Little Blue, a witch-in-training, helps out their Mama Moon at the magical Witchycakes bakery in this delightful chapter-book series starter. Each chapter takes Blue and their familiar, Gully, on a gentle adventure in their seaside town, as Blue delivers chowder potpies, sandy-witch bread, and more. Blue’s magic may not yet be as strong or reliable as Mama’s, but Blue is always willing to try and use their magic to help others in the neighborhood, such as Jib, whose two dads run a local café.
Blue is clever and resourceful but not infallible, which makes them a relatable role model for young readers. Their nonbinary identity is incidental to the plot and never remarked on; readers of many identities should enjoy the story, although it may particularly resonate with nonbinary ones seeking tales with nonbinary protagonists that aren’t “about” being nonbinary.
Adults should know that in one scene, a neighbor whom Blue helps is sad because his dog recently died. Blue finds a way to comfort him and keep the dog’s memory alive. The scene is compassionate and may offer comfort to readers in similar situations, but I mention it in case some readers are particularly sensitive to animal deaths. (The death is not shown, however.)
The book has a throughline about being helpful, persistent, creative, and adaptable, but its lessons are never cloying. Author Kara LaReau knows just how to balance the sweet and the tart, making this a recommended tale.
In the backmatter is a recipe for “Mama Moon’s Beach Crumble,” a simple, no-bake creation for readers who want to try their own hand at making sweet treats.
Blue and their mama are White; neighbors reflect a variety of racial/ethnic identities.
