A must-have for newly independent readers and fans of Ivy + Bean and Clementine! The first of a new series starring three young girls and a mysterious visitor who appears exactly when you need herwith just the right amount of magic.Sadie has two best friends: Jess and Maya. But Jess can only take one friend on vacation with her, and Sadie is the one who gets left behind. How will Sadie ever survive the days of loneliness and boredom? But wait . . . what is that in her old playhouse in the backyard? A witch has moved in! A kind and funny witch, whos looking for her own two lost friends. Together, Sadie and the witch have a curious adventure, one that makes Sadie see her neighborhoodand herselfwith new eyes. Acclaimed authors Ron Koertge and Christine Heppermannwriting together and for younger readers for the first timehave created a heroine to rival Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Ms. Frizzle. Short chapters, a satisfying mystery, gentle humor, magical dazzle, and adorable black-and-white illustrations throughout by debut artist Deborah Marcero make this an ideal pick for readers of Ivy + Bean, Just Grace, and Kate DiCamillos young novels.

Oh no.
This is the worst.
The worst of the worst.
Sadie's two very best friends,
Maya and Jess, are going on
vacation?together?and leaving
Sadie behind.
All alone.
But wait . . .
Who's brewing a minor hex in
a cauldron in Sadie's backyard
playhouse?
Maybe Sadie isn't so alone,
after all.
And a little magic might be
exactly what Sadie needs.

The first book in the curious adventures of the Backyard Witch!