Suitcase S(witch)

Zahra and her parents are spending the weekend in a small seaside town, where Zahra is taking part in a poetry competition. Although she is proud to be representing her school in the contest, Zahra is terrified of having to read her poems aloud in front of hundreds of people and hopes that she’ll be able to overcome her nerves.

In her haste to get off the train, Zahra accidentally swaps suitcases with a witch called Daria. Until she can arrange to switch the cases back, Zahra borrows some of Daria’s belongings, with some surprising results. When she puts on a pair of cat-patterned pyjamas, a troupe of talking cats appear at her window. Then, much to her embarrassment, Zahra can’t stop dancing while wearing Daria’s boots. She even discovers a spell that make Dad’s icky porridge taste delicious. Experiencing the world through a magical lens helps Zahra to gain confidence and, as she prepares for the competition, she conquers her fears and embraces exciting new opportunities.

This humorous, light-hearted tale of magic and friendship explores the benefits of facing fears and overcoming insecurities. The book features attractive black-and-white illustrations and a dyslexia-friendly typeface and layout.