STYX AND SCONES IN THE STICKY WAND

Pets and witches—two perennial favorites—star in this graphic novel for newer readers.

Two witches, short, smiling, light-skinned Miss Hildy, who wears a purple dress, and Miss Hattie, a tall, traditional-looking witch, with a green face and long nose, sporting a black outfit and crooked pointy hat, give strict instructions to Styx, a purple cat, and Scones, a large gingery-looking dog, before leaving the house: “Don’t go touching any of that stuff.” They mean “creepy crystal balls,” “flying brooms,” and “boiling cauldrons and time-twisty clocks.” Do the pets heed these words? Scones immediately picks up an unmentioned “stick” and proceeds to say some magic words like “KA-ZING!” and “KA-ZAP!” As Styx points out that the stick is a wand, Scones transforms the cat into a bat, a smelly skunk, a squirrel, a “sssssslithery” snake, and a purple giraffe. Soon the two are fighting over the stick/wand…and conjuring up bizarre objects, from jungle animals to a huge ship. Eventually the wand breaks with a giant “POP!” The two pets then begin to worry and must think of a solution before their witchy owners return. The Seussian situation will amuse young readers while they enjoy the cartoony panels. The instructions about reading the book at the very beginning are a bit confusing, but kids will figure it out.

Appealing animal interaction with some magic thrown in.