Early Reader: The Would-Be Witch, Ruth Chew

The Would-Be Witch
Ruth Chew
ISBN: 0803880847
Early Reader:

Robin and her little brother Andy are intrigued by Zelda, the quirky owner of the bits-n-bobs antique store that just opened nearby.  Robin is especially taken by the beautiful but troublemaking white cat named Pearl.  Andy is more distracted by a sub-plot at home involving two beautiful salt and pepper shakers shaped like birds, brought to life by a pot of "magic" cleaning salve.

Ruth Chew is one of those authors who I wish I would have found when I was a child.  The story here is cute and fairly bland, but witches were totally verboten when I was young.  Strangely enough, in this particular story, it isn't the old quirky lady who has arcane powers, but the two children (via the cleaning salve), and I gather that is similar for most of Chew's stories.

Notable scenes:

Robin and Andy shrinking down due to the molted silver feathers of Salt and Pepper.
Kids flying on a dustpan.
Zelda getting broom-flying instructions from Robin.
Zelda in tears because she wants to be a witch, but keeps failing the entrance exam.
The cauldron of ?? that has to be hot to work.
The snippy creepy black cat coven in the basement of the abandoned apartment building.