Curse in Reverse by Tom Coppinger

Stars: ****1/2
Accuracy: *

Synopsis: Agnezza the witch wanders through the small hamlet of Humburg, looking for some shelter and a bite to eat. Selfish Mrs. Raff refuses her, and is given the Curse of the Silent Night. Rude Mr. Fooss rejects her, and is put under The Curse of the One-eyed Jack. When childless Mr. and Mrs. Tretter recieve her with open arms, they are chagrined when, upon their departure, she lays a Curse of the One-Armed Man upon them. Why did she do that? Their alarm grows as they see the curses of their neighbors come to unfortunate and surprising fruition. Little do they know that Agnezza has another trick up her sleeve when it comes to rewarding kindness! A funny folktale that's formalistically flawless, peppered perfectly with Zimmer's zany cross-hatched line drawings. Share this charmer anytime of year, and you'll have to decide for yourself if repeated readings are a curse…or a curse in reverse!

Review: I really liked this book. Her curses are funny in that they don't materialize the way you think they are going to, especially the curse in reverse. In fact even as an adult I couldn't guess what would happen. I don't want to spoil it for you but it was a good story.

Accuracy: Very little accuracy here. The witch is an old ugly woman wearing rags and she just curses people with abandon.

The Witch's Face: A Mexican Tale adapted by Eric A. Kimmel

Stars: ***

Accuracy: *

Synopsis: One night, while riding to Mexico City, Don Aurelio stops at a house owned by three strange women. The youngest and most beautiful warns him that "All is not as it seems." Don Aurelio soon discovers that she and her companions are witches. Each night, they put on a pair of straw wings, remove their human faces, and fly into the dark night. Don Aurelio falls in love with the youngest woman and tries to break the spell that holds her as a witch. In a tragic twist of fate, Don Aurelio learns that misfortune can occur when a human being falls in love with an immortal being.

Review: This is a picture book designed for ages 6 and up. It's a very interesting story with a good moral but is not a happy story and not for the easily frightened. I don't think I'd have my kids read it unless we were studying Mexico and their idea about witches.

Accuracy: If you know anything about witches, the synopsis should give you a clue as to why it's a one star. In fact, it should really be zero stars. In this book, witches fly with wings made of straw, have removable faces, are immortal, eat lizards and such and kill people.