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Suppose You Met a Witch
Relates in verse how Roland and Miranda handled the situation when they were trapped in a sack by a witch.
31 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1973
About the author
Ian Serraillier
87 books97 followersIan Serraillier was a British novelist and poet. He was also appreciated by children for being a storyteller retelling legends from Rome, Greece and England. Serraillier was best known for his children's books, especially The Silver Sword (1956), a wartime adventure story which was adapted for television by the BBC in 1957 and again in 1971.
He was born in London, the eldest of four children. His father died as a result of the 1918 flu pandemic when he was only six years old. He was educated at Brighton College, and took his degree at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and became an English teacher. He taught at Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire from 1936 to 1939; at Dudley Grammar School in Worcestershire from 1939 to 1946; and at Midhurst Grammar School in West Sussex from 1946 to 1961. As a Quaker, he was granted conscientious objector status in World War II.
In 1946 his first children’s novel was published. It was followed by several more adventure stories of treasure and spies. His best known work, The Silver Sword, was published in 1956 and has become a classic, bringing to life the story of four refugee children. Three of the children are siblings: Ruth, Edek and Bronia. Jan is another of the many Warsaw war orphans who somehow had met their father, and then fainted near the bombed out basement which served as home for the siblings, and was taken in by them. The four joined together in their search for the siblings' parents in the chaos of Europe immediately after the Second World War. In the United States the book was published under the title Escape from Warsaw.
As well as children’s novels and poetry, Serraillier produced his own retellings of classic tales in prose and verse, including Beowulf, Chaucer and Greek myths. Together with his wife, Anne Margaret Rogers, he founded the New Windmill Series in 1948, published by Heinemann Educational Books, which set out to provide inexpensive editions of good stories. He continued as co-editor of the series until the onset of Alzheimer's disease in the early 1990s. The illness finally contributed towards his death in November 1994 at the age of 82.
He was born in London, the eldest of four children. His father died as a result of the 1918 flu pandemic when he was only six years old. He was educated at Brighton College, and took his degree at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and became an English teacher. He taught at Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire from 1936 to 1939; at Dudley Grammar School in Worcestershire from 1939 to 1946; and at Midhurst Grammar School in West Sussex from 1946 to 1961. As a Quaker, he was granted conscientious objector status in World War II.
In 1946 his first children’s novel was published. It was followed by several more adventure stories of treasure and spies. His best known work, The Silver Sword, was published in 1956 and has become a classic, bringing to life the story of four refugee children. Three of the children are siblings: Ruth, Edek and Bronia. Jan is another of the many Warsaw war orphans who somehow had met their father, and then fainted near the bombed out basement which served as home for the siblings, and was taken in by them. The four joined together in their search for the siblings' parents in the chaos of Europe immediately after the Second World War. In the United States the book was published under the title Escape from Warsaw.
As well as children’s novels and poetry, Serraillier produced his own retellings of classic tales in prose and verse, including Beowulf, Chaucer and Greek myths. Together with his wife, Anne Margaret Rogers, he founded the New Windmill Series in 1948, published by Heinemann Educational Books, which set out to provide inexpensive editions of good stories. He continued as co-editor of the series until the onset of Alzheimer's disease in the early 1990s. The illness finally contributed towards his death in November 1994 at the age of 82.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 23, 2025
وای اخراش حس میکردم چشمام مثل این اموجیه که داره چشماش میچرخه شده!:)))
خیلی جالب بودن طرحها و رنگاش واقعا.
۲.۱۴۰۴
خیلی جالب بودن طرحها و رنگاش واقعا.
۲.۱۴۰۴
May 13, 2020
Love, love, LOVE this book! The pictures in this book are out of this world... no one draws like this anymore! My kids love it, it was my favorite book as a child- enjoy!
April 23, 2025
بامزه بود، illustrationهاش رو خیلی خوشم اومد. قشنگ با اون فرمت نوردیک (انگشتای جادوگره رو ببینید مقایسه کنید با مثلا خراطیهای مدل oseberg از گرگ یا مدل کشیدن گیاهان/قوها و درهایی که با استایل urnes طراحی شدن) کشیده بود و خوشگل و vibrant بود واقعا.
این وسط حالا یاد یه افسانهی ایرانی که بچه بودم خوندم افتادم، یه دستاس جادویی بود (دقیقا شبیه cornucopia ÷]) و مدل illustration اون هم یکم شبیه این بود؟
این وسط حالا یاد یه افسانهی ایرانی که بچه بودم خوندم افتادم، یه دستاس جادویی بود (دقیقا شبیه cornucopia ÷]) و مدل illustration اون هم یکم شبیه این بود؟
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July 26, 2025It's 1970s children’s book magic meets acid-fairy-tale trippiness.
August 3, 2020
Very creative art, which was the best part of this book. The rhymes didn't always flow, but I enjoyed the vibrant colors and intricate lines.
November 26, 2024
A gorgeous work of art from front to back.
October 14, 2023
Grabbing illustrations mix with potent prose and just the right amount of haunting twists to make this a read to cherish year after year.
While this book begins with a child, who believes to have met a witch, it soon turns to the question of what others would do if they ran across one. Here, the story of two children, Roland and Miranda, begins and what happened when they were snatched by one. It's haunting and holds the rich threads of a fairy tale as it winds around the adventure with imagination, magic, and a tiny sense of dread. After all, no one really wants to meet a dangerous witch.
This one is worth picking up because of the artwork. The style seems chaotic at first glass but mesmerizes with details and knotted weaves. It fits the tale marvelously and will captivate not only young readers but older ones as well. It invites to flip through the pages and simply enjoy each scene. And wow, is that witch creepy.
The prose flows with traditional style and reminds of an early, story-telling era. The imagery and descriptions are well-crafted, letting the text flow with as much artistry as the illustrations. That also means that this will go over the youngest readers' heads and will even give many in the intended age group some difficulties, at times. It's still worth the read, though, since the plot is obvious, and the unknown words and phrases will stretch and boost vocabulary skills. It's a treat many will enjoy, and not just children...which also explains why it's been around and enjoyed for many decades.
While this book begins with a child, who believes to have met a witch, it soon turns to the question of what others would do if they ran across one. Here, the story of two children, Roland and Miranda, begins and what happened when they were snatched by one. It's haunting and holds the rich threads of a fairy tale as it winds around the adventure with imagination, magic, and a tiny sense of dread. After all, no one really wants to meet a dangerous witch.
This one is worth picking up because of the artwork. The style seems chaotic at first glass but mesmerizes with details and knotted weaves. It fits the tale marvelously and will captivate not only young readers but older ones as well. It invites to flip through the pages and simply enjoy each scene. And wow, is that witch creepy.
The prose flows with traditional style and reminds of an early, story-telling era. The imagery and descriptions are well-crafted, letting the text flow with as much artistry as the illustrations. That also means that this will go over the youngest readers' heads and will even give many in the intended age group some difficulties, at times. It's still worth the read, though, since the plot is obvious, and the unknown words and phrases will stretch and boost vocabulary skills. It's a treat many will enjoy, and not just children...which also explains why it's been around and enjoyed for many decades.
February 9, 2026
An exceedingly pretty little picture book about a witch chasing two children.
Very simple but an efficient and enjoyable time. I could see this being great fun reading with a little one, colorful psuedo-psychedelic art and rhymes abound construct a rather whimsical experience (save for a somewhat grim ending).
It was also interesting seeing a landscape comic that was entirely spreads, felt like it took up my entire field of view haha.
Very simple but an efficient and enjoyable time. I could see this being great fun reading with a little one, colorful psuedo-psychedelic art and rhymes abound construct a rather whimsical experience (save for a somewhat grim ending).
It was also interesting seeing a landscape comic that was entirely spreads, felt like it took up my entire field of view haha.
December 6, 2023
Absolutely stunning artwork. How did this one not receive a Caldecott? The illustrations really have to be seen to be believed. I could see them serving as extremely elaborate tattoo templates for body art enthusiasts.
December 1, 2025
I read this mostly for the illustrations (I love Ed Emberley), and he really outdoes himself here! The story itself is interesting, but for me, was nothing to really write home about.
October 18, 2023
I really like the art and really dislike the story. Found this in the children’s section of our library.
February 28, 2024
Brilliantly illustrated by Ed Emberley, this spooky fairy tale from 1952 is a masterpiece!
Packed with extraordinary (if not psychedelic) imagery, Suppose You Met a Witch puts the reader under the witch’s spell, following the adventures of two, very clever children who're brave enough to drown and burn a witch from the darkest part of the deep dark woods.
Packed with extraordinary (if not psychedelic) imagery, Suppose You Met a Witch puts the reader under the witch’s spell, following the adventures of two, very clever children who're brave enough to drown and burn a witch from the darkest part of the deep dark woods.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews