Author:Kathy Tucker
Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Financial Heard times
Year of Publication: 1999
Publisher & Location: Albert Whitman and Co, Ill.
ISBN#:0-8075-4450-7
Target Age Level: lower elementary
# of Pages:32 pages
Quality of Illustrations: pretty good
Brief Summary: It's St. Patrick's Day, but Michael McKeever has run out of luck. His dad has lost his job, the hot water heater is broken, and now his baseball shoes are falling apart. He and his dad never go out and "throw a few" like they used to, and his mom says they have to learn to Make Do. So when he accidentally discovers a leprechaun in the basement, Michael is sure his luck has changed. Unfortunately, he didn't count on this leprechaun being quite so cantankerous. Any child who has felt the pinch of hard times will relate to Michael's anxiety.
Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:
This book shows that there are not always magic answers to our problems. but sometimes it help to know the right people. The leprechaun doesn't just give the family money he helps by making new shoes, so it's not the magical solution you might think.
Activity: have the child think of friends or other ways they know, like the leprichaun, that can help them through hard times without giving them money or magic
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