Little Witch Buttonnose
2010
Synopsis
The night the little witch-girl was born was absolutely extraordinary. Firstly, the sun came out – in the middle of the darkest of nights, and secondly – the little girl was incredibly ugly. She had pink skin, a nose that was too small and resembled a tiny little button, and her hair was long and red. Her mother was devastated, and smeared dirt all over her daughter’s face to make her look nice and grey like a proper witch. In school, Buttonnose conjured rainbows instead of thunder, and everyone in the forest was happy to finally get rid of her.
Buttonnose turns one hundred and leaves in search of her own life. She takes a nice summer cottage as her domicile, cleans it, and begins her independent life, when the Toadstool family suddenly arrives. The little house is their summer residence – two children, a mother and a father. After some initial misunderstandings, they all make peace, and decide that the young witch will stay with the family. The Toadstool family's neighbours represent different aspects of human behaviour. As the story unfolds, all of them will learn their lessons – the hunter will understand that killing animals is not right, bad boys will get their punishment, the old lady will find her peace of mind, the wounded cat will be cured, and the posh, rich people will find out that money does not solve everything.
Awards
2012 Nukits competition, 1st place
2010 Annual Children’s Literature Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia