Pongwiffy

Story

At number 1, Dump Edge, Witchway Wood lives Pongwiffy, a smelly witch with a hamster called Hugo and a best friend called Sharkadder. This eight book series recounts her adventures, as she discovers old spells, competes in the Spellovision Song contest, and adjusts to life with her new, naughty Goblin neighbours.

Why we chose it

Action packed, laugh-out-loud stories which were very popular when first published and have recently been updated and reprinted for a new generation of readers.

Where it came from

Kaye Umanksy worked as a teacher for many years before she was inspired to become a children’s author. She draws on folktales and urban myths in her stories and claims to be inspired by things she reads in the newspaper, her dreams and things ‘people do and say in real life’.

Where it went next

First published with illustrations by Chris Smedley, the series was later re-printed with illustrations by Nick Price and the current edition features illustrations by Katy Riddell. The book Pongwiffy and the Spell of the Year (1992) won the Nottinghamshire Book Award in 1993, and the entire series was adapted into an animated television series in 2004.

Associated stories

The Pongwiffy series includes: Pongwiffy: A Witch of Dirty Habits, Pongwiffy and the Spell of the Year, Pongwiffy and the Goblins’ Revenge, Pongwiffy and the Holiday of Doom, Pongwiffy and the Pantomine, Pongwiffy and the Spellovision Song Contest, Pongwiffy Back on Track and Pongwiffy and the Important Announcement. There are another two books starring characters from the Pongwiffy series Crash ‘n’ Bang and The Dreadful Dragon. Pongwiffy fans would also enjoy Kate Umansky's other series about witches, Witch for a Week, Wish for a Witch, Witches (Un)welcome and Witch in Winter, stories featuring Elsie Pickles a young would-be witch and the Clover Twig stories about a young girl who becomes a cleaner for a very messy witch.