One night a little boy peeps through his curtains and is horrified to see his mother fly past - on a broomstick (with Tiddles, his cat).

Clearly there must be some mistake, but Jimmy doesn't want to take any chances.

After consulting a book on how to identify witches, he starts looking for other telltale signs.

But just as he begins to feel reassured that his mother is 'normal', Jimmy discovers the ultimate clue right under his nose: stripy stockings on the washing line.

This is a fantastically warm, witty rhyming text that ever-so-gently reminds us to challenge stereotypes (even if they do steal your cat).