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That’s What Leprechauns Do    by Eve Bunting & Emily Arnold McCully Amazon.com order for
That’s What Leprechauns Do
by Eve Bunting
Order:  USA  Can
Houghton Mifflin, 2006 (2006)
Hardcover

Read an Excerpt

* * *   Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch

It is hard not to believe in the magic of leprechauns after reading Eve Bunting's latest picture book, That's What Leprechauns Do. Bunting introduces children to three mischievous little green elf-like creatures, named Ari, Boo and Col.

The three little leprechauns are in charge of placing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. When they notice storm clouds picking up, they begin their journey: 'They walked in line, the one in front of the other, the other one behind. 'No mischief, no mischief along the way,' they chanted.'

Well, of course they were mischievous along the way because, they remind each other, 'Mischief's what leprechauns do.' They start by painting the hooves of a cow named Pansy. They enjoy a waltz with her; tie Old Jamie Bradley's gray woolen long johns in a knot; and talk Miss Maud Murphy's hen into sitting on a tennis ball instead of her eggs, before they finally reach their destination at rainbow's end.

The watercolor illustrations are whimsical and succeed in capturing the leprechaun's facial expressions and impish behavior. Various shades of green are, appropriately, the dominating color.

You can almost hear the leprechauns' lovely, lilting Irish accents as they romp through the fields of Ireland. Children will delight in the leprechauns' antics; this book is a nice introduction to Irish folklore.

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