ALA Booklist (Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

In a reversal of the usual fairy tale, Willow the witch follows two orange-capped children through the forest. When they start eating her orange gingerbread house with a marshmallow chimney, she invites them inside, but they won't tidy up. Then they gobble up all of the witch's delicious meal, leaving none for her. "Willow did not get angry, because Willow was a good witch," echoes a refrain, but inevitably, the two push her too far: playing with her spells and wands, they change her cat into a giant feline, and shove Willow into the oven. They continue to wreak havoc until the house bursts apart. Now Willow is angry, and in a shuddering conclusion, she bakes the children into gingerbread cookies! The subtle endpapers reveal Willow's new orange castle, big enough for her and her giant cat and empty of troublemaking children. Woollvin uses a spare palette of black, gray, and orange, created with striking graphic gouache and digital illustrations. Children will enjoy comparing the traditional story to this delightfully twisted version.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

In Woollvin's (Little Red; Rapunzel) sly and wickedly funny version of the classic folktale, Hansel and Gretel are unapologetic brats, and Willow is a good witch. The siblings make their way to Willow's gingerbread home in the forest and start snacking on its outsides. Willow invites them in, but their disrespectful behavior only intensifies. Minimalist gouache illustrations use a palette of blacks and grays with vivid orange accents.

Kirkus Reviews

A new version of the Grimms' tale, told from the witch's perspective.The text immediately establishes the witch, named Willow, as a "good witch" who lives in a gingerbread house. When she encounters two children in the forest, she asks them to help clean up the trail of breadcrumbs they've left behind so it won't attract mice. Alas, they refuse, and then Willow is aghast to find them, not mice, nibbling on her house. But because she's a good witch, she doesn't get angry; instead, she invites the children inside and prepares a meal. They leave no food for her and proceed to otherwise behave badly, but she "did not get angry, because Willow was a good witch" (a refrain). The mischief culminates in the children's shoving Willow into an oven so they can have the house to themselves, and then they destroy it. Magical Willow emerges unscathed—and finally angry. A wordless spread depicts her with the children in a cooking pot and ingredients and cooking implements (including gingerbread-cookie cutters like those depicted on the case cover) surrounding them. The final image, like all the rest rendered in a limited black, orange, and white color palette and a bold, graphic style, depicts a gingerbread girl and boy on a plate: Hansel and Gretel have gotten their just deserts by becoming dessert for Willow, who "wasn't ALWAYS a good witch."Delicious. (Picture book. 4-8)

School Library Journal (Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

PreS-Gr 2 Even a good witch has her limits, as Woollvin proves in her third twisted fairy tale following Little Red and Rapunzel . Willow, in her triangular gray cape and peaked hat combo, is a kind witch who has built herself a cozy gingerbread home. Concerned that bread crumbs being dropped by two children may lead rodents to her tasty abode, she asks Hansel and Gretel to help her pick up the debris. The self-centered kids refuse, so Willow cleans up the mess herself. "But Willow did not get angry, because Willow was a good witch." Though she graciously invites the hungry children to dinner, the twins continue to create chaos, eating all the food and breaking into Willow's store of magic props. Making a valiant attempt at remaining courteous and staying cool, Willow has finally had enough. Gray and black gouache illustrations painted on white cartridge paper are highlighted with pops of bright orange in solid blocks of color. VERDICT The wicked children get their just desserts, and readers get a humorous and unique version of an oft-told tale. Purchase for most shelves. Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library WI