Clever Tom and the Leprechaun: An Old Irish Story
Kindergarten-Grade 3 This picture book version of ``The Field of Boliauns,'' found in several fairy tale collections, is retold simply and effectively by the author/illustrator of Momotaro the Peach Boy (Lothrop, 1986). The story concerns Tom, who traps a leprechaun into telling him where his pot of gold is buriedunder a bush in a field full of yellow-flowered weeds (the boliauns). Going off to get a spade, Tom marks the spot with a red garter, and returns to find a field full of red-gartered boliauns. Shute moves the story along briskly, illustrating it with full-page paintings in pastel shades, Tom and the leprechaun being drawn to typeor archetype. Also included is a two-page compilation of leprechaun folklore which is almost more interesting than the story itself. The narrative, pared down from the lilting language used in collections meant for older readers, loses much of its style, although Shute attempts to retain some inflections in the dialogue. Still, for picture book readers, this is an effective retelling, true to its sources in story and illustration, entertaining in its result. It could become a standby in picture book fairy tale collections. Christine Behrmann, New York Public LibraryCopyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.