THE BADDIES

Three malefactors get their comeuppance.

Said baddies—a troll, a ghost, and a witch—are beyond redemption and proud of it. They’re boastful besides, each proclaiming that their dastardly powers outdo the others’. When a young girl moves into the neighborhood, they set their nefarious sights on her: The ghost itches to haunt her; the troll relishes eating her; the witch brags she’ll turn her to stone. A heated power struggle ensues, and a nearby white mouse issues a challenge: Whoever’s the worst should easily be able to steal the girl’s blue-spotted hanky. Troll goes first with an under-the-bridge ploy, expecting to terrorize the girl with a roar when she strolls across; his stratagem results only in the ghost and witch laughing at him (he lands in the water) while the girl walks off, hanky in hand. Is it giving away too much to reveal that the remaining baddies’ plans for hanky-pilfering also fail? In the end, the girl decides the hanky’s fate, much to the benefit of that white mouse and its children. This humorous British import, told in bouncy verses that scan well, will keep kids giggling. Its message is that kindness—and smarts, too (the girl soundly outwits her would-be enemies)—overcomes evil intentions. The colorful, lively illustrations are filled with witty details, and the baddies are more comically blustery than scary. The girl is brown-skinned, the witch is light-skinned, and the troll is light-skinned and covered in blue-green fur. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A fun, rollicking “baddie” story that’s welcome anytime.