ALA Booklist (Fri Sep 16 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Outfitted in a lime-green dress and "a not-so-pointy hat," Witchling tidies her cave home, which she amiably shares with bats, beetles, a lizard, a plump blue owl, and a smattering of red-capped toadstools. Despite these creature comforts, she longs for a friend of the human variety and sets about crafting a spell for this purpose. Missing only "some furriness from a . . . one-eyed teddy bear," the little witch mounts her broom to procure the final ingredient for her spell. She streaks across a star-flecked sky until she is unexpectedly bucked through an open bedroom window, toppling onto another girl (Lily) asleep with the very bear Witchling needs. After some momentary confusion and a generous offer from Lily, Witchling realizes she's made a friend without even casting her spell. Unfolding in metered rhyme, this darling tale shines brightest in its detailed, whimsical illustrations. Massini uses watercolor washes, pencil, and printed-pattern collage to conjure an imaginative fairy-tale setting, and fruity colors in blueberry, strawberry pink, and cantaloupe provide uplift. Making friends was never sweeter.

Horn Book (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

A lonely little witch who lives in a cozy cave wants to magic herself a friend, but she's missing a key ingredient for her spell: "some furriness from a one-eyed teddy bear." She imagines a "huge and hairy...extremely scary" creature; nevertheless, she's determined to do whatever it takes and bravely heads out on her broom. Her crystal ball guides her to young Lily and her (not terrifying) well-loved bear, Ted, who work their own friendship magic on the witchling: "That's what a friend would do! / You thought of me, you thought of Ted, / you didn't think of...YOU!\" Fraser's warm rhyming text and Massini's fanciful mixed-media illustrations cast an inviting spell.

Kirkus Reviews

"Witch" for something; you may get it.The Witchling's cozy mountaintop house contains the usual witchy accoutrements-bats, a cauldron, a book of spells. But these don't compensate for what she really wants-a friend. The Witchling finds a recipe for conjuring one but notices she's lacking one ingredient: fur from a one-eyed teddy bear. In her mind's eye, the Witchling envisions a fearsome creature, but she musters courage and whooshes off on her broom to locate it-and lands in the bed of a little girl, the animal's owner. After the Witchling warns her to beware of bears, the girl explains her dearly loved (stuffed) pal is harmless and will gladly donate his last hair to the cause. The Witchling demurs, recognizing the unbreakable bond between girl and cherished toy while joyfully realizing that, through kindness, she's found true friendship, too. Friendship stories aren't new, but this sweet British import, told in lively verses that scan well, will find a receptive audience. Children will enjoy poring over details of the Witchling's cozy home and appreciate the easy camaraderie the protagonists quickly develop. The charming illustrations, rendered in watercolor, pencil, printed-pattern collage, and Photoshop, feature a light-skinned witch sporting an oversize green, star-bedecked hat; her new friend is brown-skinned. Type that often meanders playfully on pages and employs large capitals for dramatic effect enhances the child appeal. (This book was reviewed digitally.)Reassuring and endearing. (Picture book. 4-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

A lonely young Witchling’s plan to conjure a friend goes gently awry in this sweet-natured, jauntily rhyming tale. The Witchling, portrayed with pale skin, doesn’t mind the bed beetles or dripping ceiling of her cozily appointed cave home, but she longs for a friend to take up the emptiness in her heart. Though her spell book has just the recipe, when she flies off in search of a special ingredient—“some furriness” from a one-eyed teddy bear—a crash landing offers friendship in another child, portrayed with brown skin. Fraser’s bouncy text carries readers through the night sky at a good clip, while Massini’s playful mixed-media artwork introduces two winning characters turned kindred spirits. Ages 3–6. (July)