The Worst Witch Collection

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Jill Murphy was born in London in 1949. From a very early age she was drawing and writing stories, and was already putting books together (literally, with a stapler) by the time she was six. She went on to study at Chelsea, Croydon and Camberwell Schools of Art. Jill worked in a children's home for four years and as a nanny for a year, before becoming a freelance writer and illustrator. The Worst Witch stories, of which this is the first, are some of Puffin's most successful titles. The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star (Scholastic UK, ISBN 978-0-141351995; another(?), ISBN 978-0-141383996) was released by Scholastic UK on 3 October 2013. [11] The “Worst Witch” series is a set of novels by London born children’s author Jill Murphy. She is best known for writing the “Large Family” picture books and “The Worst Witch” series. Reviewers have called Murphy one of the most charming illustrators and children’s authors of modern times. Jill Murphy was born in London in 1949. From a very early age she was drawing and writing stories, and was already putting books together (literally, with a stapler) by the time she was six. She went on to study at Chelsea, Croydon and Camberwell Schools of Art. Jill worked in a children's home for four years and as a nanny for a year, before becoming a freelance writer and illustrator. Murphy began writing The Worst Witch at the age of 15, and based the Worst Witch books on her own experiences of school at Ursuline Convent in Wimbledon, England, [3] with Singing becoming Chanting, Chemistry becoming Potions and so on.

Each book covers one term at the school. There are two terms each year: the Winter term, from September to January, and the Summer term, from March to July. In First Prize for the Worst Witch, the most recent book, Mildred is in the Summer term of her fourth year. In a flying lesson, Ethel steals Tabby (who has been suffering a nervous breakdown as a result of the hair incident) and hides him on the roof in front of Miss Granite's study's window. The author Jill Murphy began writing The Worst Witch at the age of 15, while still at school, and based many points of the stories on her own school experiences at Ursuline Convent in Wimbledon, England, with Singing becoming Chanting, Chemistry becoming Potions and so on. [5] Recalling how the story was initially inspired by her own school experiences, [6] she said in an interview: "My two friends and I used to come home in our dark uniforms, looking very scruffy at the end of the day – my dark plaits sprouting tufts, with lost hair ribbons. My Mum used to say 'Look at you all. You look like the three witches!' and it gave me the idea for a witch's school – so that it was exactly like my school, but with a subtle touch of magic. All the characters are based on my school friends (and enemies) and teachers." [7] Millions of young readers have fallen under the spell of Jill Murphy's Worst Witch' - Sunday Express

a b c Vincent, Alice (31 October 2014). "An oral history of The Worst Witch....The Worst Witch was only published because of a party". The Telegraph. The Worst Witch Strikes Again, written and illustrated by Jill Murphy, is reissued with exciting new branding and format. The Worst Witch has become one of Puffin's bestselling children's series for readers aged 5 - 9 years. Other characters in the books include Ethel Hallow and Mildred's friends, Maud Moonshine and Enid Nightshade. Maud is a rotund girl and more sensible than Mildred, although usually finds herself caught up in her friend's problems. Enid (introduced in the second book) is a practical joker who is more likely than Mildred to get them all into trouble. The three of them have a strong rivalry with Ethel Hallow, their high-born, snobbish and vindictive classmate. The next day, in a lesson with Miss Hardbroom, the girls are presenting their projects to the class. Ethel goes first, but her project is the same as Mildred's. Mildred shouts to Miss Hardbroom that Ethel had stolen her project. Miss Hardbroom opens Mildred's project folder but finds only many sheets of paper with smiley faces drawn on them in different colours. Miss Hardbroom "transfers" Mildred to her room. Jill Murphy is a London-born English children's author, best known for The Worst Witch series and the Large Family picture books. She has been described as "one of the most engaging writers and illustrators for children in the land."

When it was no longer realistic that Mildred would still be at school, the series relocated her to a magical university in Cambridge and was retitled Weirdsister College: The Further Adventures of the Worst Witch and saw the return of Felicity Jones as a reinvented Ethel Hallow. The Worst Witch was first published in 1974 by Allison & Busby, and proved to be an immediate success, selling out within two months. [9] [10] Plot There will also be a spin off series of books for younger readers featuring Mildred's cat, Tabby. [2] On the morning of departure, unable to bear the thought of a week without Tabby, Mildred sneaks down into the school kitchens, lets Ebony out of his cage, and instead hides Tabby inside.

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Mildred unravels her pigtails to try out Maud's styling brush. Maud and Enid find her with her hair loose, and a chunk of her hair tangled up with the brush in a huge mess. Ethel comes in and volunteers to help. However, the "help" amounts to taking a pair of scissors and chopping off both the styling brush and the messy hair. Steinberg, Brian (31 August 2016). "Netflix Sets Tween Series 'Worst Witch,' 'Horse Mystery Project' For 2017". Variety . Retrieved 9 July 2018.