How to Trap a Leprechaun

April 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-As far as holiday mascots go, the tiny elves who visit every March may very well be the most elusive. Leprechauns are known for stealing treasure and wreaking havoc, but the payoff for catching one of these tiny men is great-he'll grant a wish to his captor. On St. Patrick's Day eve, you must gather your supplies, build a trap complete with gold rocks and a rainbow slide, and hope for the best. Readers follow along as four friends learn about leprechauns and construct their best snare to no avail-all they find in their trap is a tiny shoe holding a letter from Liam the Leprechaun. Vibrant illustrations match the catchy verse, which begs to be part of a St. Patrick's Day read-aloud. Also notable is that the four children in the story have skin color shades spanning from light to dark. The book concludes with instructions for parents and educators on building a leprechaun trap at home or at school, and a quick primer of leprechaun folklore. VERDICT A fun offering for March that will work well read aloud or independently.-Lindsay Jensen, Nashville Public Library

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