Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1995)
The third entry in the series that spawned Here There Be Unicorns (1994) and Here There Be Dragons (1993) has 17 stories, clever poems, rousing parodies, and short pieces in diverse genres about different varieties of witches and wizards, including the hags from Macbeth, Baba Yaga, Pythagoras, an Arapaho Indian shaman, Merlin, and an assortment of others. The pieces are prefaced with chatty introductions in which Yolen tells readers her inspiration for the stories, sources of various lines or ideas, what she did in elementary school, for whom she was waiting when she started writing a particular tale, her daughter's problems, etc. With works ranging in length from brief poems to a 30-page story about King Arthur, the book's strengths are its variety and sense of humor; the latter informs all aspects of the volume in which Yolen gracefully combines things magical with things psychological. Following series format, Wilgus's detailed and extremely polished pencil drawings are included, but this time appear somewhat staid in the midst of Yolen's happy-go-lucky structure. 1995, Harcourt Brace, $17.00. © 1995 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

M. Jean Greenlaw (The ALAN Review, Fall 1996 (Vol. 24, No. 1))
Yolen has written an amazing melange of stories and poems about witches over the years, and this collection of her work is a companion to Here There Be Dragons and Here There Be Unicorns (also published by Harcourt). Yolen's skill at storytelling is evident in this collection, making it a great choice for reading aloud to middle- and high-school classes. Her way with words falls deftly on the ear and will guarantee a chorus of "just one more." Each selection is introduced by Yolen's musings on the motivation for writing the piece and gives the reader a pleasant insight into her personality and writing style, as well as her research and vast knowledge of the field. The book is a natural in a writing class because it does answer the question, "Where do you get your ideas?" Don't let the content scare you -witches are a part of our mythology! 1995, Harcourt Brace, 115 pp., $17.00. Ages 12 up.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, 1995)
Yolen weaves her darkly graceful magic in this companion volume to 'Here There Be Dragons' and 'Here There Be Unicorns' (both Harcourt). In brief statements introducing each short story or poem in the collection, Yolen comments on the writing process. Wilgus's compelling illustrations are perfectly suited to this contemporary treatment of a fascinating ancient subject. Category: Nonfiction. 1995, Harcourt, 117pp.. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.