Sheila May Bird

Doctor Imelda Witch was devoted to her animal patients, spending her days healing their injuries and curing their illnesses. When she received an invitation to the Witch and Wizard Ball, she was excited at the prospect of meeting handsome wizards and eating chocolate cake, and invested a great deal of time preparing for the big occasion. But a series of animals in need on the way to the ball left this Doctor Witch looking disheveled. Would she be able to convince the wizard at the door that she deserved to attend the ball...?

Part of Kingfisher Books' I Am Reading line of beginning chapter-books, Doctor Witch's Animal Hospital is the first title I have encountered from English author Sheila May Bird or Welsh illustrator Emma Parrish. I might never have discovered it, if I weren't always on the hunt for new (or new to me) tales for my perennial "witchy witches" project. On the whole, I thought the story was sweet, and I appreciated the fact that the eponymous witch didn't allow her fine clothing and anticipation of the ball to interfere with her duty to help the animals she encountered. The artwork was colorful and cute, although not particularly to my taste. All in all, this was enjoyable but I suspect not particularly memorable. I don't know that I would strongly recommend it, unless it was to beginning chapter-book readers with a strong interest in witchy tales and fiction featuring animals.… (más)