The Witch Who Couldn't Spell

Jess Galatola

Larrikin House, Jun 30, 2026 - Juvenile Fiction - 32 pages

Wanda Spelled is a little witch with a BIG problem. At Spell Bright Academy, her magic is marvelous ... until her spelling slips.

Her disastrous spells cause a polar bear at the zoo to bare it all and creates a whale of a time in the classroom! Wanda's well-meaning mix-ups cause mayhem! But can working on her spelling teach her that mistakes can lead to confidence?

Full of fun, wordplay, and heart, The Witch Who Couldn't Spell celebrates the joy of learning, the fun of phonics, homophones, homonyms and the power of perseverance!

About the author

After nearly two decades in Drama and English education,Jess Galatolahas become a passionate advocate for early literacy. She shares her love of creative writing and performance with children of all ages, and believes the magic of reading begins with picture books! Lu lives in the beautiful Blue Mountains in Australia's New South Wales where she feels her most creative and inspired. She is a lover of cats, coffee and a nice cup of tea. Picture books fill her with happiness and delight. Lu adores drawing whimsical characters and has a soft spot for illustrations of animals dressed in 'people' clothes. Her best work is often dreamed up in the cozy corners of local cafés, fueled by a steady flow of coffee.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Witch Who Couldn't Spell
• Author: Jess Galatola
• Illustrated by: Lu Baker
• Publisher: Larrikin House, 2026
• ISBN: 1923345257, 9781923345256
• Length: 32 pages
• Subjects: Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Words