Winnie the Witch lives in a house where everything is entirely black, from the furniture and carpets to the bathtubs and doors. This monochromatic environment causes conflict with her companion, a cat named Wilbur who is also jet black with green eyes. When Wilbur sleeps, Winnie cannot see him, leading her to trip over him or sit on him accidentally. To solve this practical problem, Winnie uses her magic wand to change Wilbur’s color to bright green, then to a chaotic mix of red, yellow, and purple. However, Wilbur becomes miserable and embarrassed by his multicolored fur, forcing Winnie to rethink her approach to their shared living space.
Preschoolers and early elementary students read this story to see how magical solutions can lead to unintended emotional consequences. It appeals to children through its visual humor and the recognizable frustration of losing things in the dark. Readers walk away understanding that it is often better to change one's surroundings to suit others rather than demanding that individuals change who they are to fit in. The story provides a concrete lesson on empathy and compromise within a friendship.
- Published
- 1987
- Language
- EN
