Help me find this book!

[Probablygreen]

I’m going mad trying to think what this book from my childhood was. I always thought it was ‘The Magic Finger’ by Roald Dahl but I read that to my kids last night and it’s nothing like the story in my head!

In the one I’m trying to think of, the main character is a child (can’t remember if it’s a boy or a girl) who gets an itch in their finger and they can do magic things. One of the things is something to do with a sweet shop. I’m sure it starts off where the child loves their new power but as the story goes on it gets a bit out of control and the child can’t stop.

I was adamant it was written by Roald Dahl but now I’m not so sure! Please put me out of my misery so I can sleep in peace tonight!

Verity Sparks

No, it wasn’t that, thank you though!

Did you have any of the vintage Ladybird books?

You might have mixed up memories with a similar story - The Magic Paintbrush.

(Vaguely similar, that is. But obviously very simple! Memory is a funny thing, mind...)

No it’s not the magic paintbrush but thank you! I seem to remember the finger being crooked but I’ve googled all kinds and coming up with nothing! I definitely didn’t imagine it 🤣

Hope you get your answer!

@Probablygreen could it be by Enid Blyton. It's giving me magic far away tree vibes.

Magic Finger was such a good but freaky book!

It could be Enid Blyton as I did read a lot of her books, but it was definitely a standalone story, not part of the Magic Faraway Tree series

Now I have read your post I feel like I vaguely remember this story too! But o could also have sworn it was the Magic Finger. I will lay awake and think about it all night now. Thanks, OP

Could it have featured a witch instead of a child? There’s definitely one about a witch that itches and does magic.

@garlictwist I’m sorry! You can join me on my all night quest to find the answer 🤣 I can’t believe there’s nothing to be found on this, it was one of my favourite books but I also could have sworn blind it was the magic finger!

@Baconand no, it was definitely a child, because at one point they are sitting at their desk in school trying to control their finger. I wish I could remember more about it!

Are you sure you're not thinking of Matilda?

Definitely not Matilda 🤣 the whole story was about the finger, I’m sure

I think I’ve read this! Didn’t seem super familiar until you mentioned it being crooked. I read a lot of Enid Blyton growing up, maybe it was in one of her anthology books

In my mind the pictures definitely look Quentin Blake-esque but now I wonder if I’m mis-remembering!

Was it the wishing chair ?

No it wasn’t the wishing chair but thank you!

Somebody else must have read it, surely 🤣

That happens in Sabrina the teenage witch so that’s all I can think about now!

Oh wait maybe that’s what I am thinking of…

I think it’s series 2 episode 15 that it happens.