Fin M'Coul: The Giant of Knockmany Hill [Paperback]

Tomie dePaola (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Fin M'Coul's wife, Oonagh, helps him outwit his arch rival, Cucullin.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tomie De Paola is internationally recognized for having written and illustrated many children's books, including "The Lady of Guadalupe", "The Clown of God", "Cat on the Doverfell", "Big Anthony and the Magic Ring", and "Strega Nona", a Caldecott Honor book. Using watercolours and inks in this book to create full-colour illustrations, Mr. de Paola is faithful to the text. Since St. Nicholas is described in the poem as "a right jolly old elf," the artist has made him elflike, and shows him driving a miniature sleigh with eight tiny reindeer. Mr. de Paola has set the poem in a mid-nineteenth century New England town, using quilt designs from his own collection for the borders. This is the 100th book he has illustrated.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (P) (March 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823403858
• ISBN-13: 978-0823403851
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #341,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.
It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.
He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his ""singular attainment in children's literature,"" the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his ""continued distinguished contribution,"" and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.
Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.
- He has been published for over 30 years.
- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.
- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.
- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition for his books in the children's book world, including:
- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association
- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association
- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution
- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal
- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Association

"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Traditional Irish (and Scottish and Manx and...) tale, retold, April 8, 2009

By 

Ulyyf "Connie" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fin M'Coul: The Giant of Knockmany Hill (Paperback)

First let me note that if you want to read up more about this character of folklore you should use a more common rendition of his name such as Finn McCool or Fionn mac Cumhaill. If you believe the stories, he was singlehandedly responsible for much of the geography of Ireland and Scotland, in the same way that Paul Bunyan is responsible for the Great Lakes!

The story is hilarious, from Fin's worries to his tricky solution to his problem of not wanting to fight, and the illustrations only enhance the words.

I will note that, like most traditional stories, there is some gratuitous violence, but what can you do? That's how the story goes. Besides, most children are such bloodthirsty beasts that they're quite happy with fingers getting bitten off, so long as it's clearly over-the-top and unrealistic :)

However, if that's the sort of thing that concerns you then you should definitely read this book before you buy it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2nd Graders were laughing out loud, March 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Fin M'Coul: The Giant of Knockmany Hill (Paperback)

I read this to my son's 2nd grade class (7-8 year olds) and they really enjoyed it. They loved looking at the pictures to see giants & "regular-size" folk together. And they laughed aloud as Fin & Oonagh tricked the bad giant Cucullin (and at my Irish accent)!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2nd Graders were laughing out loud, March 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Fin M'Coul: The Giant of Knockmany Hill (Paperback)

I read this to my son's 2nd grade class (7-8 year olds) and they really enjoyed it. They loved looking at the pictures to see giants & "regular-size" folk together. And they laughed aloud as Fin & Oonagh tricked the bad giant Cucullin (and at my Irish accent)!