Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

When witch-in-training Tiffany Aching accidentally interrupts the Dance of the Seasons and awakens the interest of the elemental spirit of Winter, she requires the help of the six-inch-high, sword-wielding, sheep-stealing Wee Free Men to put the seasons aright.

“The human body only has so much air in it. You have to make it last. One plate of beans can take a year off your life. I have avoided rumbustiousness all my days. I am an old person and that means what I say is wisdom!”

“Sooner or later, every curse is a prayer.”

This isn't really a children's book which actually makes it the perfect book for children. Terry Pratchett's touch with the ongoing education of young witch Tiffany Aching is clever and delightful.

Reviewsmith....

Don't make me decide which one is my favorite Tiffany Aching novel. I can't help but love them all but Wintersmith clearly takes a more melancholy tone than its predecessor, with Tiffany thinking about life, love, death, and everything in between.
There is wonderful humor in this story but there are also hard decisions and young girls who have to clean up the mess they made. Tiffany tackles her problems head-on and takes responsibility for her mistake. Which, in this case, was dancing with the Wintersmith...

Lots of the Feegles, which are the main reason I read these books. A lot more of witch culture and methods. Tiffany gets herself in serious trouble and had to work hard to fix things. A boffo book