Lulu and the Witch Baby
(I Can Read! Level 2: Reading With Help)

K-Gr 2--Lulu is not happy. She glowers at her sister as she receives her baby gifts: a bat rattle from Aunt Boo Boo, a witch doll with a broomstick from Cousin Hazel, and a Dracula-in-the-box from Uncle Fuzzy. Her sister's annoying behaviors also receive no consequences from her parents; "'Witch Baby is just a baby, '" explains her mother. Left in charge of her sibling, Lulu Witch reaches her wit's end when the child destroys her favorite piece of artwork. The older girl creates a witchy concoction, though she is missing the 17th cat hair she needs for her spell, and she attempts in vain to make her sibling disappear. When she finally believes her spell is successful, Lulu Witch is immediately repentant. Quickly reunited with her little sister, Lulu Witch learns to appreciate her sibling. Though the story transitions a little too quickly for nuanced character development, this tale is appropriate for emerging readers. Cartoon illustrations with darker colors reinforce the brief story line. With barely a touch of spookiness, there's no spell about it--this is a standard treatment of the dynamics found in sibling relationships.--Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC