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This book is one complete story, but each tale has a moral and can be read individually. In Jasper and the Golden Pot for Stew, Jasper learns that getting things is great as long as you don’t get greedy. In Lulu and the Leaping Leprechaun, adventure-loving Lulu learns the lesson “be careful what you wish for.” In Cookies are Yummy, the local baker, Penny, learns that it is better to give than to receive, especially when there are those less fortunate than you. In Bobby’s Birthday at Aunt Lillie’s Place, Bobby learns that it’s okay to be short and that it’s better to be yourself. In Suzie and the Magic Harp of Tackett Street, Suzie learns that there’s a time and a place for everything, including music. In Community Day, however, things turn from bad to worse and people start disappearing until Kevin learns the importance of having courage. In The End of the Leprechaun, a smart librarian learns that knowledge is key and should never be swept aside.
The characters in this book were likable and quirky. The small town dynamic worked well in exhibiting the competitive nature of the characters and their eccentricities. The leprechaun himself was delightful and you actually felt a little bad for him at times, which was quite a feat for creating an antagonist in the story. My favorite character, however, was the librarian who rallied the townspeople and figured out how to defeat the leprechaun.
The plot flow of the book was well-done. The short stories all blended together well and complemented each other without feeling like a collection of tales. I loved the unique solution the author came up with for defeating the leprechaun and the plot twist at the end of the book.
My only complaints were that there were a couple of typos and the chapter headings were a little hard to follow at first due to them starting at unexpected parts on the pages.
Overall, I’d give it 3 out of 4 stars. A fun read aloud or independent reading book for kids who enjoy leprechauns, trickster tales, Aesop Fable-like books, and books with magic.
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