Winnie the Witch
by Valerie Thomas, illustrated by Korky Paul
Interest age: 3+
Published by Oxford University Press, 2012
About this book
Winnie has a problem. She has a black house with black walls, black floors, black furniture and black fittings. Winnie’s cat Wilbur is also black – and when he closes his eyes to sleep, Winnie cannot see him and treads on him. Her solution is to change the colour of Wilbur’s fur so that he stands out better. However, it’s not as simple as she has hoped and eventually (after lots of colour changing for poor Wilbur) she realises it is the house she needs to change.
This simple story is ideal for discussing disability. It’s particularly effective for explaining what is known as the Social Model of Disability – the idea that it is not the (disabled) individual who needs to change, but the environment/society.
This edition comes with a fantastic Audio CD that children will want to listen to again and again!
About the author
What to read next
We know that children can get hooked on a favourite book series or author and struggle to find something they love as much, but we’re here to help.
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There are many Winnie and Wilbur books to enjoy – and not just at Halloween. We’ve put together a list of similarly entertaining picture books to share at any time of the year.
More books like this
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Green Eggs and Ham
by Dr Seuss
2 to 7 years
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Five Minutes Peace
by Jill Murphy
4 to 7 years
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Grobblechops
by Elizabeth Laird, illustrated by Jenny Lucander
2 to 7 years
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Peter Pan
by J M Barrie and Caryl Hart, illustrated by Sarah Warburton
4 to 9 years
Lists of recommended reads
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Picture books about magic
Take your child on a magical journey with our Magic booklist that includes books about the magic of the imagination as well as real witches, wizards and fairies. There are classics and new titles to be enjoyed by a range of authors and illustrators.
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Halloween picture books
These picture books, featuring witches, wizards and monsters, are perfect to share with little ones as the nights draw in and there's a touch of frosty magic in the air. From classics to wonderful newer books, every one of these titles is sure to bewitch your child, whether they're just a baby or at primary school.
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Inclusive books
Most children's books today suitably reflect our multicultural society. However, not so many reflect other forms of diversity, for example the fact that one in five school-age children has special educational needs. This is especially true of books for very young children. This list aims to help you to find early years books showing positive images of disability, as well as titles that may prove useful in discussing disability and diversity.