Yuck!

Emma the Witch #1

by James Stevenson

Dolores and Lavinia, two old and experienced witches, meet their match in young Emma, whose secret weapon is not rat tails or skunk cabbage, but friendship

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1984

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads databse.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When witches Dolores and Lavinia begin brewing nasty potions in the woods, the local animals are less than thrilled. Then Emma, a smaller and kinder witch, appears, and asks if she too can make a potion. Turned away with sneers and jeers, she heads off on her own, greatly disheartened. The animals seek to comfort her, and together they come up with a plan to fool Dolores and Lavinia, and have a wonderful meal together into the bargain...

Published in 1984, Yuck! is the second of author/illustrator James Stevenson's picture-books about Emma the witch that I have read, following upon the eponymous Emma . I was under the impression that Emma was in fact the first book in the series, which includes six titles, but as it turns out, Yuck! was published before it. However that may be, it was an entertaining and humorously witchy tale, and featured the same cartoon-style illustrations (complete with comic-book style panels) as Emma . Recommended to James Stevenson fans, and to young picture-book readers who enjoy witchy tales with a humorous bent.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my all time favorite books when I was little. I specifically remember going to the library with my mom and taking this book out multiple times. The two other witches, Dolores and Lavinia, who I called Dolores and Bebinia, are fantastic, and the book is a lot of fun! One of my best friends bought me Emma, the second book, for my birthday a few years ago, and it's because of her diligent searching online that she found out the real name of the book, since I thought the title was Dolores and Bebinia! A must read for children!

[Stephanie Hirsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept, moral story about being nice to others in a way. Witches are brewing a potion but won't let the little one help. So the little one, and all her animal friends make their own potion. It fools the witches. My daughter thoroughly enjoys this book.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dolores and Lavinia, two witches with magic potion powers, won’t let Emma join in or even share a potion. Dolores and Lavinia laugh at her saying she doesn’t know how. But Emma finds a way to make a duck moo and a cow quack and Dolores and Lavinia can’t believe it.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

When two mean old witches won't teach young Emma how to make a potion, her forest friends help her concoct a nifty "spell" that startles the old biddies. Very cute ending - all done in Stevenson's cartoony style.