The Witching Hour

(illus. Adelina Lirius; Tundra / Penguin Random House, June 2025)

In the witching hour between dinner and bedtime, anything can happen: laughter, tears, fun screaming, not-fun screaming . . . parents, siblings, pets and neighbors are all familiar with this dreaded time of day. What happens when that cranky baby is part of a family of witches? Turns out, it's pretty much the same, except sometimes the toys levitate and the soothing songs sound a little different ... The Witching Hour is a spare, slyly funny and deeply familiar slice-of-life story featuring a fussy little witch and their increasingly desperate family.

🏆 International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Reading with Pride Exhibit and Collection, 2026

🏆 American Library Association 2026 selection, “Rainbow Book List”

🏆 Telling Tales 2025 Reading List selection

“Jennifer Harris and Adelina Lirius have captured the [witching hour] phenomenon so perfectly in their new picture book that you and your children will be under their spell.”
— Imaginary Elevators

“[A] very sweet story about family coming together to help the youngest settle down. . . . Surprisingly, Jennifer Harris never makes the story ridiculous or uproariously funny. She keeps it charming and familial and affectionate. Any parent or older sibling will understand and feel for this family at this witching hour.”
— CanLit for LittleCanadians

“A bewitching bedtime story sure to charm the whole family.”
— Kirkus Reviews

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