Picture Book Review: Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch

Yours, Befana:  A Letter from the Winter Witch is a stunning, hardcover picture book, translated from Italian, which will make a cherished story to be shared and enjoyed during the winter holidays. 

La Befana, the winter witch, flies on her broom from Forever and Beyond to visit children on the twelfth night after Christmas, heralding the end of the Christmas magic and the return to daily life.

This wonderfully magical story is written in free verse as a letter from Befana which makes it feel both personal and special as it directly addresses the reader, sharing secrets – and giving both advice – and warnings.  Befana shares a secret: that those she visits have no hope of catching a glimpse of her as she has taken a potion that makes her invisible.  When she visits, she both advises and warns that she will either leave a gift of food or coal, depending on how children have behaved throughout the year, as she is both benevolent and fearsome. 

Whilst Befana dresses warmly for her winter visits, she is also a portent of Spring awakening and a new beginning and leaves the reader with a heartwarming message of love and hope.

This stunning book is beautifully illustrated in gouache with the addition of fluorescent orange acrylic.  I loved looking at the detailed illustrations which encapsulate winter so perfectly with the busyness and cosiness of life indoors and the wonderful winter activities to be enjoyed in the snowy outdoors. I also loved the animal illustrations throughout, both domestic and wild.   And, of course, the images of Befana as she flies through the night with her bright orange sack and boots, leaving magic in the air, are simply stunning.

Befana is part of Italian folklore which is likely to be unfamiliar to children in the UK so the addition of a section entitled ‘A Few Secrets About Me’ at the end of the story is a really helpful addition as it shares both information about Befana and other winter-witches. 

This gorgeously enchanting hardback book will make a fantastic read for older children to enjoy on their own, or for younger readers to return to again and again with an adult during the winter holiday season. 

Thank you to Catherine Ward and Greystone Kids for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.