THE LEPRECHAUN WHO LOST HIS RAINBOW

Colleen’s grandfather is set to play the bagpipes in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, but rain threatens to bring an abrupt end to his performance. Enter Roy G. Biv, a leprechaun who has lost his pot of gold. Roy explains to Colleen that if she helps him find it by making a rainbow, the sun will come out and the parade will be saved. Colleen readily gives the leprechaun an item of each color his rainbow requires, hesitating only about the green penny whistle given to her by her grandfather. Finally, she gives this up as well and is rewarded by a rainbow, a happy grandfather and a new flute. While the prose is a little clunky in places, the fantastical story and Cote’s bright, cheery illustrations will keep kids interested. With the focus on leprechauns, bagpipes and parades, this one is sure to be popular around St. Paddy’s Day, for which there is a relative dearth of stories. An endnote discusses rainbows and the use of Roy G. Biv as a handy tool for remembering a rainbow’s individual colors. (Picture book. 5-8)