I’m afraid I didn’t like it as much as I hoped to, given that it was by Patricia Reilly Giff.  It’s one of those early reader books that tries to build a bridge between picture books and chapter books, about a girl and her friend who notice something new happening next door, and jump to the conclusion that a witch is building a Hansel & Gretel house.  When her dog escapes the yard, Jim & Jilli set out to rescue him from the clutches of the evil witch, but in end, they come to find out it is a school being built by a very nice teacher.  It was an adequate story, but there’s nothing about it that makes it stand out as a must-have.