The Worst Witch Books in Order

The Worst Witch series follows Mildred Hubble, a kind-hearted but endlessly accident-prone young witch at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. The school is a rambling castle perched on a mountaintop, filled with echoing corridors, draughty classrooms and a forest of broomsticks parked in the yard.

Mildred arrives as a first year with plaits askew, socks falling down and a talent for getting things almost right. While other pupils glide through flying lessons and turn frogs into perfect matchboxes, Mildred trips over her cloak, mixes up spells and often discovers danger by mistake. She is not a show-off, just the sort of child who can turn an ordinary day into a minor disaster.

Her closest friends are Maud Spellbody, sensible and loyal, and Enid Nightshade, a cheerful mischief-maker who tends to drag Mildred into trouble. On the other side stands Ethel Hallow, a clever, snobbish rival who always seems to be in the right place when something goes wrong. Presiding over them all is Miss Hardbroom, the fierce form teacher who believes in perfect discipline, and Miss Cackle, the kindly headmistress who secretly has a soft spot for Mildred.

Each book covers a single school term, so readers watch Mildred grow from nervous first year to older student over the course of the series. The stories blend familiar school-story elements, like homework, sports days and dormitory squabbles, with magical twists: potion exams instead of chemistry tests, broomstick drill in the playground and a Halloween display high in the night sky.

The stakes are usually small but sharp for a young reader. Mildred worries about being expelled, letting down her friends or disappointing her teachers. Sometimes she uncovers a real threat, such as a plot against the school or a spell gone badly wrong, and has to find the courage to put things right. Victory never makes her suddenly perfect, but it does show that bravery and kindness can matter more than neat handwriting or spotless exam results.

The tone stays warm and funny, with plenty of slapstick comedy, black cats that refuse to sit properly on broomsticks and magical mishaps that leave the staff exasperated. Underneath the jokes runs a steady message about finding your place when you feel clumsy or out of step. Many readers recognise a bit of themselves in Mildred, whether they dread report cards or just feel like the one person who never quite gets it right.

Over the years the books have been adapted for television, film and the stage, but on the page the world of Miss Cackle's Academy remains compact and inviting. Short chapters, expressive illustrations and clear, direct language make the series accessible to confident young readers and to families reading aloud together. If you like magical boarding schools but prefer cosy charm to dark peril, this is a comfortable place to start.