Staff Reviewer: Johnny
Traveling Tom and the Leprechaun by Teresa Bateman
Published Date: April 15, 2007
Number of Pages: 32 pages
Format: Physical Book
Genre: Fiction
Tags: Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction
Cardigan rating: 3 out of 5
Goodreads summary
I picked this book because of Saint Patrick's Day coming up and I realized that, due to my love and hate for it, I have never actually sat down and read a picture book that was themed after the holiday. As a child, I liked that I got to wear all green and do fun things at school, but I hated being pinched if I forgot to wear green. One year I had a necklace that was a little shamrock and green. Well, I was playing with it during class and the teacher took it from me. So I got pinched for not having green any wear in my outfit that day. That's when I started having a love/hate relationship with the holiday.
As for the book, I think it is adorable and a great tale for older children. It involves a cunning traveling minstrel named Tom, who is wanting the hand of marriage of the Princess Kathleen. However, she would only marry the suitor who could come back with the pot of gold that belonged to the leprechaun. The story is cute and I really like Tom’s interaction with the leprechaun. I recommend this book to parents with older elementary children. It is a great story and very wholesome for the holiday. The only thing I personally do not like about the book is the artwork. Mélisande Potter did such a great job with colors and textures that it adds to the story and creates a sense of whimsical within the book. However, the artwork is not my personal favorite, but could be a someone's favorite. It does not turn me off of the story, it is just not my preference for art in a picture book.
However I will ask, will you wear your green to the Florence County Library and search for a good book and leprechauns?