O'Sullivan Stew [Hardcover]

Hudson Talbott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 25, 1999 | Age Level: 5 and up

In the grandest of Irish traditions comes a tale full of imagination, wit, courage, and a healthy shot of blarney. Ah, the luck of the Irish! When the village of Crookhaven faces its doom for having upset the local witch, Kate O'Sullivan decides to set things right—and almost gets her family hanged in the process! Now with both a king and a witch angry at them, Kate valiantly fights for her family's lives the only way she knows how—with a good story. She pulls out all the stops trying to appease His Majesty, recounting tales of ravenous giants, wise-cracking sea serpents, and lovesick leprechauns running amok. But time is running out. Will the king's patience as well? It's all up to Kate and her magical way with words. Hudson Talbott, creator of the popular Tales of King Arthur books, was inspired by his visit to Ireland to spin this brand new adventure story and his glorious paintings bring the island and his valiant heroine to life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A witch, sea serpent, giant, fairies and wild beasts are among the staples in Talbott's (We're Back: A Dinosaur's Story; Amazon Diary) bubbly story, set on the coast of Ireland. Trouble begins when the king's soldiers lay claim to a stallion belonging to the local witch and her neighbors do nothing to help. With the witch in a snit, fishnets come up empty, cows refuse to give milk and gardens die. To save the village from starvation, feisty Kate O'Sullivan convinces her father and brothers to accompany her to the king's palace to steal back the horse. Their bumbling attempt fails and the clan is brought before the ruler, who agrees to spare Kate's life if she tells him a story that proves that she has been in a "worse spot" before. The heroine duly impresses the monarch with her descriptive flashbacks to a prior, enticingly preposterous close call, then rescues her kin with stories about them. Several clever turns of plot add spice to this appetizing concoction. Like his narrative, Talbott's high-spirited art occasionally approaches the slapstick, as when a band of "demonic" cats huddles around Kate's brother, their eyes gleaming and their teeth exposed in wicked grins, singing a screechy version of "Danny Boy" to "earn" their supper from the frightened lad. Visually and verbally inventive in its details and its broader storytelling, this one is a shiny shamrock. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-5-Feisty Kate O'Sullivan may daydream some of the time, but she knows when action is needed. When tax collectors visit her Irish village and steal the witch's red stallion, the girl tries to enlist the help of the townsfolk, who shrug their shoulders and declare that their neighbor isn't one of them. The witch goes "into a snit," all sorts of disasters occur, and food becomes scarce. Kate prods her father and brothers into action and they set off to steal the stallion back. Caught by the king and threatened with hanging, Kate saves each family member by telling a clever story. The horse is returned, and the O'Sullivans are set free, whereupon they go home to celebrate. When the king arrives at Kate's doorstep to declare his love, she says that she might marry him in five years, after she has some of her own adventures. Kate is a lively, take-charge heroine and Talbott's colorful illustrations capture her spirit perfectly, whether her hair is standing on end as she sneezes a mighty "AAAA CHOOO" or her eyes mirror innocent pleasure as she turns down the king's proposal. This is not a simple tale, but the pictures and text work so well together that the events move along with ease. Full of broad and subtle humor, the story will be a read-aloud favorite, but it also has much to offer children who like to pore over detailed illustrations and daydream about other worlds.
Barbara Scotto, Michael Driscoll School, Brookline, MA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile; 1ST edition (January 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399231625
• ISBN-13: 978-0399231629
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #441,941 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An all-around fantastic book!, January 19, 2001

By 

Erin (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: O'Sullivan Stew (Picture Puffins) (Mass Market Paperback)

"O'Sullivan Stew" is a rollicking book with a truly heroic female protagonist. The pictures are both lovely and funny--if you pay special attention to facial expressions I guarantee you'll be laughing out loud. Kate, the heroine, spins yarns with a skill beyond her years, painting pictures with her inventive tales. Her speech is like music--you can practically hear her brogue while you're reading. And if her storytelling doesn't convince you that she's painting pictures with her words, then the illustrations will. They vary from dreamy pastels to muted and murky to bold and bright depending on the nature of the tale she's telling. And when she stops, the world turns black and white.

Not only does this book contain excellent illustrations, a strong, believable heroine, and a captivating story line, but there are several surprises and an unexpected ending. I hope you'll read it... it would be a shame to miss out on such a marvelously fun book!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story with wonderful illustrations!, October 8, 1999

By 

Melonmist (Nanuet, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: O'Sullivan Stew (Hardcover)

This is a modern day folktale with a terrific, spunky heroine, a good story and a wonderful ending. It would make a very satisfying read aloud for children 5 years of age and older. The words and pictures work well together. Highly recommended by me, a children's librarian.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By Crikey, it's Ummm Mmmm good!, January 9, 2003

By 

Irish Flair (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: O'Sullivan Stew (Picture Puffins) (Mass Market Paperback)

I bought this book for my nephew but decided to wait to give it to him for several reasons. The main one being that I absolutely LOVE the book myself! LOL! However, while the story is good and I know he'll enjoy it, he's still a bit young (not even 2); it seems more appropiate for 4 years old or older.

In the story, Young Kate uses her wits to save her family and her village with an ending I never saw coming -- not your typical 'Fairy Tale Ending' but an excellent one nonetheless especially for our modern times. I fell in love with the illustration's ton of detail that kept me looking at each page long after the reading was over.

My one complaint is that, while the book itself is good sized so you can see the pictures, the paperback edition seems a bit flimsy. If this story is to be loved (and thus read) as much as I think it will then I may have to order another copy or two to last through the years. Perhaps the school binding edition is more sturdy?

Both girls and boys will enjoy this story and I think you grown ups will, too.