Leila, the Perfect Witch
A picture book story for children aged 3–5 about perfectionism, making mistakes and self-acceptance … with a few baking mishaps along the way!
Leila is spellbindingly good at everything ... until she discovers that baking is no piece of cake!
New from the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller Gustavo, the Shy Ghost!
Leila Wayward is an extraordinary little witch who excels at everything she does. She's the fastest flier, the most cunning conjurer and the sneakiest shape-shifter. She is also the youngest in a long line of master bakers, so Leila's big dream is to win the most infamous culinary competition around: The Magnificent Witchy Cake-Off! But even with the most bewitching of recipes, Leila realizes a terrible truth: she’s a disaster in the kitchen! Luckily, Leila has three magical sisters who are always there for her. Can they remind her to have some fun along the way?
Set in Mexico, this vibrant story – brimming over with delicious sweet treats – is a celebration of sisterhood, taking part, and the simple joy of making (and eating!) food together.
“A fun and colourful reminder that no one can be the best at everything, even powerful little witches.” Bookseller
“Leila Wayward is a brilliant little witch who seems good at everything […] the counter to Jill Murphy’s clumsy if charismatic Worst Witch and the ever accident-prone Meg in Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski’s Meg and Mog classics.” Times
Creators
Flavia Z. Drago was born and raised in Mexico City. Her debut, Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, was a #1 NYT bestseller and was published into over 15 languages. Flavia is also the author-illustrator of Leila, the Perfect Witch and Vlad the Fabulous Vampire. She has an MA in Children's Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art, was shortlisted for the 2018 Sebastian Walker Award and won the 2021 Klaus Flugge Prize. She lives in the UK. Find her online at flaviazdrago.com and on Instagram as @flavia_zdrago.
Reviews
If you loved Elizabeth Day’s self-help bible and podcast How to Fail, especially aimed at helping those girls paralysed by perfectionism, well, this is its pre-school fictional equivalent, with added magic spells and pointy hats. […] Leila Wayward is a brilliant little witch who seems good at everything […] the counter to Jill Murphy’s clumsy if charismatic Worst Witch and the ever accident-prone Meg in Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski’s Meg and Mog classics.
Times
a vibrantly illustrated book
‘Spooky reads For Halloween’, Irish Independent
A fun and colourful reminder that no one can be the best at everything, even powerful little witches.
The Bookseller
Take one little witch, a supportive family, a froggy friend, a bowlful of whimsy, lashings of visual humour, spoon in a visitor from another picture book, mix them all together and the result is a very sweet, satisfying story with an agreeable message.
The Red Reading Hub
Leila, the Perfect Witch is a charming story
Armadillo Magazine
