Nicer & cuter than Town Mouse and Country Mouse. Still awfully old though - too bad, because children prefer bright and shiny books nowadays. Maybe someone could do a remake? ( )

Belladonna, a city witch with a magical talent for making things go, and Foxglove, a country witch with the ability to get things to grow, switch places in this vintage witchy story (published in 1979) by Jay Williams. Each magical practitioner, although happy in her home, and well loved by her friends and neighbors, because of the aid she gives - Belladonna helps with traffic jams, and Foxglove with ailing crops - decides she needs a vacation, and so Belladonna heads to the country, and Foxglove to the city. Both witches soon discover that their counterparts are expected to perform tasks not suited to their own specific talents, but step into the breach, regardless, with satisfactory results. In the end, though, there is no place like home...

A witchy remake of the Aesopic fable of The City Mouse and the Country Mouse, and one which reaches the same conclusions, about home and belonging, The City Witch and the Country Witch carries an additional message, about doing the best we can in new and challenging circumstances, and about contributing to the common good, using our own unique talents. I don't know that I absolutely loved the story, or the artwork, but they were engaging enough to keep me entertained, and I certainly preferred this picture-book to the more recent City Witch, Country Switch, which addresses some similar themes. Recommended to readers who enjoy vintage picture-books, and to Jay Williams fans. ( )