The Magic Broom

Author: Yamam Khartash

Illustrator: Sara Wafeeq

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The original work of this book was made possible through the generous support of the All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development (ACR GCD) Partners (the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Vision, and the Australian Government). It was prepared by Asafeer Education Technologies FZ LLC and does not necessarily reflect the views of the ACR GCD Partners. Any adaptation or translation of this work should not be considered an official ACR GCD translation and ACR GCD shall not be liable for any content or error in this translation.

In a cottage deep in the middle of the woods, lived Esmeralda, the wicked old witch. She used her magical powers to turn cats into flower pots and bunnies into flowers.

One day she decided to add a new ingredient to her magic spell. She grinned and said, “This time I’ll turn Rapunzel into a big, bald frog.” After she prepared her magic potion, she called for her magic broom and said, “Abracadabra, vroom, vroom, vroom! Take me to Rapunzel’s tower, my terrible, terrible broom!” But…

...the broom did not take her anywhere. The broom couldn’t stand it anymore. She thought, “What did Rapunzel do to deserve being turned into a frog? And why should I obey that wicked old witch? She’s never happy with anything I do and she blames me for everything.” The broom decided she would not take her there…and not just that.

When the wicked old witch asked her to go right, she went left.

And when she directed her to the Equator, she went to the North Pole. That wicked old witch was furious and mad as a hornet!

As the broom landed on top of a mountain, the witch threw her off the highest peak. Then she cackled, “This is what you get for disobeying my orders…ha ha ha ha!”

The broom rolled over and over. When she stopped rolling, she looked around. “Where am I?” the broom thought, “Oh, this is the coldest and driest place I’ve ever seen.” The broom shivered from the cold, so she tried to quickly fly away. But time and time again, the cold wind pulled her back down.

“I want to go back home to Esmeralda. At least it was cozy and warm there,” the broom desperately cried. Not only had the broom lost her job, she now felt very lonely. So, she ran and ran, searching for anyone or anything to help her when suddenly…

...a big musk ox came running towards her. But as she walked towards him, she received a different welcome than she had hoped for. The musk ox was not friendly at all!

He tossed her up in the air with his big, strong horns. The broom flew up in the air and landed on her back. When she tried to get up, she was shocked by what she saw.

“Oh no! More oxen!! This was sure to be the end of the broom. But to her surprise, the oxen ignored her and formed a circle around their calves to protect them from a wolf that was nearby. Broom was happy not only because the musk oxen forgot about her, but because their little calves were safe.

Then Broom had a great idea. She’d disguise herself as a tree. All she had to do was to stand upside down. Then everyone would think she’s a tree. But trees don’t grow in the tundra…and that’s just where she found herself.

A brown reindeer came up to her and started sniffing her broomstick. He trotted around her then just left. Broom lamented, “I’ll be stuck here alone forever, without any friends.”

Then from the corner of her eye she saw a burrow nearby. She carefully peeked in and wondered, “What’s that strange hissing sound I hear? Could it be a snake?”

It wasn’t a snake. It was a small fluffy white arctic hare who invited her to stay for tea. Broom left the burrow feeling refreshed, “That was so kind of you, hare. But I have only these bristles to repay you. Perhaps you can use some of them to make a cozy couch for yourself?”

Arctic hare smiled at the broom, hugged her goodbye and thanked her. Broom joyfully thought, “Esmeralda, the wicked old witch, never thanked me before, even after all I’ve done for her.”

Broom took a deep breath of fresh tundra air. Then she started looking for other creatures to help. She let the old polar bear use her as a cane while he crossed the frozen lake. The bear smiled and thanked her for her help and just before she left…

...she noticed some young lichen looking for somewhere to settle. Broom offered the lichen a spot on her bristles to rest while they grew. The lichen were grateful and the broom felt very happy to have the lichen there with her.

The sun was about to set, so Broom decided to find a place to rest for the night. And while she was looking for shelter, herds of animals surrounded her. Reindeer, musk oxen, foxes, hares and Yakutian cattle all encircled her.

As they moved closer, broom shivered. Her bristles trembled as she stuttered “Wh…Wh…What do you want?” The reindeer stepped forward and said, “We would like you to come to the little party we’re having by the frozen lake.”

Broom eagerly accepted the invitation. And next to the frozen lake, they lit a fire and warmed themselves by it. They had so much fun just eating, singing and dancing.

Broom listened to everyone’s thrilling adventures and told them all about the marvellous places she had visited. Her eyelids grew heavy. She smiled and said, just before going to sleep, “This is the most charming place in the world.”

The End.