When witches Dolores and Lavinia begin brewing nasty potions in the woods, the local animals are less than thrilled. Then Emma, a smaller and kinder witch, appears, and asks if she too can make a potion. Turned away with sneers and jeers, she heads off on her own, greatly disheartened. The animals seek to comfort her, and together they come up with a plan to fool Dolores and Lavinia, and have a wonderful meal together into the bargain...

Published in 1984, Yuck! is the second of author/illustrator James Stevenson's picture-books about Emma the witch that I have read, following upon the eponymous Emma. I was under the impression that Emma was in fact the first book in the series, which includes six titles, but as it turns out, Yuck! was published before it. However that may be, it was an entertaining and humorously witchy tale, and featured the same cartoon-style illustrations (complete with comic-book style panels) as Emma. Recommended to James Stevenson fans, and to young picture-book readers who enjoy witchy tales with a humorous bent. ( )