I do not know who Alcatoe is in Alcatoe and the Turnip Child, but I do know this book by Isaac Lenkiewicz is a silly folktale with a few odd twists and turns.
Okay, that is not totally true, Alcatoe is a grumpy old witch (they came to magic late in life at age 54), who does not fit in. They do not like the other witches, think the kids of the story are annoying and wants to cause trouble wherever they go.
The story feels as if it was a translation as sometimes the story has a bump and I thought I had missed something. However, most kids (at least eight and up) will be fine with this story. The story is simple: three friends have a cranky neighbor that they want to beat in the vegetable contest at the next festive in a few days. They go to Alcatoe (who does not want to help them but does because they see an opportunity for mischief and mayhem), to help.
Now I was a bit confused here, it seems like witches are unknown to humans, as Alcatoe is most upset when the kids learn of their witchy ways, but the festival is a way to mend the riff between the two groups (one of the bumps). Anyway, the story goes on to have a magic Turnip Child made, mischief and lots of mayhem happen and the neighbor has a less than happy ending.
Overall, the book is okay, nothing fantastic, but comfortably enjoyable. The illustrations are amazing, silly different, detailed, busy, and deeply colored. There is a combination of old-world flare and modern sentiments.