cover
WITCHES
Magic, Myth, Mystery
This series features creatures that excite our minds . Theyre
magical . Theyre mythical . Theyre mysterious . Theyre also
not real . They live in our stories . Theyre brought to life by
our imaginations . Facts about these creatures are based on
folklore , legends , and beliefs . We have a rich history of
believing in the impossible . But these creatures only live in
fantasies and dreams . Monsters do not live under our beds .
They live in our heads !
DO YOU BE LI EV E?
Published in the United States of America by Cherry Lake Publishing
Ann Arbor, Michigan
www.cherrylakepublishing.com
Reading Adviser: Marla Conn MS, Ed., Literacy specialist, Read-Ability, Inc.
Book Design: Felicia Macheske
Photo Credits: Onigiri studio/Shutterstock.com, cover; Alexander Erdbeer/Shutterstock.com, 1;
Dieter Spears/iStock, 5; Nomad_Soul/Shutterstock.com, 7; Khomenko Maryna/Shutterstock.com, 8;
Estremo/Shutterstock.com, 11; Captblack76/Shutterstock.com, 12; iordani/Shutterstock.com, 15;
Lario Tus/Shutterstock.com, 17; Kotin/Shutterstock.com, 18; Kl Petro/Shutterstock.com, 20; Kl
Petro/Shutterstock.com, 20; CREATISTA/Shutterstock.com, 23; Gergely Zsolnai/Shutterstock.com, 24;
Khomenko Maryna/Shutterstock.com, 27; Dundanim/Shutterstock.com, 29
Graphic Elements Throughout: denniro/Shutterstock.com; Libellule/Shutterstock.com; sociologas/
Shutterstock.com; paprika/Shutterstock.com; ilolab/Shutterstock.com; Bruce Rolff/Shutterstock.com
Copyright 2017 by Cherry Lake Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any
form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.
45th Parallel Press is an imprint of Cherry Lake Publishing.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Loh-Hagan, Virginia, author.
Title: Witches : magic, myth, and mystery / by Virginia Loh-Hagan.
Description: Ann Arbor : Cherry Lake Publishing, [2016] | Series: Magic,
myth, and mystery | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016004928| ISBN 9781634711128 (hardcover) | ISBN
9781634713108 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781634712118 (pdf) | ISBN 9781684521074
(ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: WitchesJuvenile literature. | WitchcraftJuvenile
literature.
Classification: LCC BF1566 .L64 2016 | DDC 398.21dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2016004928
Cherry Lake Publishing would like to acknowledge the work of The Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
Please visit www.p21.org for more information.
Printed in the United States of America
Corporate Graphics Inc.
TABLE of
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Wicked or Good .......................................
Chapter Two
Casting Spells and More ........................
Chapter Three
Witchy Weaknesses...............................
Chapter Four
Born or Learned ....................................
Chapter Five
Witch Hunts ...........................................
Did You Know? .............................................
Consider This! ................................................
Learn More ...................................................
Glossary.......................................................
Index..........................................................
About the Author ...........................................
Chapter
One
Ill get you , my pretty. And your little dog , too !
The Wicked Witch of the West said this . Shes from
The Wizard of Oz . Shes wicked . But there are good
witches , too.
Witches are special humans . They practice
magic . They have powers . They have skills . They can
be men or women .
Warlocks
are male witches .
Theyre usually evil .
Wicked or
Good ?
What are witches ? What are some types
of witches ? What do witches look like?
Wizards are wise . Some say theyre more powerful than witches .
Covens
are groups of witches . Most covens have
witches . Witches meet . They get together . They
do witchcraft . Some witches work alone . Theyre
called hedge witches .
Expl ai ned by Sci enc e!
Many witches are believed to fly on broomsticks . This can be
explained . Brooms are symbols of the home . Women used to
do the cleaning . They were connected to brooms . Some women
were accused of being witches . They made flying potions or
witches brew . They used herbs and plants . Some plants have
poison . Examples are deadly nightshade and mandrake . The
potion looked like green goop . These accused witches rubbed
the potion on broomsticks . They rubbed the potion into their
bodies . (Absorbing the potion through skin increases the
effects .) They ate the potion . They had other people eat the
potion . The potion caused hallucinations . Hallucinations are
like wild dreams . People saw things that werent there . They
felt like they were flying . They felt like they were floating .
There are many kinds of witches . White witches
do good magic . They help people . Black witches do
bad magic . They harm people . Gray witches are good
and bad .
Witch doctors heal . They use things from nature .
They fight against evil
spirits
.
Sea witches command the sea . They control the
moon . They control tides . They control weather . They
steer ships . They decide whether sailors will live or die .
Kitchen witches protect homes .
