Get our latest book recommendations, author news, and competitions right to your inbox.
Heidi Heckelbeck Casts a Spell
Book #2 of Heidi Heckelbeck
By Wanda Coven
Illustrated by Priscilla Burris
Table of Contents
About The Book
Heidi Heckelbeck displays her witching skills in this second book of a new young chapter book series!
Now readers between the ages of five and seven can read chapter books tailor-made for a younger level of reading comprehension. Heavily illustrated with large type, Little Simon's young chapter books let young readers feel like they are reading a “grown-up” format with subject, text, and illustrations geared specifically for their own age groups!
Heidi Heckelbeck seems like any other eight-year-old, but she has a secret: She’s a witch in disguise. Careful to keep her powers hidden (but excited to use them all the same), Heidi’s learning to live like any other kid—who just happens to be witch. And with easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, Heidi Heckelbeck chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.
Thanks to meanie Melanie Maplethorpe, Heidi is cast as a scary tree in the school play, The Wizard of Oz. Heidi decides to get even with Melanie by casting a spell on her. The result of the spell? Melanie—who has the lead role as Dorothy—will forget her lines. As the day of the play nears, Heidi carefully collects all the ingredients she needs. But when she casts her spell, will Heidi’s revenge be as sweet as she thinks?
Now readers between the ages of five and seven can read chapter books tailor-made for a younger level of reading comprehension. Heavily illustrated with large type, Little Simon's young chapter books let young readers feel like they are reading a “grown-up” format with subject, text, and illustrations geared specifically for their own age groups!
Heidi Heckelbeck seems like any other eight-year-old, but she has a secret: She’s a witch in disguise. Careful to keep her powers hidden (but excited to use them all the same), Heidi’s learning to live like any other kid—who just happens to be witch. And with easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, Heidi Heckelbeck chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.
Thanks to meanie Melanie Maplethorpe, Heidi is cast as a scary tree in the school play, The Wizard of Oz. Heidi decides to get even with Melanie by casting a spell on her. The result of the spell? Melanie—who has the lead role as Dorothy—will forget her lines. As the day of the play nears, Heidi carefully collects all the ingredients she needs. But when she casts her spell, will Heidi’s revenge be as sweet as she thinks?
Excerpt
A SPELL FOR
SMELL-A-NIE
Abracadabra!
Alakazam!
Presto change-o!
Heidi Heckelbeck flipped open her Book of Spells. The book had been a gift from her grandmother, who was a witch. Heidi’s mother was also a witch, as well as her Aunt Trudy and, of course, Heidi. Heidi’s dad and little brother, Henry, were just regular people.
The book’s worn pages crinkled as she thumbed through them.
“Bingo!” Heidi said to herself.
She had found the spell:
Heidi had discovered it last night. Tucked inside the page was a piece of paper. Heidi unfolded it. It was a list of all the rotten things Melanie Maplethorpe had done to Heidi on her first day of school yesterday.
Mean Things Melanie Did to Me
1. She called me smelly.
2. She gave me five dirty looks for no reason!
3. She put a jack-o’-lantern face on my self-portrait.
4. She made me get cast as a scary apple tree in the class play.
“I’m going to teach Princess Smell-a-nie a lesson once and for all,” said Heidi.
In three weeks Heidi’s second-grade class would be performing The Wizard of Oz. Heidi planned to cast the spell on opening night.
Imagine how meanie Melanie will feel when she forgets all her lines, thought Heidi. She could hardly wait.
Heidi studied the list of ingredients she would need for the spell.
1 eye of a gingerbread man
1 black plastic spider
1 piece of straw
1 teaspoon of salt
3 cornflakes
2 sour gummy worms
1 puppy tooth
1 tablespoon of catnip
3 splashes of water
Wow, thought Heidi. Where am I going to find all this stuff? It would be a treasure hunt, that was for sure. She copied the ingredients onto a piece of paper and stuck it in her pocket. Then she read the directions carefully.
Mix ingredients together in a red sand pail. Close your eyes and place one hand over the pail. Hold your Witches of Westwick medallion in your other hand. Chant the following words:
I’d better get started, thought Heidi.
SMELL-A-NIE
Abracadabra!
Alakazam!
Presto change-o!
Heidi Heckelbeck flipped open her Book of Spells. The book had been a gift from her grandmother, who was a witch. Heidi’s mother was also a witch, as well as her Aunt Trudy and, of course, Heidi. Heidi’s dad and little brother, Henry, were just regular people.
The book’s worn pages crinkled as she thumbed through them.
“Bingo!” Heidi said to herself.
She had found the spell:
Heidi had discovered it last night. Tucked inside the page was a piece of paper. Heidi unfolded it. It was a list of all the rotten things Melanie Maplethorpe had done to Heidi on her first day of school yesterday.
Mean Things Melanie Did to Me
1. She called me smelly.
2. She gave me five dirty looks for no reason!
3. She put a jack-o’-lantern face on my self-portrait.
4. She made me get cast as a scary apple tree in the class play.
“I’m going to teach Princess Smell-a-nie a lesson once and for all,” said Heidi.
In three weeks Heidi’s second-grade class would be performing The Wizard of Oz. Heidi planned to cast the spell on opening night.
Imagine how meanie Melanie will feel when she forgets all her lines, thought Heidi. She could hardly wait.
Heidi studied the list of ingredients she would need for the spell.
1 eye of a gingerbread man
1 black plastic spider
1 piece of straw
1 teaspoon of salt
3 cornflakes
2 sour gummy worms
1 puppy tooth
1 tablespoon of catnip
3 splashes of water
Wow, thought Heidi. Where am I going to find all this stuff? It would be a treasure hunt, that was for sure. She copied the ingredients onto a piece of paper and stuck it in her pocket. Then she read the directions carefully.
Mix ingredients together in a red sand pail. Close your eyes and place one hand over the pail. Hold your Witches of Westwick medallion in your other hand. Chant the following words:
I’d better get started, thought Heidi.
About The Illustrator
(c) Priscilla Burris
Priscilla Burris is the illustrator and author-illustrator of many books for children. She attributes her love of children’s books and library visits to the East Los Angeles Library. Priscilla loves her role of creating characters and stories for readers everywhere. She lives in sunny Arizona, where she finds the sunrises and sunsets awe-inspiring.
Product Details
- Publisher: Little Simon (September 13, 2016)
- Length: 128 pages
- ISBN13: 9781442435674
- Ages: 5 - 9
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
COVEN, Wanda. Heidi Heckelbeck Casts a Spell. illus. by Priscilla Burris. 118p. (Heidi Heckelbeck Series). CIP. S & S/Little Simon. 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4088-3; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3567-4; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3568-1. LC 2011014336.
Gr 1-3–Heidi Heckelbeck, a witch, is upset about a girl in her second-grade class who is unaccountably mean to her. When she gets fed up with Melanie, she finds a way to make her nemesis forget her lines for the school play. Heidi spends much of the book assembling ingredients for her spell, such as a puppy tooth and a piece of straw. When she works her magic and Melanie starts to cry, she feels bad, reverses the spell, and everything works out well. The typeface is large and clear, and the word choice is simple. Small to full-page pictures prompt early readers on every page. This is a slight story with no surprises. There is little humor or suspense, but its sheer simplicity might make it a rewarding choice for early or struggling readers.–Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK
School Library Journal, May 2012
Resources and Downloads
Activity Sheets
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Heidi Heckelbeck Casts a Spell Trade Paperback 9781442435674(1.6 MB)
