"The Widow's Broom" -Chris Van Allsburg

Image taken from this Cite.

Book Title:

The Widow’s Broom

Author/Illustrator:

Chris Van Allsburg

Type of Book:

Picture Book

Age Level:

4-8

My Star Rating: 

***

Summary

• Minna Shaw, a nice, old widow, helped a witch who had been badly hurt, because of her good deed, Minna was blessed with a magical broom that helped her around her farm. Neighbors complained that the broom was evil, but by Minna’s whit, she was able to keep her broom and lose the neighbors.

Image taken from this Cite.

My Thoughts

• This is a very cute story. I love the message of being nice to people, and how often times, there are rewards for such kindness. I especially appreciate when stories promote being nice to people that society usually outcasts or isolates. What a great message. This book has incredible themes running throughout, such as, judgment, acceptance, whit and humor. Not to mention, the subtle intelligence of the incredible illustrations of penciled shading. The surrealism style helps to show an eerie mystical world where witches do exist, and magic is a reality. This book captures the reader’s attention and teaches a very valuable concept of kindness. 

Image taken from this Cite.

How to use in the Classroom?

• If perhaps in your classroom, you noticed bullying or outcasting, this book would be a great tool to start off the corrective conversation. By reading this book aloud to the class, you could then prompt the class with questions regarding the themes of judgment and acceptance. This prompting could lead into a full discussion of the respect and kindness you expect to see in your classroom, and the ill effects of singling each other out. For older grades, it could also be a fun opening into the study of the Salem Witch Trials; aiding in the witch theme, but starting off the serious subject with some light humor. Kids of all ages should be read aloud to, says Author Mem Fox, so why not use a picture book to entice the older grades as well?

More Resources 

1. More information about the book/ideas for the classroom Click Here.
2. More information about the Author/Illustrator Click Here.