Mrs Blackhat and the ZoomBroom!

Mrs Blackhat #2

by Chloë Inkpen, Mick Inkpen

Mrs Blackhat the witch has a new broom. And it's not just any broom: it's a whizzy new ZoomBroom, with buttons and bleeps and its very own high-tech app! But when the battery on the ZoomBroom starts to run low, Mrs Blackhat discovers that while technology is great, there sometimes a place for good old-fashioned magic too.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2019

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

That technology-obsessed witch Mrs Blackhat returns in this second picture-book devoted to her magical adventures, following upon the eponymous Mrs Blackhat . Having ordered a new state-of-the-art ZoomBroom online, our witchy heroine is eager to try it out, jumping on with her animal companions and taking to the skies. But when she presses the red button intended for experienced pilots only, she finds herself taken on a supersonic flight around the world, ending up in the skies over New York City. Here she almost meets disaster, as her power runs out, but fortunately the Statue of Liberty is there to save the day...

Unlike its predecessor, Mrs Blackhat and the ZoomBroom! is not told through rhyme, although there is a refrain throughout, in which the ZoomBroom sings its signature song. It does have a similar theme of online shopping - so timely right now, with many people still stuck at home because of lockdowns - and features the same amusing illustrations, which look to be done digitally. I was disappointed to see that Mrs Blackhat's feline companion does not reprise his role, in either tabby cat or tigrine form, but I was amused by the episode in New York City, during which the Statue of Liberty and her torch play a role. In the end, I found this a fun little witchy confection, but like its companion, I don't think it's destined to become a particular favorite, when it comes to witchy picture-books. Recommended to readers who enjoyed Mrs. Blackhat's previous foray into picture-book land, or to picture-book readers who like witchy fare in general.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids liked it, but it's not nearly as good as the first one.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok, not as good as the first book Mrs black hat that rhymes all the way through. But it's a lovely story. The illustrations are very good and really colourful they made me smile.