Classics · The Worst Witch

The Worst Witch: what age is it for?

Illustration: books fanned out, one open on a painted small-town street at dusk, half-timbered houses with warmly lit windows and a wooden broom by a front door

Mildred Hubble has been the clumsiest pupil at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches since 1974. For many children, her books are the first school stories they read alone.

Here's what age BookTrust gives, and how the book works at six and at seven.

In brief

Interest age 6+, reading age 7+, according to BookTrust, for the Puffin edition.¹
First published in 1974.¹
A year between listening and reading. BookTrust often gives two ages.² For The Worst Witch, they're a year apart: read aloud at six, alone at seven.
After phonics. In England, children take the phonics screening check in Year 1, at five to six.³ A year later, a short chapter book like this is within reach.

The story

What the book is about

Mildred means well, but her spells go wrong, her cat can't sit on a broomstick, and her rival Ethel never misses a chance to make things worse. Still, when it counts, Mildred's mistakes save the school.

The book is short, with illustrations by the author, and the chapters move quickly: a good fit for a child reading one of their first novels.

In practice

At six, and at seven

At six, read aloud. The interest age is six. Children at this age love a heroine who gets things wrong and comes through anyway.

At seven, alone. The reading age is seven. Many children read the first book alone and then want the rest of the series.

For children who worry about getting things wrong. Mildred makes mistakes all the time, and is still loved. Our page on self-esteem looks at what helps a child who's afraid of failing.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What age is The Worst Witch for?

BookTrust gives an interest age of six and a reading age of seven. It's a book to read aloud at six and alone from seven.

When was The Worst Witch first published?

Jill Murphy's The Worst Witch was first published in 1974.

Is The Worst Witch good for a first chapter book?

For many children, yes: it's short, illustrated and funny, and BookTrust's reading age is seven.

Is The Worst Witch scary?

Hardly. There are spells and a few tense moments, but the tone is funny and the endings are happy.

References

Sources

1.BookTrust Bookfinder: The Worst Witch.What it confirms: Interest age 6+, reading age 7+; Puffin; first published in 1974.
2.BookTrust Bookfinder.What it confirms: Books listed with two ages, an interest age and a reading age.
3.Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics: Phonics screening check attainment, methodology.What it confirms: Pupils in Year 1, aged five to six, read 20 real words and 20 pseudo-words aloud.

A word about us

A hero who gets things wrong

Mildred shows children that you can get things wrong and still be the hero.

At Sagalino, your child becomes the hero of a story with their name, in one of our 21 illustration styles. You read the whole story for free, and only pay afterwards.

See what we make

Read on

At a glance: the illustration styles and how it works.