WITCHYCAKES #2

During the autumn equinox, a blue-haired young witch in training learns that not all change is bad.

While baking seasonal treats, Witchycakes business owner Mama Moon teaches her child, Blue (who uses they/them pronouns), the art of mise en place—or “having everything you need organized and ready before you start.” Later, while delivering baked goods around the seaside village of Shellville, Blue bemoans the end of summer, but their avian best friend and familiar, Gully, points out the lovely sensations of autumn: Mr. Cliff’s fragrant butternut squash ravioli, branches fluttering in the wind, and the foliage that graces the trees. Along the way, Blue uses magic to help a variety of other townspeople struggling with change: two siblings struggling with their weekend job at the Nautilus Inn, a young child upset about the prospect of becoming a big sister, and the agoraphobic owners of a successful online crafting company hoping to open a brick-and-mortar shop. As in the series opener, Moreira’s warm-toned illustrations depict a diverse and supportive community; Blue and Mama Moon are tan-skinned. LaReau has crafted a cozy, feel-good tale that evokes the comforting idea that anyone can cope with change as long as they have the resources to succeed. The concept of mise en place helps to drive home that theme, and the book concludes with a five-step plan for a “Magical Mise en Place.”

Sweet and hopeful—and tinged with magic.