Alice and Greta's Color Magic

Title: Alice and Greta's Color Magic 
Author: Steven J. Simmons
Illustrator: Cyd Moore
Published: 2001
Synopsis from Goodreads

Frog's guts and lizard's eyes,
to every color I say good-bye!

Greta's at it again.

This time, she casts a spell she knows Alice will hate--one that makes all color in the world disappear! Now Alice may be nice, but a witch has to do what a witch has to do. So Alice casts a spell of her own to teach Greta a lesson. Soon the spells start flying, and before they know it, Alice and Greta have made a color magic mess--every color in the world gets mixed up!

Can Alice and Greta work together to fix this color confusion?

Steve Simmons and Cyd Moore make magic again with another Alice and Greta adventure--a delightful story with an important message about the beauty and importance of differences.


This witch book is all about color.


Greta the naughty witch is sick and tired of the happy Alice witch being so happy. So, Greta decides to rid the world of every color except her favorite, green.


In a world of grey and green, the children are sad, the chameleons are nervous, and the peacocks are quite embarrassed.


Alice decides to teach Greta a lesson and bring back the colors except for green.


Greta of course is ticked because "How dare she!!"


Greta brings back green with her magic but the two spells mix all the colors up and together they have to cast a spell to make the colors right.


In the end, Alice is happy that Greta helped, but Greta is too busy to even notice because she's ready for her next diabolical scheme.


Greta's Thoughts

This book is a cute way to get kids excited about colors. I think it would be great for pre-school to 1st graders.... also for anyone named Greta.


The pictures are full of life and I simply love love love the animals in the scenery.

Greta's Revenge: More Alice and Greta

Title: Greta's Revenge  
Author: Steven J. Simmons

Illustrator: Cyd Moore

Published: 1999

Synopsis from Goodreads

Steve Simmons and Cyd Moore's hit picture book Alice and Greta introduced two witches with very different views of the world: Alice, who uses her magic to help others, and Greta, who is always conjuring up trouble. In Greta's Revenge, Alice has foiled one of Greta's nasty schemes -- and Greta wants to get even. She casts a spell that makes Alice do mean things. But Greta has forgotten the most important lesson of witch school, the Brewmerang Principle: "Whatever you chant, whatever you brew, sooner or later it comes back to you!" Soon Greta is doing nice things for people. Luckily for both witches, the spell wears off -- but not before Greta has learned a little bit about the value of kindness. Ebullient illustrations perfectly capture the spirit of this clever, accessible, and satisfying tale that's eminently suited for Halloween -- and beyond.

Poor Greta! She just got dumped in marshmallow goop because that goody two shoes, Alice, didn't like her being mean to kids.

Well, BAHS!! Greta is out for revenge!!

What can she do that would make Alice a laughing stock?

There are plenty of mean things but the bestest thing would be to make Alice just as mean as Greta! That way Greta will have a mean bud to pal around with. How sweet would that be?

Bibbidy bobbidy boo and Alice's cheery pink hat turns green!! YES! Now, it's double trouble!

But oh drats! Greta forgot about the "Brewmerang Principle": Whatever you chant, whatever you brew, sooner or later will come back to you!

Well, fiddlesticks! That right there made Greta into a nicey pants just like Alice used to be.... until..... the spell wears off.

Greta's Thoughts
This appears to be the 2nd book in the "Alice and Greta" series. It picks up right where Book 1 left off.

I think the "Brewmerang Principle" is quite clever and while it is very close to the Golden Rule it is also just like the Threefold Law:

The Three-Fold Law is the belief and principle on which magick is used. This law relates to the use of power and energy, for when used, power is returned to the sender, three times the level it was sent out.

It's a good lesson for kids!! And anyone else, for that matter.

The illustrations were very fun and inventive. I loved all the detail and the accessories that the girls had on. They wouldn't be girls without accessories. It's attention to detail like that THAT makes me go squee.

This was a very fun book and I think anyone 3rd grade and below would really enjoy it!

Alice and Greta: A Tale of Two Witches

Title: Alice and Greta: A Tale of Two Witches 

Author: Steven J. Simmons

Illustrator: Cyd Moore 

Published: 1999

Synopsis from Goodreads

Alice spends her time casting helpful spells but Greta loves to wreak havoc until a spirited spell comes back to haunt her.

Alice is a cute bubbly fun witch. She dances in flowers and has a happy kitty and a happy bat and everything around her is just so super happy!


Greta is a misunderstood witch who likes to pull practical jokes and turn prince frogs into evil toads and rain marshmallow fluff down on sticky children to make them stand still.


I honestly don't see why everone is so mad at Greta. I mean... didn't anyone get the memo? All Gretas are fabulous!!


But, the writer of this book has a different view. He created a Greta who is the villain. And while a villainous Greta can be a fabulous Greta, I guess the children this book is read to will root for Alice.


Bahs!!


LOLZ!!


Greta's (the bad witch) Thoughts
This book was super cute! A nice picture book that would be perfect when learning the Golden Rule, 

or Read around Halloween,

or even at a girl's slumber party.


I can just imagine a little girl falling in love with this!


While "Greta and Alice" is boy friendly, it does revolve around two girls. So, I think girls would like it more.


The illustrations are very colorful and have a lot going on. I enjoyed looking at everything in each picture. Super cute and kawaii!!


I wish this was out when I was a kid. I would have squeed at it every time it was read to me!!