Yearly Archives: 2026

The Switch Witch: Keeper of Sweet Dreams, A Halloween Tradition by Bridgetta Tomarchio (Book Review)

From the award-winning, bestselling author of Monsters Don’t Say Meep comes The Switch Witch: Keeper of Sweet Dreams, A Halloween Tradition.

What if your Halloween candy could create sweet dreams all year long?

Have you heard of the Switch Witch?

On Halloween night, children choose a few special treats to leave out for her. While they sleep, she works her magic and leaves a surprise in their place. It’s a Halloween tradition families everywhere are falling in love with, and this is the story of how it all began.

Every night, the Switch Witch protects children’s dreams, turning scary ones into sweet ones. But after a whole year of magic, her powers are running low. This Halloween, she needs one special ingredient to save the sweetest magic of all.

Can one small wish and a few special treats bring back her magic?

Perfect for:

  • Families starting a Switch Witch tradition
  • Halloween bedtime reading
  • Parents looking for a gentler, magical Halloween
  • Ages 3-8

Add this magical Halloween story to your cart today.

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

The Switch Witch: Keeper of Sweet Dreams (A Halloween Tradition) is an exciting story, bursting with color and magic that’ll get your kids in the holiday spirit!

Every witch has their own special kind of magic; the Switch Witch uses her magic to protect children’s dreams. Every night, the witch’s magic globe shows which children’s dreams need her help, and she turns the scary situation into a comical scene that brings plenty of laughs. 

One sneak peek: many kids are scared of spiders, and that fear shows up in their dreams. For one little boy, the fear-inducing creepy crawler is holding 4 cupcakes while wearing 4 roller skates, a tutu, and a crown. Oh, and it is wearing makeup. Get the book to reveal this adorable illustration! 

The Switch Witch’s magic isn’t endless; she needs to refuel, but how? With a spell called The Sweet Brew that needs lots of candy that has to be given to her freely by the kids. Do your kids gobble up all their Halloween candy, causing stomach aches, or refuse to share it with others? Do you throw away mounds of candy every year? The Switch Witch: Keeper of Sweet Dreams gives families a kind-hearted, sweet idea for what to do with excess sugary treats. Though witches are not real, giving or donating the candy is a wonderful idea, and so is leaving a wish behind. Parents can fulfill these wishes, much like they do with other holiday characters (e.g., Easter Bunny and Santa Claus). 

The artwork has several inconsistencies, but very young kids will overlook them or not care. Readers will love and giggle at what happens when the candy is added to the cauldron; namely, what happens to the black cat during the addition of the bubble gum and taffy. To clarify, the artwork mistakes do not affect the story’s flow or plot. It’s a delightful story, and reading it would make a great Halloween tradition, and so would the wish idea! 

My recommended reading age is 3-9 years. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

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Meet the Author

Bridgetta Tomarchio is an author, ghostwriter, and PR powerhouse who has helped countless entrepreneurs and creatives bring their stories to life. Founder of Plot Twist Ink, she coaches writers from concept to bestseller, drawing on 20+ years of experience in media, publishing, and publicity. Her career spans actress, host, producer, and publicist for celebrities and high-profile clients, giving her an unmatched eye for storytelling that captivates both readers and the media. Bridgetta’s own writing blends raw honesty, empowerment, and heart—whether she’s crafting memoir, children’s adventures, or bold fiction. Her greatest inspiration is her 5-year-old son, Lucian, who fuels her imagination and serves as her enthusiastic “guinea pig” for children’s stories. With every project, Bridgetta weaves purpose, passion, and authenticity—helping others find their voice and transform their stories into legacies.

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Santa Rides the Subways by Jeffrey Lindberg (Book Spotlight)

It’s Christmas Eve in Brooklyn, New York, and Santa Claus is in trouble. Racing to complete his worldwide journey before Christmas morning, Santa is making his final stop when disaster strikes over Sunset Park. His sleigh begins to shake violently, forcing him to bring his reindeer down onto the roof of a brownstone below, right above eight-year-old Carmen, who has been watching the whole thing from her window.

When Carmen races up to the roof she finds Santa, his reindeer, and a sleigh that isn’t going anywhere. The presents still need delivering. Christmas is slipping away. And Carmen, a resourceful Brooklyn girl who knows her neighborhood, has an idea that just might work.

Could the New York City subway system help save Christmas?

Told in irresistible rhyme with vibrant full-color illustrations by the author, Santa Rides the Subways is a joyful holiday adventure rooted in the urban energy and multicultural heart of Brooklyn. Funny, warm, and genuinely surprising, this is a Christmas story that reflects the real New York – its neighborhoods, its elevated trains, its children – and the one determined little girl who saved the night.

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Read My Review on Reedsy Discovery!

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Meet the Author

Jeffrey Lindberg is a professional illustrator whose cover paintings appeared on books for major publishers for more than two decades. He has taught illustration at Kean University in New Jersey since 2002. Santa Rides the Subways, is his second picture book as author and illustrator.

 

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Cornelius & the Constipated Chicken: Baybridge Body Switchers by Roly Nutkins (Book Spotlight)

Cornelius just wanted to earn some quick cash. How hard could it be to chicken‑sit his aunt’s constipated hen – a bird who’s never worked out how to lay an egg?

Instead, Cornelius ends up in a bubbling hot tub of trouble involving high‑tech security, a possible operation involving a meat cleaver, and a romantic rooster who thinks he’s Romeo and God’s gift to chickens.

Can Cornelius escape this feather‑brained body‑switch disaster, or is he destined to be remembered forever as one giant dumb cluck?

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Meet the Author

Roly Nutkins writes funny middle-grade adventures for kids who love chaos, gross humour, and disastrous decisions.

Behind the pen name is a children’s author obsessed with fast‑paced stories about kids who make disastrous choices and somehow survive them. Cornelius and his body‑swap catastrophes are just the beginning. When he isn’t dreaming up goose attacks, medieval mix‑ups, or Christmas calamities, he can usually be found avoiding chores, eating too many snacks, and wondering if he should finish one story before starting the next.

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Breezy Bakes Her Best by Lori Rotter (Book Spotlight)

Everyone has a hidden talent …

Little Breezy Bear dreams of making her mark at the soon-to-open Buttercup Bakery. Eager to help her Mama bake, Breezy dives in. But her attempts at ‘helping’ cause floury chaos, a gooey egg mess, and a heap of spilled salt! Just when she thinks her baking dreams are dashed, Breezy asks her Papa if she can decorate the cakes instead.

With no time to waste, Breezy picks up her piping bag and realizes icing is like drawing and painting. She can do this. Will Breezy’s creative flair turn a disastrous start into sweet success in time for the Bakery to open?

Join Breezy as she learns that mistakes can lead to magic — and that every child has a special gift waiting to shine!

 

What to expect:

  • Humor & Heart: baking mishaps and family bonding
  • Adorable Characters: young children will fall in love with Breezy and her family
  • Energetic Illustrations: capture the chaos and excitement of a busy bakery
  • Playful Rhyming Text: supports early reading skills and makes the book fun to read aloud
  • Coloring Page: children can decorate their own cupcake for the Bakery

Key Themes:

  • Mistakes Help You Grow: Breezy’s baking disasters aren’t failures; they are opportunities for redirection
  • Perseverance Pays Off: Even after multiple disasters, Breezy keeps going, leading her to surprising results
  • Trying New Things Matters: Breezy discovers a unique talent through trying
  • Self-Expression: Breezy finds joy in her newly discovered creativity

Lori Rotter is an award-winning toy designer and children’s book author of the “Best” Collection of Stories: Best Dinosaur Ever, Freckles’ Best Ribbit, and Best Chef in Town.

Lori writes stories that help build confidence, kindness, and emotional resilience. And her warm, playful storytelling makes young readers feel seen and celebrated.

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Meet the Author

Lori is an award-winning toy designer and picture book author. Her large extended family keeps her laughing and inspires her story and toy ideas. Like her toys, Lori loves adding small details for kids to discover. Lori lives in New York with her husband, Steve, lots of fish, and two silly dogs.

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Olivia’s Passport Plates: One Brave Bite in Japan (Book Spotlight)

Ready to take your child on a magical adventure through Japan — one delicious bite at a time?

If your little one loves curious adventures, playful storytelling, and discovering new foods and cultures, then Olivia’s Passport Plates: One Brave Bite in Japan is the perfect journey to begin together.

Olivia notices everything.
The flowers on the walk home. The people in line at the bright yellow food truck. The strange triangle-shaped snacks wrapped in dark seaweed.

But trying something new?
That part feels a little harder.

Then one night, a glowing lantern appears at Olivia’s window… and suddenly she’s swept away to Kyoto, Japan, where she meets a boy named Kenji and his grandmother. Together, they cook, laugh, and create delicious onigiri while Olivia discovers that sometimes the bravest adventures begin with just one small bite.

A heartwarming picture book about:

• Trying new foods and experiences
• Exploring Japanese culture through food
• Friendship, family, and belonging
• Building courage and curiosity
• Celebrating cultural connection in a child-friendly way

Complete with:

• An interactive onigiri recipe kids can make at home
• A helpful Japanese glossary
• A gentle introduction to Japanese traditions and food culture

Perfect for curious kids, picky eaters, classrooms, libraries, and families who love stories filled with warmth, wonder, and delicious discovery.

Open the book. Take the first bite. Discover a whole new world together.

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Meet the Author

After exploring 55+ countries and cuisines around the world, Rhonda created Olivia’s Passport Plates — a series that invites children to discover every country in the world with curiosity, courage, and one brave bite at a time.

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