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The Witch's Hand
George's Dad tells his son the hair-raising story about the witch who visited them in the middle of the night and whose brown, shriveled-up hand--cleverly severed by George's Mom--was now pinned to the wall of their studio
24 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 30, 2014
A perfect little book for Halloween. If you have a child that is not too sensitive to scary stories, this one is a suspenseful read.
Little George sees a strange object hanging on the wall of his Dad's study. When he asks his Dad what it is, Dad tell him it is a Witch's Hand and the harrowing tale of how he obtained it. Fortunately, not all is at it seems and George finds himself asking from more by the end of Dads story.
I read this book to multiple groups grades 1-3 children at my daughter's school. Overall, the story kept their attention and enjoyed guessing if the Witch's Hand was real. Some kids found the pictures of the Witch to be a bit scary and admittedly, the story is a rather creepy. Not for really sensitive kids. The story ends on a light note but still, my 7 year old daughter was a bit creeped out when I read it to her before bed :)
Little George sees a strange object hanging on the wall of his Dad's study. When he asks his Dad what it is, Dad tell him it is a Witch's Hand and the harrowing tale of how he obtained it. Fortunately, not all is at it seems and George finds himself asking from more by the end of Dads story.
I read this book to multiple groups grades 1-3 children at my daughter's school. Overall, the story kept their attention and enjoyed guessing if the Witch's Hand was real. Some kids found the pictures of the Witch to be a bit scary and admittedly, the story is a rather creepy. Not for really sensitive kids. The story ends on a light note but still, my 7 year old daughter was a bit creeped out when I read it to her before bed :)
October 24, 2019
When George sees a "horrible, brown, crinkly thing" pinned to the wall of his father's studio, his questions about it elicit a spooky tale of a witch's visit, and his parents' battle against her. Waking in the middle of the night, his father tells him, to a "slither-slither-pat-pat-cackle-cackle," he follows the sound into George and his brother's bedroom, where he discovers a horrifically ugly witch about to stuff them into a dirty sack. Challenging this magical intruder, the father is almost overcome, until Mummy arrives on the scene with a sword - the one in the broom cupboard - that allows him to triumph, cutting off the witch's hand, which is then pinned to his wall as a reminder to lock the doors at night. Of course, when the boy inquires as to the truth of this tale, his father's response reveals a different story...
I greatly enjoyed this witchy picture-book from British author/artist Peter Utton, finding both story and illustrations immensely appealing. It isn't every book that can manage to be both spooky and humorous (the sword being found in the broom cupboard, of course!), but The Witch's Hand does so with aplomb. The language itself, as seen from the brief snippets quoted above, is intensely descriptive, evoking the sounds and sights of the tale. The artwork - done in watercolor, I believe, although there is no note to that effect on the colophon (something I miss, when reading European picture-books, as their American cousins do tend to provide that information) - is quite brilliant, particularly in the depiction of the witch. The two-page spread in which she confronts the father, her cloak swept around her, her pale greenish eyes flashing, is truly magnificent, capturing the movement of the scene. and the intruder's menace. All in all, a brilliant book! My only quibble is that the conclusion of the tale, in which George learns that the "hand" is really a , feels like a bit of a letdown. Leaving that aside, this is one I would recommend wholeheartedly to children who enjoy spooky tales. Who knows? They may find the conclusion a reassurance, after the scare, rather than a disappointment.
I greatly enjoyed this witchy picture-book from British author/artist Peter Utton, finding both story and illustrations immensely appealing. It isn't every book that can manage to be both spooky and humorous (the sword being found in the broom cupboard, of course!), but The Witch's Hand does so with aplomb. The language itself, as seen from the brief snippets quoted above, is intensely descriptive, evoking the sounds and sights of the tale. The artwork - done in watercolor, I believe, although there is no note to that effect on the colophon (something I miss, when reading European picture-books, as their American cousins do tend to provide that information) - is quite brilliant, particularly in the depiction of the witch. The two-page spread in which she confronts the father, her cloak swept around her, her pale greenish eyes flashing, is truly magnificent, capturing the movement of the scene. and the intruder's menace. All in all, a brilliant book! My only quibble is that the conclusion of the tale, in which George learns that the "hand" is really a , feels like a bit of a letdown. Leaving that aside, this is one I would recommend wholeheartedly to children who enjoy spooky tales. Who knows? They may find the conclusion a reassurance, after the scare, rather than a disappointment.
May 28, 2022
ya’ll sleeping on this book. i was obsessed with this story as a little girl, i made my mum or grandma read it to me every night before bed. did it scare me? yes. did i love it anyway? also yes.
this was genuinely my favourite picture book as a child (and still is a favourite!). i will hear no slander ✋🏼
this was genuinely my favourite picture book as a child (and still is a favourite!). i will hear no slander ✋🏼
September 17, 2019
Our son was a totally normal and well-balanced boy until one very misguided poor soul read this book to him and others at his day care centre. Then he stopped walking into any room by himself, had nightmares about witches and withdrew into a shell. It affected about half of the kids. It is completely scary, it will completely terrify younger kids and I suggest never ever ever reading it to kids under 10-12 years of age. I read other reviewers have had similar results from school age children in years 1-3. It beggars belief why anyone with a healthy mind would write a story about a gnarly old witch who sneaks into kids houses in the dark of the night to abduct them, and then call it a children's story.
July 11, 2024
Great spooky and funny book for kids, I loved it when my grandpa read it to me and is now one of my sons favorite books
September 10, 2013
Absolutely LOVE this book. A great balance between spine-tingling and silly. The illustrations are gorgeous and although I'm not usually keen on watercolour they really add to the dreamy, story telling nature of this book. Read it to find out what exactly that brown, crinkly thing is pinned to George's Dad's wall.
I am now a HUGE fan of Peter Utton and will be reading his other books, plus those where he has provided the illustrations.
I am now a HUGE fan of Peter Utton and will be reading his other books, plus those where he has provided the illustrations.
October 13, 2014
This little gem should be a brief yet perfect Halloween treat for kids this time of year. A brave father battles an eeevil witch to protect his family with might and main...or s it only a story for his own kids? Either way, it helps kids feel better knowing that dad is always there to protect them..no matter what.
June 16, 2010
A tall tale with voices & sound effects. Great for story time -- unless your little one tends to get scared. Watercolors seemed like an odd choice of illustrations for this book... didn't really care for 'em.
October 31, 2012
This book was cute. I really hope I can tell good stories to my kids when I am a parent, but I think it would have been much cooler if the reader and the little boy didn't find out that the witch's hand was a once pretty fall leaf.
April 1, 2011
This has to be my son's all time favorite picture book. We checked it out of the library over and over again. I finally bought a copy and will give it to him someday if he has children of his own.
November 24, 2011
One of the best children's book ever written. I used to read this to my children when they were small. My daughter is now 21 and still talks about it sometimes.
October 31, 2014
Very cute!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews