Visual Texts – ‘The Baby Witch’

Visual Texts – ‘The Baby Witch’ Smith W (1985)

The first thing about the book which grasped my attention was the artists’ use of colour. The front cover is bright blue portraying two witches, a wizard and two cats on a broomstick flying through the air. The use of water colours incorporates texture, therefore adding to the visual stimulation. The drawings of witches are designed to appeal to a Childs imagination and therefore capture their interest. The title of the book, ‘The Baby Witch’ is written in large, clear bold, print, showing the book as easily accessible to those children who are first acquiring literary skills.

The book is large flat and square, with the pictures taking up the majority of each page. The first two pages of the book are introductory to the story but contain no text. Instead they are bursting with vibrant colours and excitement. These first two pages show a night sky covered with pictures of toads, bats, broom sticks, stars, moons and smiling suns. In other words they are packed with visual stimulation, drawing the reader into the story.

The next page of the book introduces the reader to the character of ‘The Baby Witch’. She’s a young girl of about five, a similar age to the books target audience, therefore creating an instant connection with a young reader. In addition the Baby Witch appears to be looking out at her audience, once again developing a connection between the reader and the character. The rest of the page is white as if the reader is having a peeping insight into the characters life, encouraging the reader to find out more about her.

The Baby Witch, aptly named Wanda, appears on every page of the book. When reading the pictures it is evident that there is a chronological order to the story. Wanda is first seen in her home cooking up some strange concoction of frogs in mixing bowl. She then leaves her house in the daytime, has a few adventures on her travels, until it turns dark. She then returns home and is tucked up in bed by her parents, who are also a witch and a wizard. With this clear order to the story, the presence of Wanda throughout, and the pictures taking up the majority of each page, those children who have not yet developed literary skills are able to follow the story through the pictures. Therefore although the text supports the images it is not essential to a Childs enjoyment of the book.

However the story may differ without the text. Some small details about Wandas journey may be lost and the story itself may change according to the child readers imagination. However does this really matter or is it the Childs’ interest and enjoyment in this instance which matters more?

The placing of the text and in relation to the pictures within the book have also been carefully considered so as to keep a childs interest. Throughout the book the layout of each page changes, often to complement the story in one way or another. The first two pages are set out with the pictures in two frames, with appearing the text below:








Text Text

This layout seems to introduce the reader to the story and to the character, As if looking into Wandas world through a window. As the story goes on the position of the text my change. Some may be framed on one page and not on the other. Some pages may have two frames with the text in the middle. Some pages may have little to know text whilst others may tell a large chunk of the story.

My overall opinion on ‘The Baby Witch’ is a good one. The characters are well drawn, interesting and designed to stimulate a Childs imagination. The use of water colour gives the book a textural quality. The artist has also used bright and attractive colours, again drawing in a Childs attention. There is variety in the books imagery and a clear chronology, making the story east to follow for young readers.


(I did have an example of the page layout above but the forum wont let me use squares so, i have used smiley faces instead.)

Thoughtful and intelligent. Everyone is so good. What a great group we are this year - did we ought to have a Xmas meal one evening?