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Winnie the Witch #5
The New Computer
Winnie the Witch loves her new computer. All her magic will be at the click of a mouse, so she throws away her book of spells and her wand. Then Wilbur pounces on the mouse, and things start to go wrong.
Winnie could really use a little magic but just where is it going to come from ...
Winnie could really use a little magic but just where is it going to come from ...
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
5 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Thomas
250 books89 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Valerie Thomas is the author of the bestselling and much loved Winnie the Witch picture books, illustrated by Korky Paul.
Valerie was born in Australia and has lived there for most of her life. Although she doesn’t have a broomstick, she has traveled to most parts of the world, and she is now trying to organize her life so that she never has to experience another winter. She used to live with a big black cat exactly like Wilbur, but luckily her house was not black.
Valerie Thomas is the author of the bestselling and much loved Winnie the Witch picture books, illustrated by Korky Paul.
Valerie was born in Australia and has lived there for most of her life. Although she doesn’t have a broomstick, she has traveled to most parts of the world, and she is now trying to organize her life so that she never has to experience another winter. She used to live with a big black cat exactly like Wilbur, but luckily her house was not black.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 6, 2017
Great illustrations to help contextualise reading..
December 20, 2018
Winnie the witch and Wilbur the cat return in this fifth adventure, confronting the wonders (and terrors!) of technology. When Winnie gets a new computer, she is immediately engrossed by this new toy, and not as attentive as she should be to Wilbur, whose natural curiosity about this "mouse" she's using leads to the usual feline/computer mishaps. Winnie compounds her mistake by putting Wilbur out in the rain, and then turning him blue! Thinking that her computer will make spell-casting so much easier, she even throws out her spell-book. But when a disgruntled Wilbur sneaks in to the computer room late that night and manages to vanish himself, and the computer, Winnie realizes that there is still a need for traditional magic. Can she bring Wilbur back...?
As with my previous forays into the world of Winnie and Wilbur, I was completely charmed by Winnie's New Computer, enjoying both the entertaining tale and the engaging artwork. I happened to read a 'Folio Edition,' which is significantly larger than a regular picture-book - such editions are printed for story-hour, and allow the storyteller to share the artwork more readily with a large audience - and this greatly increased the pleasure I took in perusing the illustrations. There is always so much detail to Korky Paul's witchy scenes, from the many little creatures who live (unremarked upon) in Winnie's house, to the droll expressions on the faces of both witch and cat, and this larger-format edition really allows the reader to appreciate that. Like all the Winnie books, the endpapers were created by a child fan - in this case, a 10.5-year-old girl named Rebecca - and that too adds to the charm. I continue to be impressed by the Winnie books, and think they may end up being one of my favourite contemporary witchy picture-books series.
As with my previous forays into the world of Winnie and Wilbur, I was completely charmed by Winnie's New Computer, enjoying both the entertaining tale and the engaging artwork. I happened to read a 'Folio Edition,' which is significantly larger than a regular picture-book - such editions are printed for story-hour, and allow the storyteller to share the artwork more readily with a large audience - and this greatly increased the pleasure I took in perusing the illustrations. There is always so much detail to Korky Paul's witchy scenes, from the many little creatures who live (unremarked upon) in Winnie's house, to the droll expressions on the faces of both witch and cat, and this larger-format edition really allows the reader to appreciate that. Like all the Winnie books, the endpapers were created by a child fan - in this case, a 10.5-year-old girl named Rebecca - and that too adds to the charm. I continue to be impressed by the Winnie books, and think they may end up being one of my favourite contemporary witchy picture-books series.
June 25, 2018
Anglický humor, vtipné, detailné ilustrácie, čary a sympatické postavy. Toto je must have kniha!
V slovenčine ešte vyšli Čarodejnica Winnie a Čarodejnica Winnie - šesť príbehov.
V slovenčine ešte vyšli Čarodejnica Winnie a Čarodejnica Winnie - šesť príbehov.
January 23, 2020
Winnie the Witch has a new computer and when she switches it on she declares, 'Come on, mouse.' Her delightful cat Wilbur hears this and thinks, 'Is that a mouse? It doesn't look like one.'
Winnie starts looking for a new wand on-line and Wilbur plays with the mouse, which annoys Winnie so she puts Wilbur outside ... in the rain. Winnie orders a new wand and then surfs the net with Wilbur, dripping with rain, looking in from outside and thinking 'That mouse has put a spell on her.'
Then the rain pours in through holes in the roof so Winnie gets her wand, shouts Abracadabra and the rain coming in stops. She then lets Wilbur back in, loads the book of spells onto the computer and then tests it out by casting a spell to change Wilbur, who she has let back in, into a blue cat. 'Good, it works', says Winnie.
Armed with this knowledge, she decides that she can dispense with her book of spells and her wand because she can do everything via the computer. She throws them into the trash from where they will be picked up by the garbage truck and she goes to bed for a peaceful night's sleep.
But that isn't for Wilbur, he plays with the mouse and causes absolute havoc, so much so that the following morning both computer and Wilbur, who had changed himself into a blue cat again, were invisible. Winnie has no wand to cast a spell to bring them back so she frantically dashes outside to reclaim them from the trash only to see the garbage truck driving away.
Fortunately her new wand had arrived so she waves it, shouts her magic word and magically the book and her old wand are spirited out of the garbage truck to safety. Winnie then uses them to bring back Wilbur and her computer, which she then uses to return Wilbur to his natural colour.
Knowing her high tec system works again she is happy but she decides to keep her old spell book and old wand just in case anything goes wrong in the future!
As always Winnie and Wilbur are pure magic, the illustrations are terrific ... and the pair are great fun to follow.
Winnie starts looking for a new wand on-line and Wilbur plays with the mouse, which annoys Winnie so she puts Wilbur outside ... in the rain. Winnie orders a new wand and then surfs the net with Wilbur, dripping with rain, looking in from outside and thinking 'That mouse has put a spell on her.'
Then the rain pours in through holes in the roof so Winnie gets her wand, shouts Abracadabra and the rain coming in stops. She then lets Wilbur back in, loads the book of spells onto the computer and then tests it out by casting a spell to change Wilbur, who she has let back in, into a blue cat. 'Good, it works', says Winnie.
Armed with this knowledge, she decides that she can dispense with her book of spells and her wand because she can do everything via the computer. She throws them into the trash from where they will be picked up by the garbage truck and she goes to bed for a peaceful night's sleep.
But that isn't for Wilbur, he plays with the mouse and causes absolute havoc, so much so that the following morning both computer and Wilbur, who had changed himself into a blue cat again, were invisible. Winnie has no wand to cast a spell to bring them back so she frantically dashes outside to reclaim them from the trash only to see the garbage truck driving away.
Fortunately her new wand had arrived so she waves it, shouts her magic word and magically the book and her old wand are spirited out of the garbage truck to safety. Winnie then uses them to bring back Wilbur and her computer, which she then uses to return Wilbur to his natural colour.
Knowing her high tec system works again she is happy but she decides to keep her old spell book and old wand just in case anything goes wrong in the future!
As always Winnie and Wilbur are pure magic, the illustrations are terrific ... and the pair are great fun to follow.
February 17, 2022
Uzaktan gelen misafir
November 2, 2023
Este libro lo leía de peque y las ilustraciones son increíbles y tan detalladas. Es un libro infantil tiene tipo 7 págs lol pero ayer estaba teniendo un ataque de pánico a la madrugada y lo agarré y lo leí de vuelta y vi las imágenes y quería q quede registro acá de q es uno de mis libros comfort y no hay edad límite o máxima para q algo te ayude y te acompañe. Podría estar horas viendo las imágenes, encima es grandote y lo podés abrazar ah jajajaj
September 11, 2019
A valuable lesson, sometimes technology is not as reliable as having the physical information with you. Winnie depends too much on her new computer and realizes that she has to value information that is not always cyber and also that she is neglecting her cat Wilbur.
March 18, 2018
Another great Winnie adventure.
January 31, 2019
A good message about computers!
May 29, 2020
4.75 stars
September 17, 2020
Good fun. Great to read out loud with lots of visuals and silly noises to make. Fun book for kids who are still reading picture books but with a bit more text than some- pictures also useful.
November 7, 2020
A lovely story about getting a new computer and how going digital is not without its flaws. May be nice to help introduce computing and safety on the internet in a light-hearted way.
August 5, 2021
A nice, funny adventure of Winnie and Wilbur. Sends a good message about computers too.
June 28, 2022
Nos lo pasamos bien leyendo esta historia mi hijo de 5 años y yo. La bruja brunilda y Bruno (el gato) pocas veces decepcionan.
August 4, 2022
This English book brought me some memories of when I was younger, because at that time I also liked Winnie the Witch.
August 31, 2024
El mejor libro🩷🩷
June 3, 2025
Como amo las historias donde Wilbur es EL protagonista <333
July 12, 2025
Amaba estos libros.
Los recomiendo mucho.
Los recomiendo mucho.
August 16, 2014
‘Winnie’s New Computer’ from the popular series by Valerie Thomas ‘Winnie The Witch’ is a really engaging, fantastically illustrated children’s book. In ‘Winnie’s New Computer’ Winnie, after buying a computer, decides her spell books are no longer needed and throws them away. When Wilbur the cat tries to pounce on the mouse, however, things start to go wrong as Wilbur and the computer disappear. Winnie then has to retrieve her spell books for the rubbish truck and cast a spell to save Wilbur.
This lovely children’s book would be great to introduce into a KS1 classroom. The book would be great to read as a class or with an individual child to help develop their reading skills.
What makes this book so special is the wonderful illustrations that are really detailed and very comical. The illustrations compliment the words very well and provide a visual aid that will excite younger children as they can point to Winnie’s dysfunctional house, Wilbur’s huge simile, or Winnie’s unusual outfit.
Although primarily a picture book, Valerie Thomas actually uses a rather sophisticated writing style for a children’s book making this story a valuable resource in the classroom. The words are printed in black Arial font rather than bright coloured, bold or fun fonts that are common in picture books. This helps introduce children to the font that is in older books, which they will move on to as their reading skills develop. Furthermore, Thomas expands on the storyline by describing emotions such as ‘she was very excited’ and ‘Winnie was cross.’ This helps children to infer and understand what is happening in the story. Finally, another brilliant characteristic of the book is Thomas’ use of speech marks. Speech marks are not often available in young picture books so this story is a great way to introduce a child to new punctuation.
In conclusion, all the books from the ���Winnie The Witch’ series are great books that can engage strong readers with its adult font and punctuation, but the simple and fun storyline, supported by the colourful illustrations, ensures weaker readers will also enjoy the book. The book is great to read aloud as a group but even the weaker readers can take the book home to practice. Online there are easily accessible audio books, for example,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r6x98... links to a free and fun audio book version which a child could read along to during their own time.
This lovely children’s book would be great to introduce into a KS1 classroom. The book would be great to read as a class or with an individual child to help develop their reading skills.
What makes this book so special is the wonderful illustrations that are really detailed and very comical. The illustrations compliment the words very well and provide a visual aid that will excite younger children as they can point to Winnie’s dysfunctional house, Wilbur’s huge simile, or Winnie’s unusual outfit.
Although primarily a picture book, Valerie Thomas actually uses a rather sophisticated writing style for a children’s book making this story a valuable resource in the classroom. The words are printed in black Arial font rather than bright coloured, bold or fun fonts that are common in picture books. This helps introduce children to the font that is in older books, which they will move on to as their reading skills develop. Furthermore, Thomas expands on the storyline by describing emotions such as ‘she was very excited’ and ‘Winnie was cross.’ This helps children to infer and understand what is happening in the story. Finally, another brilliant characteristic of the book is Thomas’ use of speech marks. Speech marks are not often available in young picture books so this story is a great way to introduce a child to new punctuation.
In conclusion, all the books from the ���Winnie The Witch’ series are great books that can engage strong readers with its adult font and punctuation, but the simple and fun storyline, supported by the colourful illustrations, ensures weaker readers will also enjoy the book. The book is great to read aloud as a group but even the weaker readers can take the book home to practice. Online there are easily accessible audio books, for example,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r6x98... links to a free and fun audio book version which a child could read along to during their own time.
February 1, 2016
I like Winnie. This little witch is obssessed in computer and lost her cat, Wilbur. Fortunately, she gets him back.
I like Valerie Thomas and korky paul's Winnie series. Most of all, I really like the illustration and simple but interesting story. Really adorable cute book. I want to collect this series.
I like Valerie Thomas and korky paul's Winnie series. Most of all, I really like the illustration and simple but interesting story. Really adorable cute book. I want to collect this series.
May 28, 2016
Buku Winnie dan Komputernya merupakan buku Seri Winnie the Witch kedua yang saya baca.
Pesan moralnya jangan pernah terlalu tergantung dengan tekhnologi dan tergerus arus modernisasi karena terkadang cara tradisional tetaplah yang terbaik ;)
Pesan moralnya jangan pernah terlalu tergantung dengan tekhnologi dan tergerus arus modernisasi karena terkadang cara tradisional tetaplah yang terbaik ;)
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August 2, 2009I love Korky Paul's illustrations - so full of colorful details and texture.
March 24, 2010
My little loves witches, and so this book was quite the thrill. I think we'll soon be checking out the other Winnie books.
March 2, 2015
Winnie gets so obsessed with her new computer and it is all very cute!!
January 5, 2016
Cautionary tale about what trouble can come of allowing yourself to get too wrapped up with technology.
April 23, 2016
read this to year one and then had a discussion about how you should not always rely on technology and computers.
October 15, 2016
We all love Winnie's adventures :-)
We did feel sorry for Wilbur in the rain!
We did feel sorry for Wilbur in the rain!
April 28, 2022
We liked reading this book. It's funny, with cool drawings, and we'll keep an eye out for more nooks about Winnie and Wilbur.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews