The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories
Young Pratchett fans will enjoy early lighthearted tales.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner is a collection of 14 stories for young readers, written by Terry Pratchett when he was a junior newspaper reporter. They are not very complex or polished, but they spotlight the enthusiasm of a teen writer experimenting with his craft. The stories feature talking animals, travels to magical lands, and encounters with fantastic or historical figures. Violence is rare and mild when it occurs. These stories are best suited for 9- and 10-year-olds; older readers may find them a little too silly.
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What's the Story?
THE WITCH'S VACUUM CLEANER collects 14 fantasy stories, written when budding fantasy novelist Terry Pratchett was 17. They feature characters and situations aimed at young readers: a time-traveling television, a feud between ice cream vendors, statues coming to life, and many more fantastical situations. One story offers a preview of Pratchett's later novel Truckers.
Is It Any Good?
These stories are not polished or complex, but they have an antic energy that's hard to resist. Not every 17-year-old is capable of writing fantasy stories that anyone would want read decades later, but when the writer is Terry Pratchett, the odds are a lot better. This follow-up to Dragons at Crumbling Castle offers 14 tales that demonstrate how skilled a storyteller he was at an early age.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and how newspapers used to publish fiction for young readers. How have newspapers changed since the advent of the internet?
How do students learn to write stories? What are some good methods of practicing storytelling skills?
Why do people laugh at the customs of another culture? Are there ways to do it without hurting anyone's feelings?
Book Details
- Author: Terry Pratchett
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
- Publication date: January 3, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 13
- Number of pages: 256
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
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