Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Wee Winnie Witch’s Skinny by Virginia Hamilton, ill. Barry Moser

I’m so pleased. For years I’ve waiting for today’s book to hit its 20th anniversary in the hopes that we might discuss it on the podcast. Now, at long last, we finally have the chance to kick off the Halloween season with Wee Winnie Witch’s Skinny: An Original African American Scare Tale. There is just so much to talk about with this book. We’d already done a Barry Moser in The Mushroom Man, but this one is VERY different. There’s trauma and woodcuts, but don’t let that get you down. There are also some legitimately good scares.

Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, PlayerFM, Audible, Amazon Music, or your preferred method of podcast selection.

Show Notes:

Here’s the Wicked Witch by Barry Moser, a.k.a. Nancy Reagan, as mentioned on this podcast.

As Kate says, “This cat is, puh-sessed.” Something about the eyes.

We very much appreciate that the spice-hot pepper witch-be-gone potion is being carted about in a milk jug.

Look. She may be a witch who removes her skin on a regular basis, but she’s a witch who wants to retain her sense of style. Cause look at how she keeps those gold hoops earrings. Skin? Gone. Earrings? Here to stay!!

This is, as I say, so American. “Look, you can show me a naked witch riding a bridled man, absolutely. But you better not show me any butt crack.” No boob either, obviously.

We kind of love the little jack-o-lantern smile that appears in the chimney smoke after the witch’s skin is all burned up.

Please, if you want a middle grade novel that involves a person taking off their skin, try Root Magic by Eden Royce. That book contains the most sympathetic boo hag of all time.

Kate Recommends: Donating to the American Cancer Society

Betsy Recommends: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate