posted on 09 Oct 2025

Willa’s Monster Muddle by Fabi Santiago

As Halloween approaches, you may well be looking for some appropriate, themed entertainment for your youngsters and you’ll be glad to hear that Fabi Santiago’s Willa’s Monster Muddle may be just what you’re looking for.

Guided for readers of 3+, this is a delightful, amusing story with plenty of gentle slapstick jeopardy to keep the reader chuckling. It’s essentially a tale of mistaken identity that sees Willa and her mom decide that the perfect outfit for the fancy-dress party they’ve been invited to is the wicked witch costume – black for mom and yellow for Willa.

How were they to know they would quite literally bump into two real witches of identical age, in identical clothes? And who would have guessed that Willa in her distracted state would go off with the wrong adult, the real witch!

So, when they arrive at the house, Willa still doesn’t spot that something isn’t quite right until she goes searching for her mom – who seems to have disappeared. This is where the real fun begins – ghosts, mummies, dancing skeletons and a special birthday party for Dracula!

But just in case you’re worried about what might happen to Willa in this haunted house – don’t fret: she’ll make her escape on a magic flying broomstick that will reunite her with her real mom.

Fabi Santiago who wrote and illustrated the book was originally born and raised in Brazil but is now based in the UK. She has previously been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize (for Tiger in a Tutu) and her big, bold drawings here are perfect for the subject matter and the age-group it’s aimed at.

The book is published by Rocket Bird Books and you’ll be able to get a copy from your local independent bookshop – who will be glad to order it for you if they don’t have it on their shelves.

 

Terry Potter

October 2025