Stopping for a Spell, by Diana Wynne Jones

Three short stories by the late great DWJ, all about children being menaced by the supernatural. Animated items of furniture feature strongly. Two of the stories have evil (or at least very unhelpful) old ladies. They are good short pieces; the entire book is only 150 pages.

I found myself musing on how DWJ differs from Roald Dahl, partly because these pieces all reminded me a bit of Matilda, but remain closer to Wilkins’ Tooth and The Ogre Downstairs. But I wasn’t able to come to any conclusions. Maybe another time.