In The Widow's Broom, Chris Van Allsburg introduces readers to Minna Shaw. An impromptu meeting with a witch in her vegetable garden sets the stage for an interesting turn of events. Minna invites the witch in her home to recuperate after she falls from her broom. When the witch leaves Minna's home, she does not take her broom. Although the broom appears to be normal, Minna soon realizes the broom has special abilities. It can sleep, chop wood, and fetch water among other things. As soon as Minna's neighbors find out about the broom, controversy begins. The magical ending provides an amusing spin to the story.
While Van Allsburg presents readers with an entertaining story, this book is not appropriate for very young readers. The story is quite detailed and includes a substantial amount of text. Younger readers may feel overwhelmed.
The dark tones in the illustration add to the mystery of the story. Van Allsburg's images of the character's make the story even more believable. This wicked tale about a magical broom leaves readers swept away!
