Shannon and the World's Tallest Leprechaun

May 1, 2008
Gr 1-4-A tale of leprechaun magic set in modern times. Shannon has been practicing hard for the Saint Patrick's Day step dance contest at the Irish-American Heritage Center, but she doesn't think she'll win because of her homemade dress and secondhand shoes. When she breaks a heel, she despairs, realizing that her parents cannot afford another pair of shoes. She remembers a family superstition and counts backward in Gaelic. To her amazement, a leprechaunone who is almost six feet tall and garbed in a green suit and leather apronmaterializes and offers to grant her three wishes. Liam fulfills her first request, for new dancing gear, by showing her how to take care of the things she already has and repairing the broken heel. He deals with her other wishes in equally roundabout ways, causing her to doubt his abilities, but, by contest time, Shannon has not only made a friend, but has also learned that passion and practice are much more important than appearances. Callahan's text is filled with amusing dialogue that keeps the story from becoming message-heavy. Kemly's vibrant pastels play up the surprise and humor of a very tall "wee man" and provide colorful backdrops for the action. A fresh choice for holiday programs or in communities where Irish dance is popular."Joy Fleishhacker", School Library Journal

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