone hears unearthly moans emanating from a nearby stump。 Finally， in the winter story “The Blizzard” we see Little Witch Hazel making her rounds in the forest。 What she doesn’t see is the approaching snow storm， and the return of an old friend。 Each tale is told simply and well with art that draws you in and makes you reluctant to ever leave。The large pages of this book clock in at 11。25” X 9。25”。 There are detailed endpapers to pore over。 As for the art， Wahl is working with digital illustrations that use colored-pencil textures。 Not that you’d ever be able to tell。 Digital art has grown so sophisticated in the last decade that this book feels distinctly handmade from start to finish。 In terms of the content， there’s a definite Jill Barklem Brambly Hedge feel to the enterprise， though the art style is completely different。 I’m thinking more in terms of tone。 The book taps into the comfort that comes to a child when they see friendly neighbors in a woodland setting having a wonderful time with one another。 This was the kind of thing that really appealed to me as a kid。 Community and nature and that sense that you have a village of people willing to support one another （and you！）。 For this reason alone， it’s an ideal gift book。 All the more reason that I was delighted to find that it did not bore me in the least。 This is the kind of book designed to upset the apple cart when it comes to your standard fairy-in-the-woods tales。A good friend of mine， and an even better author， once explained to me the allure of fairies。 While princesses are so often trapped in their finery， and are strictly indoor creatures， fairies are deeply connected to nature。 They get to run and fly and get dirty。 They have outsized emotions for their petite statures。 Remind you of anyone you know？ Little Witch Hazel， one is obligated to note here， is not a fairy per se。 She doesn’t even sport any wings。 Even so， she is small and capable and she lives in the forest and there are plenty of fairy-obsessed young children who won’t care one jot that her name seems to indicate “witch” rather than fae。 For those children， this book is bound to be beloved。 And to get back to what I was saying about subversion earlier， I like books that look old-fashioned but are written with a contemporary mind at work。 The little forest denizens of this book represent a range of skin tones， body types， and ages。 The summer story even shows them in wheelchairs， with beards and dresses， and generally showing a wider diversity of people than you tend to see in books of this sort。 It’s not showy。 A lot of folks might miss it。 But it is there and it is important。 This isn’t Phoebe Wahl’s first time at this rodeo。 It is possible that you’ve stumbled across some of her other picture books before。 The Blue House comes immediately to mind。 That was a book unafraid to look old-fashioned and tell a contemporary tale of getting priced out of your neighborhood。 Here， she shows why she’s one of the most interesting author/illustrators to watch。 You can make pretty pictures all day， but unless your writing is up to snuff， it won’t really matter。 Likewise， you might have a gift with a pen， but go halfsies on your art and it’ll make the whole book suffer。 Here， Wahl marries a great text with beautiful illustrations with seemingly little effort。 People always focus so much on the visual aspects of a picture book， but it’s the writing that makes or breaks everything。 Wahl keeps her sentences short and at a clip， but never abandons what it is that makes a book evocative。 I love lines like “The sky was a dusty shade of peach， and the frozen ground crackled under her boots。” Or how two owls sport faces， “like twin moons in the gathering dark。” She has a way with words， this one。Children will be immersed in this world， season by season。 This is a book they can return to over and over。 After all， who amongst them won’t be able to relate to a small person in an outsized setting？ Their adult readers， meanwhile， will identify in entirely different ways。 For example， in the summer story “The Lazy Day”， Wahl does a wonderful job of showing someone getting increasingly agitated thanks， in part， to the heat。 There’s a shot of Hazel with her cheeks flushed and her temper high with one bedraggled hair stuck to her forehead that hit me where I live。 The book also rewards rereading。 Adults will undoubtedly find themselves relieved to discover that anytime you see a book or newspaper， it’s going to have a funny name。 These can be as simple as a newspaper called “The Walnut Journal” or a book called “Elf-Love Practices”， or it can be as sophisticated as “Who Rules the Woods” by （I kid you not） Gnome Chomsky。 I mean， that’s worth the price of the book right there。In the future it may not be notable that a fairy/woodsy book believes in representation。 It really shouldn’t be notable now， but here we are。 And what a pleasure to find a book that distinguishes itself。 The kind of book you can remember more than 10 minutes after you finish it。 Maybe even more importantly， a book that children will read， remember， and perhaps someday pass on to their children。 Little Witch Hazel feels like the kind of book every children’s author wishes that they could write， yet so few are capable of creating themselves。 A throwback。 A sign of picture books to come。 In the end， it’s just one of the best books of the year。 Here’s hoping there’s more Little Witch Hazel in our future， then。 。。。more
Ainay
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Oh I love the art sooooo much 🥰🥺
Melissa the Librarian
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Loved this book！！ I was a fan of Wahl's "The Blue House，" even though it's a more melancholy story than this one。 I loved the richness of the illustrations， the changing outfits and seasons， and mini-stories。 Will be buying this book for myself！ Loved this book！！ I was a fan of Wahl's "The Blue House，" even though it's a more melancholy story than this one。 I loved the richness of the illustrations， the changing outfits and seasons， and mini-stories。 Will be buying this book for myself！ 。。。more
Christina
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Touching and beautiful！ An instamt classic！
Cynthia
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*SCREAMS* THIS WAS PRECIOUS！！！ Brought back so many nostalgic feelings of reading as a child， those books with the golden covers and stories like the little red hen。 I'm obsessed。 What a treat！Thanks to the publisher for a copy。 Recommend！！！ *SCREAMS* THIS WAS PRECIOUS！！！ Brought back so many nostalgic feelings of reading as a child， those books with the golden covers and stories like the little red hen。 I'm obsessed。 What a treat！Thanks to the publisher for a copy。 Recommend！！！ 。。。more
Angela Kaesheimer
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What a cozy little read。 It felt so timeless and just what I needed to finish up a rainy day。
Laura
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A good one for the young ones。 I didn’t like it as much as The Blue House or Sonya’s Chickens because I was looking for a bit more of a story with intent， but I am sure the drawings will capture the heart of a little one and they’ll lose themselves in Little Witch Hazel’s world。
Andi Butler
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I love all of Phoebe Wahl’s stories and illustrations， but this one is definitely my favorite！
Allison
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A beautiful collection of 4 simple seasonal stories lush with illustrations。 The stories tell lessons of friendship and self-love as well as quietly overthrowing stereotyped roles。 I want to buy this one to read with my baby！
Sam
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A very cute， cozy story。 I wish I could live the Little Witch Hazel。 This gave me such cottagecore vibes， I am in love！ The art reminded me of the books of my childhood。
Los Gatos Library
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Absolutely loved this one。 I love all of Phoebe Wahl's illustrations。 Four sweet stories corresponding to the seasons， and it all comes full circle。 Younger and older children would enjoy this one！ Grace - Librarian Absolutely loved this one。 I love all of Phoebe Wahl's illustrations。 Four sweet stories corresponding to the seasons， and it all comes full circle。 Younger and older children would enjoy this one！ Grace - Librarian 。。。more
Molly Cluff （Library！）
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I love everything Phoebe Wahl does--she's created this adorable forest community that's like a fairy village with little people and animals living in their cozy stumps and hollow trees。 Having a separate story for each season did make it rather long for a picture book--but I love the art so much that I didn't mind （though I probably wouln't use it in a storytime program）。 Hazel is adorable and I want to be her friend。 I love all the color choices and variety of chacters with different body types I love everything Phoebe Wahl does--she's created this adorable forest community that's like a fairy village with little people and animals living in their cozy stumps and hollow trees。 Having a separate story for each season did make it rather long for a picture book--but I love the art so much that I didn't mind （though I probably wouln't use it in a storytime program）。 Hazel is adorable and I want to be her friend。 I love all the color choices and variety of chacters with different body types。 Cozy and atmospheric and immersive for one-on-one reads。 。。。more
Nabilah
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Such gorgeous， whimsical illustrations！
Juli Anna
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An old-fashioned delight， full of woodland fun。
Trish Fibs
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