From the front dust jacket flap: The Lurie children discovered an ancient cookbook which they suspected was written by a witch. They tried a recipe right away, for they were curious, adventurous, and most of all they were hungry. For too many days they had been in the care of a housekeeper whose fancy cooking they detested. The old cookbook promised to end their hunger pangs, even if the recipes did turn out to be magic. What happened after they ate the food? Each recipe had its own magic spell which transformed the children in ways that were sometimes fun and sometimes scary. This blend of fun, fantasy, and excitement is sure to delight young readers, especially those who are fond of fussing about their food.