LEPRECHAUN GOLD

This charming tale has an Irish lilt that would certainly withstand an energetic reading out loud—and not just on St. Patrick’s Day. Donald O’Dell rescues a leprechaun, but he doesn’t want the obligatory pot of gold, much to the leprechaun’s dismay. Donald O’Dell says, “I have enough for my needs” and “You can keep the gold for yourself.” The leprechaun can’t accept that, and leaves gold on the doorstep, but Donald O’Dell gives it back. For more than a week the leprechaun tucks gold in pockets, porridge, and shoes, but each time, Donald O’Dell returns it. When Donald O’Dell’s cow goes astray, he follows it to a house in the wood where a beautiful golden-haired woman answers his knock—and so the crafty leprechaun delivers his “gold” after all. The soft watercolors are full of funny, smudged details, and the full-face portrait of the lady with the golden hair captures the magic of the text. (Picture book. 5-9)