Only a Witch Can Fly

A young girl sits at her window on a fall night, watching black cats and witches soar through the sky. She yearns to join them in flight but hasn't yet mastered the magic required to lift off the ground. The story follows her determined attempts to achieve her dream of flying, accompanied by her cat and younger brother. The text takes the form of a sestina poem, with six key words repeated in different patterns throughout. The illustrations by Taeeun Yoo use block prints in muted colors to create shadows and moonlight effects that match the nighttime setting. The artwork emphasizes both the protagonist's earthbound frustration and the freedom of those already airborne. This picture book explores themes of persistence, believing in oneself, and the universal childhood wish to do something seemingly impossible. The poetic structure and visual imagery work together to capture a child's perspective on magic and determination.

Readers describe this picture book as a gentle, poetic take on perseverance and learning to believe in oneself. Parents appreciate the vintage-style linocut illustrations and the unique use of a sestina poem format, though some note their children struggled to follow the more complex poetic structure. What readers liked: - Atmospheric autumn and nighttime imagery - Emotional resonance with childhood determination - Integration of magical and everyday elements - Julie Morstad's distinctive illustrations What readers disliked: - Text may be too abstract for very young children - Some found the sestina format awkward to read aloud - Price point considered high for length Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (447 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (34 ratings) Multiple reviewers mention reading it during Halloween season, with one parent noting it became "an October bedtime favorite." A librarian reviewer called it "more contemplative than most picture books about witches."

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson A witch and her cat share their broomstick with new friends during a windswept night journey.

Little Witch by Anna Elizabeth Bennett A nine-year-old witch struggles to break free from her mean witch mother to attend regular school with non-witch children.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill A young witch raises a moonlight-fed baby with magical powers in a world where witches face persecution.

Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe A witch with limited magical powers must save a seaside town to earn her witch rank despite her unconventional abilities.

The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson A girl lives in a house that moves on chicken legs while her grandmother, a witch known as Baba Yaga, guides spirits between worlds.

🌙 Author Alison McGhee was inspired to write this story after discovering an old woodcut of a little witch trying—and repeatedly failing—to fly. ⭐ The book's unique illustrations by Taeeun Yoo were created using linoleum block prints, which involves carving designs into blocks and stamping them with ink. 🧙‍♀️ The story is written in the medieval poetic form called a sestina, which follows a complex pattern of repeating end words in six stanzas. 🎃 Though set on Halloween night, the book's deeper themes about perseverance and following dreams resonate year-round with young readers. 🌟 The book received a Kirkus Starred Review and was named a Booklist "Editor's Choice" for its artful combination of poetry and visual storytelling.