“A Witch for a Day” – A Picture Book Illustrated by a 4-Year-Old

I wrote a picture book for my 4-year-old daughter and she illustrated it. She wanted me to post it online so that everyone could read it for Halloween. It’s titled A Witch for a Day and her illustrations are absolutely delightful.

But before I include the story/pictures, a little background. (You can scroll to skip if you just want the story.)

Last week, I received my very first fan art, for my novelette “The Clockwork Seer.”

It was made by my daughter Myra. When “The Clockwork Seer” was released in the anthology Steel and Bone in June, Myra asked me to read it to her. It took two days, but she listened attentively to the entire thing, despite the lack of any pictures.

After one of our reading sessions, Myra declared, “she feels tastes!”

I read it to her four months ago, but she still randomly brings it up (“there was an automaton, wasn’t there?”). And the picture she drew me about the story (which includes the title, under the orangish-brown square) even says “The Clockwork Seer.”

I flipped over the picture and on the back I found the following:

Myra said, “I drew you a pumpkin because your next story needs to be a Halloween story. And it needs to have witches and wizards in it.”

So I brainstormed a little, and sat down and wrote her a picture book. I printed it out and read her each page so she could illustrate it.

The results make me very happy. I hope you enjoy our story and have a very Happy Halloween!

A Witch for a Day – by Katherine Cowley; illustrated by Myra Cowley

And that, folks, is A Witch for a Day. Part of me thinks that every picture book should be illustrated by a 4-year-old.

Bonus Witch Pictures

My daughter has been rather excited about witches this year. Not only is she dressing as a witch for Halloween, but she has drawn several other witch pictures that she wanted me to share.

Happy Halloween!