The Children of Lir [Hardcover]

Sheila MacGill-Callahan (Author), Gennady Spirin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

A haunting Irish legend, believed by some to be the basis for King Lear. A king's jealous wife puts a spell on his children, changing them into swan s, until such time as the Man from the North and the Woman from the South--two mountain peaks--are joined together. Watercolor illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The craggy coast of Ireland provides a brooding backdrop for this stirring folktale, reputed to be the genesis of Shakespeare's Lear. After the death of his wife, Aobh, King Lir marries her sister Aiofe, whose beauty "hid an evil heart." Jealous of her husband's love for his four children, Aiofe casts a spell on the youths, turning them into swans "for three times three hundred years," or until the twin mountains bordering the kingdom should come together. In her second book, MacGill-Callahan ( And Still the Turtle Watched ) exhibits an admirable sense of classical fairy-tale style: her prose, studded with poetic imagery and elegant turns of phrase, escalates the story's dramatic impact. Spirin's ( Snow White and Rose Red ) characteristically sumptuous, gilt-flecked paintings accentuate both the material opulence of royalty and the strength and natural beauty of the varied animals who assist the swans and provide the book's joyful conclusion. Lavish double-page spreads are balanced by smaller watercolors set among the text--though the painstaking detail is occasionally difficult to discern in the individual illustrations. A lyrical and compelling narrative, coupled with another triumph of artistry and exquisite design for a consummate craftsman. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3 Up-- This book makes a gorgeous first impression. However, compared to the traditional story of the children of Lyr as retold by Joseph Jacobs ( Celtic Fairy Tales Dover, 1968) or the collection Irish Folktales (Pantheon, 1987), it seems an irresponsible adaptation. The author's assertion that scholars connect this ancient king with Shakespeare's Lear may or may not be accurate, but it is a connection in name only. The folkloric roots of Shakespeare's Lear are found in the story of the princess who loved her father as much as salt. The one noticeable common thread from the play to this book is the king's madness, and it is not found in the traditional tale of Lyr's children. In that story, the king marries his dead wife's sister, who is jealous of his children and turns them into swans. They spend their lives this way until the spell is broken just as, old and withered, their human forms are ready to die. There is spiritual redemption, but no corporeal second chance. In this lavishly illustrated bit of fluff, readers will find the jealous aunt and the transformation into swans, but the children's story is beautified, expurgated, and given an environmental gloss that breaks down. The beasts of the air and the water, led by a jolly whale, join forces to save the four swan children--still young and pretty--and everyone lives happily ever after. Spirin's lush, detailed watercolors, glorious in San Souci's The White Cat (Orchard, 1990), alternate here between narrative miniatures and double-page spreads crowded to the point of confusion. Yes, his whales and gulls and seals and swans are well rendered, but to what purpose? Text is framed in borders of intricate design, creating an illusion of illuminated parchment--a lavish production for so little content. There is a murky "scholarly" addendum that obfuscates the story even further. Don't judge this book by its cover. --Sally Margolis, Deerfield Public Library, IL
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (March 5, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803711212
• ISBN-13: 978-0803711211
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,259,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant illistrations, but unimpressed with this version., August 23, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Hershey, Pennyslvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Children of Lir (Hardcover)

This book is superb when it comes to the pictures in the book, but I was unimpressed with the way this "Clann Lir" was told. There are many ways to tell the story, but this version seemed far from anything I've ever heard. The children's names are different from the origional names, the events that occur are completely different and so on.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful illustrations to a classic tale!, January 17, 2003

By 

AvidReader (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Children of Lir (Hardcover)

I have loved this story since I was a little girl, and wanted to find it for my own daughter. It is such a wonderful tale of love and devotion. I highly reccommend this book for any fairy tale lover!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning illustration, Iirish folkore story nicely and loosely retold, February 17, 2010

By 

Elise (plt) (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children of Lir (Paperback)

The children of Lir is a an Irish folklore retold by Sheila MacGill-Callahan, illustrated by Gennady Spirin.
the tale is about jealous step mother, bad step mothers are staple in folklore. Quite dramatic for really young children, but the god thing is that this book, even it is a picture book, delights also 12 years old girls. Thanks to illustrations which are a little bit more grown up, and still appropriate for children.The story itself is about collaboration and help in face of severe adversity, and the heroes are animals who help humans in need, and outsmart the evil one.

The very detailed illustrations by Gennady Spirin are stunning. He won international awards,and you will see why.The technique is masterful as of Old Masters, of North Renaissance, and skillfully translated into the world of children illustration.

As for retelling the story: the author states in her note that she did it loosely. Which is no problem for me if the author notifies the reader she/he took the myth as point of departure for her imagination. she also mentions a carved ancient stone slab on the island of Inniseel. the slab depicts four swans and four people, two men and two women. Interesting nice detail.