The old black witch, with her twisted limbs and withered skin, was a figure of both fear and intrigue in the village. She lived in a small ramshackle cottage on the outskirts, hidden away from prying eyes. It was said that she possessed a dark and mysterious power, capable of both incredible good and shocking evil. The villagers would often whisper tales of the witch around the fireplace, their eyes wide with fascination. Some claimed to have witnessed her casting spells in the dead of night, while others spoke of her ability to communicate with animals and conjure potions for healing ailments. There were even rumors that she could bend the very fabric of reality to her will, controlling the forces of nature with a simple flick of her wrist.
This book is available to borrow and read for free online through Internet Archive.
She s as bad and disagreeable as a cranky old witch who s lived in a chimney for over 100 years ought to be, but not so bad that she can t make some new friends and help them out once in a while. In the film, the pancakes have the power to make people happy, and that s what gives Nicky s mother the inspiration to open a pancake parlor in their house.
There were even rumors that she could bend the very fabric of reality to her will, controlling the forces of nature with a simple flick of her wrist. But for all the stories that circulated about the old black witch, few had actually encountered her face to face. She rarely ventured into the village, preferring to keep to herself, surrounded by her collection of spell books and ancient artifacts.
Old Black Witch
A boy called Nicky and his mother are looking for a new place to live somewhere in New England. The mother wants to buy an old cottage with the idea of turning it into a tea room. At first, they have trouble finding a place, but finally they buy an old house that badly needs fixing up, not knowing that there is an old witch living there.
The witch (whom they call Old Black Witch, since she’s dressed all in black and sooty and doesn’t seem to have any other name) has been sleeping in the chimney of the house for about a hundred years, and they wake her the first time they try to start a fire in the fireplace.
The witch is furious to discover that the house has new owners and worried about where she’s going to live because she needs an old house to haunt. Nicky and his mother invite her to stay and live in the attic, which has enough dust and cobwebs to satisfy her tastes, while they clean up the lower part of the house for the tearoom.
The locals have heard stories about the house being haunted, but the nice tearoom soon becomes popular with ladies in the area, especially after Old Black Witch decides to help out Nicky’s mother in the kitchen. Old Black Witch’s blueberry pancakes are wonderful and win many fans for the tearoom.
Then, one night, a couple of burglars break in. Since Old Black Witch is kind of evil herself, she can’t really fault them for wanting to rob the place . . . until she suddenly realizes that they’re stealing from her, too, and uses her magic to fix the burglars for good and give herself the pet toads that she’s been wanting.
This book is available to borrow and read for free online through Internet Archive.
My Reaction
One of the things that I like about this story, which was a favorite of mine when I was a kid, is that Old Black Witch isn’t particularly evil although she isn’t too nice, either. She’s as bad and disagreeable as a cranky old witch who’s lived in a chimney for over 100 years ought to be, but not so bad that she can’t make some new friends and help them out once in a while. Friendly enough for the kids, but not too sweet to be a real witch. It’s part of a short series, although I haven’t managed to find any of the other books yet. Some of the pictures are in full color and some are in black and white. Don’t ask me why she has a spoon in her hat because I’ve never been completely sure, either. Somehow, on her, it looks good.
The back cover of the book has the recipe for the blueberry pancakes.
There was a short film version of this story from 1969 called Winter of the Witch. It follows the book fairly well, but with some variations (there were no burglars). In the film, the pancakes have the power to make people happy, and that’s what gives Nicky’s mother the inspiration to open a pancake parlor in their house. The witch finds a new sense of purpose, although she still plans on going back to her old, wicked ways once the world is happy enough to need a good, old-fashioned scare. I don’t think that it was ever released on dvd, but it is possible to see it on YouTube and Internet Archive.
One of the things that I like about this story, which was a favorite of mine when I was a kid, is that Old Black Witch isn’t particularly evil although she isn’t too nice, either. She’s as bad and disagreeable as a cranky old witch who’s lived in a chimney for over 100 years ought to be, but not so bad that she can’t make some new friends and help them out once in a while. Friendly enough for the kids, but not too sweet to be a real witch. It’s part of a short series, although I haven’t managed to find any of the other books yet. Some of the pictures are in full color and some are in black and white. Don’t ask me why she has a spoon in her hat because I’ve never been completely sure, either. Somehow, on her, it looks good.
Her presence was felt, however, in the way the wind would howl on stormy nights and the way the moon would glow an eerie shade of red during the equinox. It was as if she was always watching, always observing the world from her hidden abode. Despite the fear that gripped the villagers, there were those who believed the old black witch held the key to their salvation. With her knowledge and power, she had the ability to cure diseases, bring rain to drought-stricken fields, and protect against evil spirits. Some brave souls would secretly visit her cottage, bearing gifts in the hopes of gaining her favor and receiving her aid. And so, the old black witch remained an enigma, forever intertwined with the fate of the village. To some, she was a force to be feared and avoided at all costs, while to others, she was a beacon of hope and possibility. As time went on, the legend of the old black witch grew, becoming a lasting symbol of both darkness and light, and the complex nature of human belief and superstition..
Reviews for "The Old Black Witch and the Moon: A Connection to the Otherworldly"
1. John Smith - 1 star
This book was absolutely terrible. The story was disjointed and confusing, and the characters were poorly developed. I couldn't connect with any of them and found myself not caring about what happened to them. The writing style was also very dry and lacked any excitement. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone.
2. Sarah Johnson - 2 stars
I had high expectations for "Old Black Witch" but ended up being disappointed. The story seemed interesting at first, but it quickly lost my attention. The pacing was slow, and there were unnecessary details that didn't add anything to the plot. The ending was also lackluster and left me feeling unsatisfied. I wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately, it fell short for me.
3. Emily Thompson - 2 stars
I found "Old Black Witch" to be boring and predictable. The plot was cliché, and I could guess what was going to happen next. The protagonist lacked depth, and the supporting characters felt like caricatures. The writing was mediocre, and I had to force myself to finish the book. Overall, it was a forgettable read that didn't leave a lasting impression.