The Widow's Broom

I thought this book would be aimed for more of an older elementary classroom. The students would need to understand the consequences of their actions. They could learn from the two boys who tried to steal the broom in the story. Also, the book is a little scarier. It deals with witches and ghosts, it isn't a happy, colorful picture book like a lot of them are.  

This is a story about a witch’s broom and all the power that goes along with it. A witch had fallen in the vegetable garden of a lonely widow named Minna Shaw. The widow took the witch in and cared for her until one night at midnight, the witch just disappeared. Her broom stayed and helped the widow do chores throughout the farmhouse.  As neighbors heard about the amazing things the broom was doing for the widow, they came to see it in action. One of the neighbors decided they would try and steal the broom to help them with their house chores. They take the broom when it is outside, the broom throws their dog, and is mean to their children so they put the broom away in the closet. Since the broom was causing extra harm to the neighbors, people decided to burn it in the yard. The next morning Minna Shaw called the neighbors with frightening news that she had seen the ghost of the broom! It had come back and this sent the neighbors packing immediately. However, Minna Shaw decided to stay. She had fallen asleep and was awakened by her friend the broom who she covered with white paint to fake its ghost. 

I would have this book in my classroom library, I think it tells a good message and students could learn from it. Also it is mysterious and has a great story line. However, I don't recommend reading this as a read aloud just because some students may become frightened.