Martha Mayhem and the Witch from the Ditch - Tapa blanda

Super characters and humour, a story with traditional style but with modern edges, great for bedtime and children reading fun chapter books * Toppsta * A deliciously, wonderful read that highlights how courage, team work and a little bit of sparkle can help you overcome any difficulties. [...] The magic within Joanne's writing rather reminded me of Roald Dahl. -- Shelley Fallows * Lovereading4kids.co.uk * It's hilarious, it gets you stuck in immediately. The first sentence you read, you want to read more * Mumsnet daughter, aged 9 *

A laugh-out-loud magical story featuring witches and fun, the first in a series of three books by Carnegie and Branford Boase long-listed author, Joanne Owen. Martha Mayhem (real name Martha May) is always causing chaos! She just can't help it, somehow chaotic things just happen to her. Martha lives in the small village of Cherry Hillsbottom with her eccentric grandfather, Professor Gramps and her small pet hog Elvis. Life gets really exciting though when, on her way to school one day, she discovers a rather bedraggled-looking witch in a ditch. Griselda Gritch (the witch) tells a thrilled and alarmed Martha that she has accidentally let loose a ghastly ghoul that Griselda was trying to catch - and Martha is going to have to help her to get it back again! Griselda, though, is a rather grumpy and difficult accomplice. Can Martha, with the help of Gramps, Elvis and her best friend Jack (AKA Scrambled Egg Head), retrieve the ghoul and prove herself to Griselda? A brilliantly funny magical story, full of energy and action! With fantastic illustrations from internationally-renowned illustrator, Tony Ross.