Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk
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This lighthearted Irish tale of magic, greed, and revenge from Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Gerald McDermott reminds us that a bit of good luck is never out of reach-as long as you look for the wee folk. When poor and jobless Tim O'Toole discovers a group of wee folk, he knows his bad luck has changed forever. But before he can enjoy the treasures they give him, Tim has to learn an important lesson. Spirited and humorous illustrations reveal the world of the wee folk, along with Tim O'Toole and his family.School Library JournalK-Gr 3-- In this version of the old European tale, ``The Table, the Ass, and the Stick,'' Tim O'Toole is so poor that his neighbors avoid him, fearing his bad luck will rub off on them. His fortune seems made, though, when he spies a band of the wee folk and demands a part of their treasure. Given a goose that lays golden eggs, Tim is unable to refrain from boasting to the greedy McGoons, who substitute their own goose for Tim's. The same thing happens to Tim's next gift, but a third gift, a hat that produces ten little men armed with tiny clubs, solves the problem. As he did in Daniel O'Rourke (Viking, 1986), McDermott has produced a rollicking tale, filled with sly Irish humor. Cheerfully vivid illustrations perfectly match the spirit of the story. Done in what appears to be chalk or pastels, the pictures are as soft and green as an Irish morning, without a hard edge or jarring note to be found. McDermott's language subtly captures the lilt and rhythm of an Irish brogue, making this an effortless read-aloud and a fine choice for programming. It's almost as good as a trip to the Emerald Isle. --Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
