The Widow's Broom facts for kids
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| Author | Chris Van Allsburg |
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| Illustrator | Chris Van Allsburg |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's, Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin |
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Publication date
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1992 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Preceded by | The Wretched Stone |
| Followed by | The Sweetest Fig |
The Widow's Broom is a children's book written and illustrated by the American author Chris Van Allsburg. It was first published in 1992. There were plans for a movie based on the book in 2004, but it was not made.
Contents
Story Summary
The book tells the magical story of a kind woman named Minna Shaw. She lives alone and has a quiet life.
A Witch's Unexpected Visit
One evening, something unusual happens. A witch is flying on her broom when it suddenly stops working. The witch falls right out of the sky! She lands in Minna Shaw's garden. Minna Shaw helps the witch, letting her stay until she feels better. When the witch is ready to leave, a friend comes to pick her up. The witch forgets her broom and leaves it behind.
The Broom Comes to Life
Minna Shaw finds the broom in her house. She is a bit scared when it starts to move on its own! But she soon learns the broom is not dangerous. It just wants to help. The broom starts sweeping the floor all by itself. Minna Shaw then teaches it other chores. The broom learns to feed the chickens and chop wood. It even learns to play the piano!
Neighbors and Their Worries
Most of the women and children in the village like the broom. They think it is fun and helpful. But the men in the village are worried. They remember it was a witch's broom. They think it might be evil or cause trouble.
The Broom's Defense
One day, two boys start bothering the broom. They tease it and try to make it angry. The broom gets upset and scares them away. It even makes their dog run into the forest. The boys' parents are very angry. They demand that Minna Shaw burn the broom.
A Clever Plan
Minna Shaw agrees to burn the broom. Everyone gathers to watch it burn. But things are not what they seem. Soon after, a white "ghost" broom starts to appear. It seems to haunt the house of the boys' family. They get so scared that they pack up and move away!
Minna Shaw is now alone again. She can listen to the broom play the piano in peace. It turns out she had a clever plan all along. She gave the villagers her own ordinary broom to burn. The magical broom was safe. She had simply painted it white to make it look like a ghost. This trick helped her get rid of her worried neighbors.
