Velda the Little Witch wants so badly to throw a surprise party for Treacle, her cat. And here come some big black clouds...

Velda runs around trying to find ingredients for a spell to chase the clouds away but nothing is going right, Luckily, friendship prevails.

Definitely a likeable book that would fit into an elementary classroom's holiday collection! Nice illustrations too.

This book is about Velda a cute little witch and her friend Treacle a little black cat. It's Treacle's birthday and Velda wants to give him a surprise birthday picnic but the sun is going away and Velda is set to make the sun come out. I loved reading this to my kids, the story was sweet and the illustrations and cute.

A cute and quick children's book perfect for the fall. I loved all of the alliteration throughout this and the general flow of the words. I think it would go over very well during one of my storytimes.
The illustrations were also very cute and whimsical.

My daughter and I enjoyed this book. I loved how it showed that people being together is the important part in the ending.

Beautiful illustrations, the colours aren’t too vibrant but not too dull either, just perfect. The story is fun and easy to follow along with. A Great little read for autumn time.

Thank you so much to Rosen Publishing/Windmill Books and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Velda the witch had planned a special surpise birthday picnic for Treacle the cat. But the weather is going to ruin it all. So she sets out to find ingredients to make a sunshine spell and save her surprise picnic.

A perfect read for young ones, it’s got some great rhyming within it, it’s really bright to look at, the story is really sweet, it’s got plenty of humour and it’s a nice friendship story too.

I loved looking at the big bright illustrations seeing where Velda was going to go next and which animal would hide from her. All the while you can spot Treacle following behind her at each step, which is so funny as she’s trying to surpise him.

I recommend this book for young ones, it’s a nice story. It’s got so many different elements to it, it’s an easy read for those learning how to read themselves. They’ll have a great fun time with this book.

My child loved the story and straight away ask me to read again, as English my second language I found a little bit difficult to read but I also enjoyed the story definitely will read again and recommended !:)

Cute childrens book. I read it to my 8 month old and he seemed to enjoy the pictures. It is about a girl trying to set up a birthday for her friend a cat. It also seems likr a bit of halloween themed.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in return for an honest review.

Velda is making a surprise picnic for her friend, but things go awry when it looks like it’s going to start storming. Velda looks up a spell to alter the weather, and nothing works out when she tries to gather the ingredients. The ending is really cute.

It’s a simple story with cute illustrations for children, and I had fun reading it to my one year old.

I highly recommend this book for families who love Halloween, feel good books to read to their young children.

I’m giving this book four stars because I feel like this story isn’t quite unique, although it is cute.

Velda’s Surprise Picnic is exactly the kind of gentle, magical tale our family gravitates toward every autumn. It has that soft Halloween charm—nothing spooky, just the kind of whimsical witchy fun that feels like crisp leaves, warm lantern light, and a cat curled at your feet. Velda herself is an endearing little whirlwind, determined to make the perfect birthday picnic for her beloved cat, and her earnest attempts to gather spell ingredients had my kids giggling. There’s a sweetness in the way she learns that sunshine isn’t the real magic at all; friendship is.The illustrations by Sam Walshaw glow with color, the kind that pulls young readers straight into the page. Every spread feels like stepping into a tiny enchanted clearing, full of bright creatures and playful details. It’s one of those books where you linger just a little longer before turning the page.If your family loves Halloween stories, gentle witches, or tales where kindness quietly wins the day, Velda’s Surprise Picnic is a delightful addition to your shelf. It’s adorable, it’s warm, and it’s exactly the kind of story that makes October reading feel magical.

We loved this book it's the perfect introduction into Halloween as well with all the characters but without the scare. It's about a witch who wants to throw a surprise party for her cat but it's going to rain. She tried to make a spell for the sun but fails and then after she gives up the sun does come out and it's the best day for her cats birthday. We found this one so cute. Definitely will be re-reading.

Well, we’re heading into Halloween season, so of course I very much enjoyed spending some time with our little witch friend, Velda!

One thing I thought would be especially fun if you’re reading this with a child is to have them look for the little black cat that appears throughout the illustrations. I didn’t start noticing him right away, and I’m not sure he’s on every single page, but once I spotted him, I started looking for him! Turning it into a little “find the black cat” game would be a great way to keep a child engaged while you read together.

Beyond all the cute witchy fun, this is also a sweet story about friendship and caring about other people. It has a lovely message wrapped up in an adorable story, and I loved it.

A perfect little read as we head into spooky season!

Velda’s Surprise Picnic is a very cute story about a little witch named Velda planning a birthday picnic for her black cat, Treacle. When the weather refuses to cooperate, Velda decides a little magic might be necessary to bring out the sunshine.

This would be especially fun to read aloud. There’s lots of playful language throughout, including alliteration, rhyming, onomatopoeia, and plenty of fun sounds for kids to join in with. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and adorable, and Velda and Treacle have the kind of character designs that immediately make them feel like an established little duo.

It’s a sweet, simple story about friendship, making the best of things, and discovering that the perfect celebration might not require everything to go exactly according to plan. A charming read-aloud for younger kids.

What a cute and fun story!

Velda has made a surprise picnic party for her cat, Treacle but it's getting overcast. She seeks the help of some animals but they all run off. Will Velda be able to pull off a surprise for Treacle?

A very nice book for younger readers and can be also read aloud and is complemented with pretty and colorful illustrations.

There's also Easter eggs where you try to can find Treacle hidden in the pages. It all works out and everyone, has a fun picnic party.

Velda's Surprise Picnic – Book Review

Velda's Surprise Picnic is a sweet and colorful picture book that gently reminds children that celebrations are about being together and having fun, rather than making everything perfect.

Velda has planned a surprise picnic party for a friend. But there’s one problem—the picnic is outdoors, and Velda starts worrying about the rain. Determined to make everything go perfectly, Velda attempts a magic trick to keep the rain away. However, the trick ends up hurting their friends, making Velda realise that perhaps perfection isn’t what matters after all.

When their friend finally arrives, everyone comes together excitedly to celebrate. And just when they need it most, the sun comes out to brighten their special gathering.

What I particularly enjoyed about this picture book is its bright, colorful illustrations and large, clear pictures. The visuals are engaging and easy for toddlers to follow, making the book enjoyable even for little ones who are still developing their attention span.

The story carries a lovely message about letting go of perfection and focusing on togetherness, friendship, and the joy of celebrating.

Overall, Velda's Surprise Picnic is a cheerful and engaging read and a nice pick for toddlers who enjoy colorful picture books with a simple, meaningful message.