Robert Lasson

Two witches - one who is rich, the other of whom has an itch - confront their respective problems in this simple picture-book/early-reader from 1959. As the rich witch awakens in her palace, deciding that she will turn ice cream into pitch that day, the witch with an itch wakes up in her tree, terribly scratchy and determined to cut a switch, in order to solve her problem. As the rich witch, astride her electric floor waxer, flies off to put her plan into motion, the witch with an itch begins to scratch ever more vigorously. Things do not go quite as hoped however - the rich witch accidentally turns all the pitch into ice cream, rather than the other way around, and the witch with an itch scratches herself into a ditch - and the book closes with a farewell to both witches...

Witchy picture-books and early-readers utilizing the homophones "witch" and "which" are not at all uncommon - think titles like Judi Barrett's Which Witch is Which?, W.K. Jasner's Which Is the Witch?, Pat Hutchins' Which Witch Is Which?, and so on - but Robert Lasson's Which Witch? takes it to another level, using all sorts of rhyming words - itch, switch, pitch - to create a fun, tongue-twisting tale. The narrator frequently stops to ask for clarification - "Which witch lived in a palace? The rich witch. Oh, yes!" - giving the text an almost rhythmic formula. The backfiring of the rich witch's plan, as ice cream drips off roofs and puddles on roads, provides a few entertaining moments, while the accompanying artwork from John Teppich, done in black and white with yellow accents, captures the humor of each scene. Although it isn't destined to become a personal favorite, when it comes to witchy tales, I am glad to have tracked this one down. Recommended to picture-book readers who enjoy witchy fare, or who appreciate vintage illustrative styles.… (mehr)