"Hazel’s Healthy Hallowe’en" messed me UP as a kid! Whyyyy did we have this picture book in our house? I've been thinking about doing some kind of performance piece, to give Hazel the ending she deserves, with a big middle finger to diet culture and a fat happily ever after...
The epigraph reads: "Gentle Reader /Accept yourself the way you are And you'll be happier by far. /Remember though, whatever you do, That exercise is good, and Too much food is bad for you."
Strega Nona is my favorite witch. She eats pasta, tolerates stupid big Anthony with kindness but firmness….and is the spitting image of every older woman in my family. She wins.
I like Duffy and the Devil! The witches look normal for the world of the book, where there are no thin people - maybe one of those stylized hard-to-tell things? It’s also nice because the witches in the book are clever & love partying & helping women.
I know you mentioned Strega Nona in your first Chapter, and I definitely see how she fits into those certain stereotypes (old, maternal figures) but I've loved her since childhood and aspire to be her when I am old. Endless pasta, wit, and magic. ;)
I can't believe how damaging this book is to young girls, it should be banned!😠
Love all the different illustrations of witches you shared here. Most witches are portrayed as the 'scariest' thing in our society.... older women! Don't even get me started on that!🫣😆
OMG, Hazel’s Healthy Hallowe’en is killing my soul! I hate that this exists. I also hate that I really like the illustration style. Alternatively I love the I've Got Your Nose witch so much! Such a cutie and I appreciate the curly hair representation.
My favourite witch is the one from Dyan Sheldon's "A Witch Got on at Paddington Station". She certainly fits the fat stereotype (complete with the witch wardrobe!) It's a wonderful book - she boards a double-decker London bus at Paddington station because she's going to visit her sister. Over the course of the ride she nearly gets kicked off for singing, and then her bag bursts during a fight with the conductor, flinging a magical tea party all over the bus. Which she then packs up when she gets to her spot. My favourite tidbit is that the book was written in 1987, but when I looked up the route of the bus number in the book, it actually still exists and goes to Paddington!
What a great post. Allan Ahlberg has some great witches in his books. In the iconic Jolly Postman, the postman stops to hang out with the witch (but doesn’t drink her tea because it’s green!) in this and other books by him you get the traditional, fat witch with all the trimmings but she is depicted as part of the society of the story.
My favourite witches growing up were in the Lizzie Dripping books by Helen Cresswell and the Simon and the Witch books by Margaret Stuart Barry. Both series have the witches as more naughty, cheeky show off types, who befriend children who are dreamers or outsiders. Simon’s witch was a fat witch and she was my favourite.
Interesting that in Roald Dahl’s Witches, Quentin Blake has made them skeletal and bony and to me, terrifying
I love the postman’s witch! And we love Little Witch Hazel! We pulled her out for potentially adding to our Halloween post but she’s so much more than Halloween, and I’d love to include her in a more year round witchy round up. Thanks for this post!!
"Hazel’s Healthy Hallowe’en" messed me UP as a kid! Whyyyy did we have this picture book in our house? I've been thinking about doing some kind of performance piece, to give Hazel the ending she deserves, with a big middle finger to diet culture and a fat happily ever after...
Omg I've been so curious to hear from someone who had this book as a kid. YES please do it! Hazel deserves justice!
I found the last 2 pages pictured in this Etsy listing: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1087058753/hazels-healthy-halloween-by-kathryn.
The epigraph reads: "Gentle Reader /Accept yourself the way you are And you'll be happier by far. /Remember though, whatever you do, That exercise is good, and Too much food is bad for you."
Ughhh... definitely due for a rewrite 😐
omg
Strega Nona is my favorite witch. She eats pasta, tolerates stupid big Anthony with kindness but firmness….and is the spitting image of every older woman in my family. She wins.
Strega Nona is absolutely the first one who came to mind for me too. I love her!
Loved the little cameo from the witch from the Jolly Postman at the end. Gorgeous to look at after the Hazel binfire. X
I like Duffy and the Devil! The witches look normal for the world of the book, where there are no thin people - maybe one of those stylized hard-to-tell things? It’s also nice because the witches in the book are clever & love partying & helping women.
I know you mentioned Strega Nona in your first Chapter, and I definitely see how she fits into those certain stereotypes (old, maternal figures) but I've loved her since childhood and aspire to be her when I am old. Endless pasta, wit, and magic. ;)
I can't believe how damaging this book is to young girls, it should be banned!😠
Love all the different illustrations of witches you shared here. Most witches are portrayed as the 'scariest' thing in our society.... older women! Don't even get me started on that!🫣😆
Omg I know!!
My favorite is the witch with the watch. Witches shouldn’t have to conform their lives to clock time, it’s stressful!
Incredible archive and commentary here-- thank you!
Wittilda from a Job for Wittilda! She’s just a fabulous witch who deserves a mention. Also I am flabbergasted by Hazel’s Healthy Halloween.
I love this section and hope you post more on fat in picture books
OMG, Hazel’s Healthy Hallowe’en is killing my soul! I hate that this exists. I also hate that I really like the illustration style. Alternatively I love the I've Got Your Nose witch so much! Such a cutie and I appreciate the curly hair representation.
I know I feel the same— it depresses me so much and I’m also like… these pictures are kinda cool? A little bit like Audrey Helen Weber’s work
Ah, I can see that!
My favourite witch is the one from Dyan Sheldon's "A Witch Got on at Paddington Station". She certainly fits the fat stereotype (complete with the witch wardrobe!) It's a wonderful book - she boards a double-decker London bus at Paddington station because she's going to visit her sister. Over the course of the ride she nearly gets kicked off for singing, and then her bag bursts during a fight with the conductor, flinging a magical tea party all over the bus. Which she then packs up when she gets to her spot. My favourite tidbit is that the book was written in 1987, but when I looked up the route of the bus number in the book, it actually still exists and goes to Paddington!
What a great post. Allan Ahlberg has some great witches in his books. In the iconic Jolly Postman, the postman stops to hang out with the witch (but doesn’t drink her tea because it’s green!) in this and other books by him you get the traditional, fat witch with all the trimmings but she is depicted as part of the society of the story.
My favourite witches growing up were in the Lizzie Dripping books by Helen Cresswell and the Simon and the Witch books by Margaret Stuart Barry. Both series have the witches as more naughty, cheeky show off types, who befriend children who are dreamers or outsiders. Simon’s witch was a fat witch and she was my favourite.
Interesting that in Roald Dahl’s Witches, Quentin Blake has made them skeletal and bony and to me, terrifying
Oh, to be a fat witch with my broom and cats. I love all of the illustrations you've curated here!
I love the postman’s witch! And we love Little Witch Hazel! We pulled her out for potentially adding to our Halloween post but she’s so much more than Halloween, and I’d love to include her in a more year round witchy round up. Thanks for this post!!
Love your Wild Geese version!