Emily Horn

Herbert was a lonely black street-cat who longed for warm place to call home, and a person to love. Taking refuge in the library one especially cold day, he happened upon a copy of The Encyclopedia of Witches, and learned that here - at last! - was a group of people who valued black cats. "If I find myself a witch," he thought, "perhaps I won't be cold and lonely anymore!" And so began a quest for a witch, a seemingly fruitless search, until...

Expat Australian author Emily Horn, and Polish artist Paweł Pawlak team up on this adorable picture-book about a little black cat who finally finds the home he deserves! As someone who loves a (mostly) black cat myself, nothing irritates me more than the mistreatment often meted out to these wonderful creatures, due to human ignorance, so I found the happy ending here especially pleasing. Excuse Me...Are You a Witch? is a heart-warming story, and an ideal Halloween selection for the younger child that isn't ready for scarier fare.… (more)