How to Be a Witch

Unveil the world of REAL witches—everyday people who are natural healers and wise helpers—with a fun, empowering read-aloud for the whole family (or coven!). Complete with a kid-friendly spell that’s perfect for celebrating Halloween, or discovering your inner magic any time of year.

Most people, kids included, have very specific associations with “witch” – perhaps a scheming, warted, and/or green-faced woman in a pointy hat and heels, brewing a potion with gruesome ingredients intended for harm or dark magic. And though witches are real, none of that is actually true! Over many centuries, knowledgeable, powerful, and healing women have been demonized by men who fear a loss of power or pride. And through those same centuries, certain people have passed down their lived and learned knowledge of nature’s power to heal. Those who identify as witches today are most often natural healers whose wisdom serves to help those around them.

Written in a conversational, engaging tone, and illustrated in an accessible and appealing style, this book dispels stereotypes and expands young readers’ knowledge of what it means to be a REAL witch. Complete with a suggested potion and spell in the backmatter, this is a current and worthy celebration of witches!An enticing invitation to connect with nature and share one’s own brand of magic with the world. —BooklistGabrielle Balkan (she/her) is best known for nonfiction books that delight readers ages 2–12 with curious and essential facts about the United States, animal record-breakers, map navigating, and more. She lives, works, and rides bikes in Brooklyn and the Hudson Valley with her twin sixth graders and a writer husband.

Shana Gozansky is a theater director whose work has been produced from NYC to LA. She holds an MFA in directing from the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Programs and is a graduate of Bard College. She is a Drama League Directing Fellow with a focus on developing new plays. Shana is a feminist, a mother, and a social media humorist.

Carmen Saldaña is an illustrator living in Gijón, Spain. She has illustrated several children’s books, including The Only Way Is Badger, I Give You the World, Howard the Average Gecko, and Bunny Bear, to name a few. She finds nature a main source of inspiration.