In this classic Irish legend, two harpists -- merry-hearted Old Pat and ill-spirited Young Tom -- set off for a contest to name the finest harpist in all of Ireland. When Young Tom realizes that Old Pat is truly the better musician, he schemes to be the winner -- but he doesn′t reckon with the clever trickery of a mischievous little leprechaun.
Noted picture book creators Pamela Duncan Edwards and Henry Cole have imagined a joyful and fanciful tale with a priceless lesson.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 4--Librarians looking for a fresh leprechaun tale for group sharing need search no longer. The narrative flows off the tongue, and Cole's feisty caricatures are easily seen from a distance. Individual readers will enjoy looking for the shamrocks hidden throughout the scenes and in the borders. Green is applied liberally; the color even emanates from a campfire, adding to the Irish flavor. The story centers around the King's contest to choose the best harpist in the land. Young Tom is sure he can beat out Old Pat. The lad goes as far as to break the poor old fellow's harp string on their journey to the event. It seems that all is lost until Pat stops to answer a leprechaun's cry for help. Edwards deftly creates enough tension to prevent the solution from being immediately predicted. In a classic case of humility and kindness defeating vanity and selfishness, all's well that ends well. Even as Tom receives his comeuppance, he finds "generosity growing in his heart." Guaranteed to warm the cockles.--Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
PreS-Gr. 2. Kindhearted Old Pat and coldhearted Young Tom set off from their tiny village for a royal contest to determine the finest harpist in all of Ireland. As the two men sit by a campfire on the eve of the contest, Young Tom secretly breaks a string on Old Pat's harp in an attempt to ensure his own victory. Then, out of the darkness they hear a cry for help. Kindly Old Pat comes to the aid of what turns out to be a leprechaun while selfish Young Tom quickly flees the scene. At the contest the next day, both are appropriately repaid for their actions by the leprechaun and his buddies. Cole's imaginative illustrations are a good match for the story, displaying both realism and fantasy, and effectively conveying Old Pat's warmth and Young Tom's coldness through facial expression and body language. An appealing tale that need not be limited to St. Patrick's Day storytime. Lauren Peterson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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