by Ana Siqueira
IF YOUR BABYSITTER IS A BRUJA…you must learn some new tricks to escape from her spells.
¡Cuidado! You might regret it.
This book is based on my experience being a Mom witch for some long minutes. Yes, for the longest three-block walk ever, my three-year-old daughter decided to shout: “You’re not my real mom. You’re a witch!” Imagine my situation. And all because I told her, “No, you can’t dive for the last 100th time.”
This story that marinated in my head for over 20 years, is finally a book. But I changed Mom to a babysitter.
And here is the premise:
On the night before Halloween, a new babysitter might be more than she appears. If she wears a black sombrero and cackles like a crow, she might just be a bruja! One little girl is determined not to fall victim to this witch or her cats. Is bath time a bruja’s way of putting her in a boiling cauldron? Can she keep la bruja at bay with a magic potion? Can she get the bruja trapped in the enchanted tower or maybe make her disappear forever?
With boundless imagination and plenty of tricks up her sleeve, the young protagonist may just have the best night ever!
To celebrate the creation of this book illustrated by the fabulosa Irena Freitas, I’m promoting a pre-order giveaway.
If you pre-order this book and send the receipt through my website contact form, I will either:
- critique your first page or a query letter
- send a signed bookplate
- visit your classroom (virtually-15 minutes)
These offers are valid from February 15th to March 15th.
Also, leave a comment below with any question about writing picture books and I’ll reply!
IF YOUR BABYSITTER IS A BRUJA also comes in Spanish—CUANDO TU NIÑERA ES UNA BRUJA—Illustrated by Irena Freitas, edited by Alyza Liu (Simon and Schuster, August 23rd, 2022).
Check out some spreads below and even a book trailer with an original song. (Be careful. Cuidado! It’s too catchy. Hahaha) by my seven-year-old grandson, Luka.)
Irena Freitas is an author & illustrator currently based in Manaus, Brazil, working for clients internationally. She has an MFA in Illustration from Savannah College of Arts and Design and loves illustrating people, funny situations that happen in our daily life, and whimsical stories. When she is not reading and illustrating books she likes to travel and visit new places.
Visit her at irenafreitas.com.
Ana Siqueira is an award-winning author from Brazil who cackles but doesn’t wear hats. When not flying with brujas, she teaches Spanish to adorable little ones, where she casts a learning spell that nobody can resist. Ana has published IF YOUR BABYSITTER IS A BRUJA, BELLA’S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS (Beaming Books), and EL PATO QUIERE UVAS (Educational Market- Teacher’s Discovery). More books coming in 2023 and 2024. She loves being an abuela and a vovó to her Cuban-Brazilian-American grandkids. She lives in Florida with her husband, who just might be a wizard. Visit her at anafiction.com and you can get signed copies of her book at Tombolo Books.
85 comments
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February 15, 2022 at 12:07 pm
Christina Dendy
This sounds wonderful! Can’t wait to read it!
February 15, 2022 at 12:38 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. Gracias.
February 15, 2022 at 12:12 pm
Laura Rackham
I love the premise for this!
February 15, 2022 at 12:33 pm
asiqueira1307
😊 Thanks.
February 15, 2022 at 12:12 pm
Leslie Eva Tayloe
Sounds fun! Best wishes in 2022.
February 15, 2022 at 12:34 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks, Leslie. Same to you: a fabuloso 2022.
February 15, 2022 at 12:22 pm
Bethanny Parker
It’s interesting how you mix English and Spanish within the same sentence.
February 15, 2022 at 12:35 pm
asiqueira1307
In my real life I mix three languages in one sentence. Portuguese, English and Spanish. 😂
February 15, 2022 at 1:34 pm
savoringeverymoment
but do you have any rules of thumb for when it works to incorporate non English words? I’ve ready manuscripts where it works…and where it doesn’t. Do you just go with what sounds right to you? Is it more instinctive? Or is it strategic?
February 15, 2022 at 2:04 pm
asiqueira1307
@savoringeverymoment – I am a Spanish teacher and I teach through stories, so I think I am used to mixing the languages when needed. But my rule of thumb is – use cognates and words that can be illustrated.
February 15, 2022 at 12:23 pm
Claire A. B. Freeland
Fantastic! Putting it on my wish list. Felicidades!
February 15, 2022 at 12:37 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. Mucha Suerte en tus proyectos.
February 15, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Karyn Friedman-Everham
Sounds like so much fun!! And funny!! Congrats, Ana. Can’t wait to read this.
February 15, 2022 at 12:37 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. Aren’t the illustrations super sneaky and funny?
February 15, 2022 at 12:29 pm
Kim A Larson
Congratulations, Ana! I remember this story!
February 15, 2022 at 12:35 pm
asiqueira1307
How have you been? Missing your stories.
February 15, 2022 at 12:47 pm
Author Anna Maledon
Congrats! I remember hearing about this story on webinars with Mira. It was a great idea, so I’m glad it found its home.
February 15, 2022 at 1:58 pm
asiqueira1307
Yes. This was a golden nugget from CBA.
February 15, 2022 at 12:55 pm
Linda Staszak
This book sounds like so much fun! I can’t wait to read it. Congratulations!
February 15, 2022 at 1:59 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. And the illustrations add so much energy, right?
February 15, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Linda Staszak
Exactly! And it’s so nice to see a witch who isn’t scary and won’t give you nightmares!
February 15, 2022 at 1:36 pm
Melanie Ellsworth
Love this fun idea!
February 15, 2022 at 2:01 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. The story is fun and the illustrations are wonderful.
February 15, 2022 at 2:02 pm
karenlee
Such a funny story–the real-life one and the fictional one. You are very clever! Did you work on this on and off for the 20 years, or did you just start it recently? If recently, had you worked out the whole story in your head first, for the rough draft? Do you have suggestions on when/how to incorporate non-English words, any rules of thumb? BTW, your grandson is a great writer, composer, and singer!
February 15, 2022 at 2:05 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. I will let him know. My rule of thumb – use cognates or words that can be illustrated, don’t use complicated adverbs or adjectives. I wrote this story in 2019, but it has been marinating in my brain for a while. I stopped writing when I came from Brazil but the story stayed there.
February 15, 2022 at 1:40 pm
savoringeverymoment
Thanks for sharing! You said you got the idea for the story 20 years ago?! Was it always in the back of your mind or did you jot it down and forget about it and come across it? When did you write the first draft?
February 15, 2022 at 2:01 pm
asiqueira1307
A long time ago I wrote and published some books in Brazil. Then when I moved here I quit writing. But the story was there marinating, I guess. When I decided to go back to writing- in 2019 – this was the third story I wrote. And I had to do a lot of revisions with my critique partners.
February 15, 2022 at 1:55 pm
Janice Woods
Congrats, Ana!!
February 15, 2022 at 2:02 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. How are you?
February 15, 2022 at 1:59 pm
readmybook2002
A nice twist on a theme; great idea
February 15, 2022 at 2:02 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks.
February 15, 2022 at 2:27 pm
Jilanne Hoffmann
Congrats, Ana and Irena! Love the story and the art!
February 15, 2022 at 2:44 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. Her art is so fun.
February 15, 2022 at 2:50 pm
Reed Hilton-Eddy
I love it. What a great way to “stew” on an idea!
February 15, 2022 at 3:09 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks.
February 15, 2022 at 3:07 pm
Sarah Meade
Congratulations, Ana! Can’t wait to read the book!
February 15, 2022 at 3:09 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. Did you critique this one too?
February 15, 2022 at 4:29 pm
Sarah Meade
Yes 🙂
February 15, 2022 at 3:17 pm
Colbert Bronte
Love this! Love the premise & the playfulness; the mixture of Spanish and English; the child’s imagination. Also excellent idea for promotion and getting early orders. Congratulations on a wonderful book!
February 15, 2022 at 4:53 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. it’s a fun book and the illustrations add a lot.
February 15, 2022 at 3:38 pm
pathaap
This sounds fantastic! Looking forward to reading it. Congratulations,Ana & Irena!
February 15, 2022 at 3:45 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks.
February 15, 2022 at 3:58 pm
chardixon47
Congratulations, Ana! I’m looking forward to reading your book 🙂
February 15, 2022 at 4:54 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks 😊
February 15, 2022 at 4:20 pm
Marci Whitehurst
Congrats, Ana & Irena!
February 15, 2022 at 4:54 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. I am so lucky to have such a fun illustrator.
February 15, 2022 at 4:33 pm
Harshita Jerath
I love the premise: many congratulations, Ana.
February 15, 2022 at 4:55 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. I hope you enjoy reading it.
February 15, 2022 at 5:13 pm
Laura Bower
Congratulations Ana! I remember you working on this in one of Mira’s classes and it is so awesome to see the final product. Congratulations!!!
February 15, 2022 at 9:54 pm
asiqueira1307
Thanks. This was sold due to a golden nugget from Mira’s Class.
February 15, 2022 at 5:45 pm
Donna Rossman
Congratulations, Ana! It sounds so fun! I pre-ordered my copy.
February 16, 2022 at 7:26 am
asiqueira1307
Thanks.
February 15, 2022 at 6:54 pm
kathydoherty1
Very, Very, VERY CUTE book!
February 16, 2022 at 7:26 am
asiqueira1307
Thanks.
February 15, 2022 at 6:57 pm
yangmommy
I’m impressed that after 20 yrs, you hadn’t given up on this fun idea! Glad it’s becoming an enchanting book (and wow, I would have loved my babysitter to have been a bruja!)
February 15, 2022 at 9:56 pm
asiqueira1307
Me too. I would love this bruja. She has to be the most fun and patient babysitter ever.
February 17, 2022 at 6:08 pm
yangmommy
Hahaha! 🙂
February 15, 2022 at 7:05 pm
Stephen S. Martin
Love the fact that you let this marinate for so long to get to just the right consistency. Patience is a virtue and necessity in this business.
February 15, 2022 at 9:55 pm
asiqueira1307
Yes, it is. I quit writing for a long time, but I had to come back. And I’m happy I did.
February 15, 2022 at 9:16 pm
gloriaamescua
Your latest book sounds like another wonderful book that kids will love. I loved listening to Luka singing his song on the book trailer.
February 15, 2022 at 9:55 pm
asiqueira1307
He will be happy to know. Thanks, amiga.
February 15, 2022 at 10:02 pm
Alicia Shawn Gagnon
Love that you made a “Mom Moment” into a PB. I definitely have some less than glamorous mom moments to use as idea starters.
So glad you changed the mom to a babysitter….to “protect the innocent”. Haha
February 15, 2022 at 11:08 pm
Ana Siqueira
Hahaha. I am looking forward to hearing your ideas.
February 16, 2022 at 8:48 am
Andrea Mack
This sounds like such a fun book! And I love the illustration style! Congratulations!
February 16, 2022 at 3:29 pm
asiqueira1307
Thannks.
February 16, 2022 at 11:32 am
Antoinette Truglio Martin
Love witch stories. I have a few Strega stories of my own.
February 16, 2022 at 3:29 pm
asiqueira1307
I love Baba Yaga.
February 16, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
Congrats Ana! It’s good to know that ideas can marinate for a long time and still come to fruition.
February 16, 2022 at 9:00 pm
asiqueira1307
Yes, they are there even when you don’t realize it.
February 16, 2022 at 4:17 pm
Dena Davis
I love the back story! Thank you for sharing, Ana!
February 16, 2022 at 9:01 pm
asiqueira1307
Now I laugh, but it was not fun when it happened. Imagine my embarrassment. Hahaha.
February 16, 2022 at 8:22 pm
David McMullin
This looks fantastic!
February 16, 2022 at 9:01 pm
asiqueira1307
Thank you, David.
February 17, 2022 at 1:59 am
Ashley Sierra (@AshleySierra06)
I remember reading the draft you were working on with notes from the editor. The illustrator is the perfect fit. Congratulations, Ana! I can’t wait to read it in book form this time.
February 23, 2022 at 1:37 am
asiqueira1307
😊 Thanks.
February 17, 2022 at 10:58 am
Suzanne Lewis
Oh I love this! What a clever idea! Congratulations, Ana!
February 23, 2022 at 1:36 am
asiqueira1307
😊 Thanks.
February 17, 2022 at 10:14 pm
Aly Kenna
Luka is awesome! Good luck with your release 🙂
February 23, 2022 at 1:38 am
asiqueira1307
I’m suspicious, but I agree with your statement about Luka.
February 20, 2022 at 10:17 am
Sarah Tobias
I love this whole post. And the books sounds hysterical.
February 23, 2022 at 1:39 am
asiqueira1307
The illustrations are so fun. The girl is so sneaky.
February 21, 2022 at 1:05 pm
Abby Wooldridge
Congratulations on your book, Ana! This looks adorable!!
February 23, 2022 at 1:39 am
asiqueira1307
Thanks.
February 21, 2022 at 2:59 pm
Janet Johnson
Huge congratulations, Ana! This book sounds so fun!!
February 23, 2022 at 1:40 am
asiqueira1307
It was fun writing it, even though I wrote over 20 versions.