Hettie Nettle, our local fabulous hedgewitch, is giving us the scoop on just what exactly her duties are as a keeper of the Wild Wood. Although much of the book is presented as her own personal handbook (hence many fictional aspects), there is also a lot of valuable information about actual pagan holidays/rituals. The book is structured month by month, with each month having its own tips, spells, 'celebrity' interviews, and more. It's a truly delightful escape into Hettie's cozy, magical woods. Full of whimsy, magic, and adorable illustrations, this charming handbook for hedgewitches is sure to be a hit with the witchy, nature-loving kiddo in your life!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hettie Nettle's Handbook for Hedgewitches is an adorable book for the budding fantasy reader. Children in 3rd-6th grade would likely enjoy this book. It is a mix of information for each month, short stories, and "spells". Lighthearted and fun, this book comes highly recommended. Although I would not put it in my first grade classroom, I would recommend it to older elementary students.

Thank you to Moon + Bird and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy. Opinions expressed are my own.

This book was so whimsical and fun! The main character takes us through each month of the year, offering up seasonal information, stories, and spells. The illustrations were super cute too!

This is such a charming book! In it, we are presented an in-character guide to all things hedge witch by eight-year old Hettie Nettle, who lives by herself in caravan in the The Wild Wood, and will surely be the envy of young readers who would love to imagine themselves doing the same. Though she lives alone, Hettie introduces us to a variety of people and creatures who make up her magical commuity, from her grandmother, her teacher at Miss Bindweed's School for Young Hedgewitches, to the faeries and animals who she spends time with in the woods.

In terms of structure, the book is broken up by the months of the year. Each month contains information about magical and pagan events for the month, Hettie's to-do list of magical tasks, a "celebrity" interview (notable celebrities being the Moon, a Moss Fairy, Thunder, etc.), a spell, and a story that relates to the themes of the month. These sections are each beautifully enhanced by watercolor illustrations of animals, magical creatures, other natural elements, and spell ingredients.

Though the text is written in-character by Hettie, and is firmly situated in her fantasy world, the book does contain real and useful information about pagan observances and practices in a kid-friendly fashion. I had such a fun time reading this book, and would highly recommend it to children who are interested in faeries and magic and well as pagan families who are looking for texts that speak to their practices.

This is a delightfully whimsical children’s book for little magic lovers. It’s in an almanac format with stories, spells and goals for each month (which are charmingly renamed). The illustrations are darling and it has a really sweet, fun tone. The one thing I wish is that it had actual hedgewitchery like herbal recipes (elderflower syrup, plantain salve and such) but it’s purely fiction (or magic) in terms of the little spells/recipes. Well recommended.

I read a temporary digital loan of this book via netgalley.

Top Secret and Important! Hettie Nettle’s Handbook for Hedgewitches is the perfect gift for aspiring witches. Packed with useful information, fun facts, stories and spells it’s great for dipping in to but will also keep your little (and grown up) hedgewitches engaged for hours. The illustrations are gorgeous and the whole book is a feel good read. I will be buying multiple copies, one to keep and lots to give away.

Hettie Nettle's Handbook for Hedgewitches is easily one of the most whimsical and immersive children's books I have ever laid eyes on!

Readers young and old will be immersed in a world that honors the seasons and the nature that flourishes within them. Brimming with fun activities and evocative tales, this is a book that you could explore year after year and never get tired of it's whimsy.

I will certainly be gifting this to many a young witch in my life!

This might be one of the most genuinely magical children's books ever! How utterly darling and creative! I adored Hattie, Larkin, and all of the unique aspects of this book: "celebrity" interviews, Tales from the Flittermouse, Spell of the Month, etc. I feel totally cheated that I didn't grow up as a hedgewitch with as magical a life as Hattie's. Thank you, NetGalley!

This charming book will delight witches young and old. The book is written from the point of view of an eight year old hedgewitch. They take us through the year dispensing thoughtful to-do lists, hints for dealing with fairies, delightful interviews with important magic dwellers, and helpful magical recipes! The illustrations are an added bonus…sweet watercolors!

This would be a wonderful gift for a witch in your life, or anyone who likes a little bit a outdoor whimsy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Moon + Bird for the digital ARC.

This was the most darling thing ever! I wish I had this when I was younger! The drawings were adorable and it had so many cute elements to it! I will definitely be buying it for my friend's daughter when it comes out! Then you netgalley for the arc

Hettie Nettle's Handbook for Hedgewitches is one of the coolest books I have had the pleasure to read. It is chock-full of information and the formatting is wonderful. It goes through each month, and Hettie, and 8 year old precocious hedgewitch that lives alone in her caravan in the woods, provides important hedgewitch information, celebrity (of the woods) interviews, riddles, and more. The illustrations are wonderful and endearing. Hettie is precious. Be wise, harm none, do good.

This book was a treasure trove of good witchy fun. Little me would have been obsessed. If you have any young witches or wizards in your life, I highly recommend this. The writing is very accessible and fun, and the fact that it has a lot of different types of text like fun potions, interviews, little stories, information about festive days, etc, really keeps your interest. The illustrations were also lovely and a great addition.

What a delightful story! Kids will love this magical book filled with fun and whimsy. The illustrations are lovely and the concept is so interesting! I loved getting to read Hettie’s story.

This is a beautiful, special, magical book and every page is an absolute delight. Hettie's teaching will help young readers engage with nature in a unique way, encouraging them to discover the magic in the natural world and there is so much to learn and to do. Hettie's voice is thoroughly engaging and the rich cast of characters is very skilfully created. Larkin deserves a book of his own! The stories within the book combine elements of myth, fable and bedtime story to create something unique and delightful. The illustrations are simply beautiful with a lovely, dream-like quality that provides a stark contrast to the more cartoony illustrations that populate most children's books, but they suit this book perfectly. As a bookseller, I have rarely seen a book quite like this one and as an author and illustrator, Claire Barker has once again proved herself to be one of the most accomplished creators working in children's fiction today.

If I had one very slight niggle, it is that because the book has such a British flavour, the American spellings of words like 'color' feel a little out of place. It does nothing to detract from this stunning book, though.

A beautiful book that charmed me the whole way through! As a millennial it gave me serious Amelia’s Notebook vibes which took me right back to my childhood. Hope to get a physical copy when it comes out!

An adorable and whimsical book full of magic and wonder! Hattie Nettle is here to tell the scoop on the world of magic that's just a step away from our own! This book is so cute and fun, I love all the little activities for kids to do, and I know if I were a kid today, I would totally be roping my mom into every single activity.

This is gonna be such a good read for any kid into fantasy, and it's definitely up there with the Dragonology books or the Fairyopolis.

What a little gem!
Set in the Wild Wood, Hettie Nettle walks us through her life as a hedgewitch. Unlike many books about young witches, this has a handbook format that prepares the other witches (young readers) in being a good witch at Wild Wood with recipes, stories, glimpses of the Woodfolk, spells, interviews with the WW celebrities and many more. Hettie Nettle is a dote, and this book is very engaging and entertaining.

This was so cute. The illustrations and story were so whimsical, my children loved it. Each section has useful knowledge like what magical things happen during that month, alongside just fun little bits like special “interviews”

Every once in a while, I get an ARC that blows my mind away and this is one of them. It is very difficult to describe it or summarise it as it contains spells, information and stories -- all beautifully illustrated in a dreamy way. I cannot put it in one specific category. It sure is a mesmerising read. I am definitely buying this when it is out.

so charming! I really enjoyed this and think it will be a great read for children! I loved the fantasy world and all of the tips and tricks. Very unique

This was a delightfully cute book! I loved the illustrations, the additional tale for every month, and the writing style. I think this is perfect for the little child (or honestly middle-schooler) in your life you may be interested in magic and fairies.

Hettie Nettle is 'eight years old and precisley three-and-a-half hats tall', she's an English hedgewitch whose job is to take care of the wild wood and this is her most wonderful handbook.
This is a book filled to the brim with joy. It's crammed with seasonal tips and and information. Stories such as 'the Unluck Hedgehog' are neatly nestled within the pages. It guides little readers to look out for wonderful things in nature, to open their eyes and use their imaginations. Loved the interview with Mother Oak.
A magical book filled with a love of nature and childhood.