MEANER THAN MEANEST

When brewing "slimy sweat from a speckled frog," scorpions and snakes, a crone must never, ever forget the eye of newt. In Somers's children's debut, a hunchbacked, green-faced hag omits that magic ingredient from her monster recipe and accidentally concocts Daisy, a cloyingly cute girl. Blumenthal (Matilda the Moocher) gives Daisy confectionary-pink tresses and pictures the child cuddling Hisss, a vicious black cat who steals the show with his wicked eyes and needle fangs. This haunted farce's punchline—the witch smiles—suggests that kindness trumps "meaner than meanest." Ages 4-7. (Sept.)