“The witch had a cat and a hat as black as a pot, and long ginger hair in a braid down her back.”
— Opening description of the witch.
Archivist's Choice
Room on the Broom
Julia Donaldson (2001)
Genre
Fantasy / Children's
Reading Time
5 min
Key Themes
See below
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A kind witch shares her broom with more and more animals, leading to a crowded flight, a broken broom, and an adventure where her new friends save her from a dragon.
Synopsis
A kind witch and her cat fly happily on their broomstick until her hat blows away. A dog finds it and gets a ride. This happens again when she loses her bow and wand; a bird and a frog find them and join the broom. The broom gets too heavy and breaks, sending everyone falling. A hungry dragon appears, ready to eat the witch. The three animals and the cat, covered in mud, look like a monster and scare the dragon away, saving the witch. The grateful witch makes a new broom with seats for all her animal friends, and they fly off together.
Reading time
5 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Fast
Mood
Whimsical, Lighthearted, Adventurous, Heartwarming
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy rhyming stories about friendship and teamwork, with a touch of gentle magic and adventure.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer complex plots, deep character development, or stories without clear moral lessons.
Plot Summary
A Witch and Her Cat Take Flight
A kind witch and her ginger cat fly happily on their broomstick through the breezy sky. The witch wears a tall, pointy hat, a long braid in her hair tied with a bow, and carries her magic wand. The cat sits behind her, purring. They fly over forests, rivers, and mountains, enjoying the clear day, until a gust of wind blows the witch's hat off her head, sending it spiraling down. The witch realizes her hat is gone.
A Dog's Discovery
The witch lands her broomstick to find her lost hat. A friendly brown dog with floppy ears and a wagging tail appears from the bushes, holding the witch's hat in its mouth. The dog gives the hat back to the grateful witch. The dog then asks, 'Is there room on the broom for a dog like me?' The witch agrees, and the dog happily jumps onto the broomstick behind the cat. They continue their journey with an extra passenger.
The Bow's Disappearance
As the witch, cat, and dog fly through the sky, another strong gust of wind passes them. This time, it takes the bright red bow from the witch's long, ginger braid, sending it tumbling down towards a muddy bog. The witch sighs, having lost another item. She brings the broomstick down again, and the cat, dog, and witch start looking for the missing bow, hoping to get it before it is lost in the mud.
A Bird's Help
While searching for the bow, a green bird with a long beak swoops down. It holds the witch's red bow in its beak, having seen it in the bog. The bird flies to the witch and politely returns her bow. The witch is happy and thanks the bird. The bird then asks, 'Is there room on the broom for a bird like me?' The witch agrees, and the bird sits on the broomstick, joining the growing number of passengers.
The Wand's Fall
With the witch, cat, dog, and bird now on the broomstick, it starts to feel crowded. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind, stronger than the last ones, blows the witch's magic wand from her hand, sending it into a nearby pond. The witch cries out, as her wand is important for her magic. They land the broomstick again, and everyone starts looking for the wand in the murky water.
A Frog's Retrieval
As they look into the pond, a green frog with big eyes leaps out of the water, holding the witch's shiny wand in its mouth. The frog proudly gives the wand to the witch, who is very relieved to have her magic back. The frog then croaks, 'Is there room on the broom for a frog like me?' The witch, even though the broom is very full, cannot say no to such a helpful creature and agrees. The frog hops onto the broom, making it very crowded.
Overloaded Broom Breaks
With the witch, cat, dog, bird, and frog all on the broomstick, it is now very overloaded. They fly higher, but the strain is too much. Suddenly, with a loud CRACK!, the broomstick breaks in two! The witch and her wand fall one way, while the cat, dog, bird, and frog fall another way, all tumbling down. The witch lands in a dark, swampy forest, separated from her animal friends and her broken broom.
A Hungry Dragon Appears
As the witch sits alone in the swampy forest, covered in mud and sad, a scary creature comes from the trees: a huge, green dragon with fiery breath and sharp teeth. The dragon is hungry and says he wants to eat the witch for his tea. The witch is scared, realizing she is in danger without her friends or a working broom. The dragon's eyes glow red, and smoke comes from his nose, showing he is serious.
The Animals' Clever Plan
Just as the dragon is about to jump on the witch, a loud, scary growl sounds through the forest. From the bushes comes a muddy, scary beast. It has four heads (the dog, cat, bird, and frog), glowing eyes, and makes a deep noise like 'Grrrrrowl!' The dragon, surprised and scared by this unknown creature, asks what it is. The 'beast' responds with a chorus of 'Iggety, ziggety, zaggety, ZOOOM!' which scares the dragon completely.
Dragon Flees, Witch is Saved
The scary 'beast' (which is actually the mud-covered animals) keeps moving forward, looking more monstrous. The dragon, truly scared by this strange, multi-headed creature and its odd sounds, yelps in fear. He quickly turns and flies away as fast as he can, disappearing into the sky, never to be seen again. The witch is very relieved and thankful. Her animal friends come out of their muddy disguise, showing themselves and celebrating.
A New, Improved Broom
With the dragon gone and the witch safe, the grateful witch wants to reward her loyal friends. She gets her wand and, with the help of the cat, dog, bird, and frog, they all throw different items into a bubbling cauldron: a lily, a twig, a bone, and a cone. The witch stirs the mix and says a magic spell. With a loud WHOOSH!, a new, wonderful broomstick comes out of the cauldron. This broom is made with seats for everyone.
Happy Ever After
The new broomstick is special; it has a shower for the frog, a nest for the bird, a kennel for the dog, and a comfy cushion for the cat. The witch has her own seat too. Everyone is happy with their new way to travel. They all get on their custom broom, and with a cheerful 'WHOOSH!', they fly off into the sky, happy and together. They soar through the air, enjoying their adventure, showing the strength of friendship and working as a team.
Principal Figures
The Witch
The Protagonist
She learns the value of true friendship and teamwork, realizing that even with magic, friends are essential for overcoming challenges.
The Cat
The Supporting
Remains a steadfast and loyal companion, contributing to the group's success through teamwork.
The Dog
The Supporting
Transforms from a helpful stranger into a brave and integral member of the witch's extended family.
The Bird
The Supporting
Becomes a trusted friend and a crucial part of the team that saves the witch.
The Frog
The Supporting
From a pond-dwelling creature, he becomes a vital part of a diverse and supportive friendship group.
The Dragon
The Antagonist
Introduced as a terrifying threat, he is ultimately defeated and flees, never to return.
Themes & Insights
Friendship and Inclusivity
The main theme is about the power of friendship and accepting others. The witch makes 'room on the broom' for each animal that helps her, showing a kind and open spirit. This acceptance saves her life, as her group of friends works together to scare away the dragon. The happy ending, with a custom broom for everyone, shows that true friendship means making space for all.
“'Is there room on the broom for a dog like me?'”
Teamwork and Problem-Solving
The story shows how working together can solve big problems. When the witch's broom breaks and she faces the dragon, her magic alone is not enough. The combined effort of the cat, dog, bird, and frog, looking like a 'terrible beast,' frightens the dragon away. Later, everyone working together to gather ingredients for the new broom also shows the strength that comes from collaboration and shared goals.
“''Grrrrrowl!' cried the dog, and 'Meow!' cried the cat, and 'Twit-twoo!' cried the bird, and 'Croak!' cried the frog.”
Generosity and Gratitude
The witch's kindness in giving rides to the animals is always met with their help. Each animal finds a lost item, and in return, the witch always finds room for them. Her final act of thanks is making a new magic broom, designed with personalized spaces for each friend. This cycle of giving and receiving builds good relationships and shows that kindness is often rewarded.
“And the witch smiled and said, 'That's a lovely idea. But I fear, said the witch, 'There's no room!'”
Overcoming Adversity
The story has several small problems, like losing items, and one big problem, the dragon. Each time, the characters show resilience and find a way to solve the problem. The witch does not give up when her hat, bow, or wand are lost, and the animals actively help. The dragon situation, the most dangerous, is solved through cleverness and unity, showing that even in tough times, solutions can be found.
“''YES!' cried the witch, with a happy tear. 'And I, too, am glad to have you all here!'”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Repetitive Phrase
The recurring question 'Is there room on the broom for a [animal] like me?'
This phrase is used by each animal as they ask to join the witch on her broom. Its repetition creates a predictable, rhythmic structure, engaging young readers and building anticipation for each new passenger. It also subtly reinforces the theme of inclusivity and the witch's generosity, as she consistently finds a way to accommodate her new friends despite the growing crowd.
Rule of Three (and beyond)
Three lost items, three animals joining before the crisis.
The story initially follows a pattern of three: the witch loses her hat, then her bow, then her wand. Each time, a new animal helps her and joins the broom. This establishes a narrative rhythm. The frog then joins as a fourth, pushing the broom to its breaking point. This slight deviation from 'three' heightens the tension and leads directly to the plot's major conflict, the broom breaking and the dragon's appearance.
Deus ex Machina (subverted)
The 'terrible beast' that saves the witch.
While the 'terrible beast' appears suddenly to save the witch from the dragon, it is not an external, unforeshadowed force. Instead, it is revealed to be the collective efforts of the animal friends who have been part of the story all along. This subversion reinforces the theme of teamwork and friendship, showing that salvation comes from within the group, rather than a magical intervention from outside.
Symbolism of the Broomstick
Represents home, journey, and shared experience.
The broomstick initially represents the witch's mode of transport and her personal space. As more animals join, it symbolizes shared space and the generosity of the witch. Its breaking signifies the point of crisis and the need for collective action. The creation of the new, customized broom at the end symbolizes the strength of their bond and the establishment of a new, inclusive 'home' for all the friends.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“How the cat purred and how the witch grinned as they sat on their broomstick and flew through the wind.”
— The witch and cat enjoying their flight.
“Down flew the broomstick into the bog, and the witch's hat blew off in the wind.”
— The witch loses her hat.
“I am a dog, as keen as can be. Is there room on the broom for a dog like me?”
— The dog asks to join the witch.
“The witch tapped the broomstick and whoosh! they were gone.”
— The witch uses magic to continue flying.
“I am a bird, as green as can be. Is there room on the broom for a bird like me?”
— The bird asks to join the witch.
“The witch tapped the broomstick and whoosh! they were gone.”
— Repeated magic phrase as they fly.
“I am a frog, as clean as can be. Is there room on the broom for a frog like me?”
— The frog asks to join the witch.
“The broomstick snapped in two! And the witch had a weep.”
— The broom breaks under the weight.
“Down flew the witch in a cauldron, into a pond, with a splash and a plop.”
— The witch falls after the broom breaks.
“Then out from a tree, with an earsplitting shriek, there flew a great dragon, as mean as can be.”
— The dragon threatens the witch.
“The dragon flew after her, licking his lips. 'I'll have witch and chips for my tea!'”
— The dragon plans to eat the witch.
“Then out of the pond rose a horrible beast. It was tall, dark, and sticky, and feathered and furred.”
— The animals combine to scare the dragon.
“The dragon flew off at the speed of a rocket, and never came back to that part of the forest.”
— The dragon is scared away.
“And the witch tapped the new broomstick and whoosh! they were gone.”
— The witch and friends fly away on a new broom.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
The story follows a kind witch and her cat who fly on a broomstick, losing her hat, bow, and wand to the wind. Three animals—a dog, a bird, and a frog—retrieve each item and ask to join them on the broom. Their journey culminates in a dragon threatening the witch, leading the animals to work together to save her.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
