Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk (Picture Puffins) [Paperback]

Gerald McDermott (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Picture Puffins

When the evil McGoons trick Tim O'Toole out of his fortune, he teams up with his benefactors, the Little People, to regain his treasure. McDermott's illustrated books (including Caldecott winner Arrow to the Sun) and animated films have earned him international recognition. Full-color illustrations throughout.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- In this version of the old European tale, "The Table, the Ass, and the Stick," Tim O'Toole is so poor that his neighbors avoid him, fearing his bad luck will rub off on them. His fortune seems made, though, when he spies a band of the wee folk and demands a part of their treasure. Given a goose that lays golden eggs, Tim is unable to refrain from boasting to the greedy McGoons, who substitute their own goose for Tim's. The same thing happens to Tim's next gift, but a third gift, a hat that produces ten little men armed with tiny clubs, solves the problem. As he did in Daniel O'Rourke (Viking, 1986), McDermott has produced a rollicking tale, filled with sly Irish humor. Cheerfully vivid illustrations perfectly match the spirit of the story. Done in what appears to be chalk or pastels, the pictures are as soft and green as an Irish morning, without a hard edge or jarring note to be found. McDermott's language subtly captures the lilt and rhythm of an Irish brogue, making this an effortless read-aloud and a fine choice for programming. It's almost as good as a trip to the Emerald Isle. --Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Gerald McDermott is an award-winning illustrator and animator. His book Arrow to the Sun won the Caldecott Medal in 1975. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (February 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140506756
• ISBN-13: 978-0140506754
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.2 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #123,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Other
  • #57 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Multicultural

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Luck of the Irish....., February 19, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tim O'Toole And The Wee Folk: An Irish Tale (Picture Puffins) (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (School & Library Binding)

"In a little cottage, on a little hill, at the end of a little lane in Donegal, lived Tim O'Toole and his wife, Kathleen. Tim and Kate were so poor they had not a penny or a potato between them. Their children ate porridge for supper. Even the mice were thin from want of food and the cat wouldn't bother with chasing the creatures." So begins Gerald McDermott's Irish folktale, Tim O'Toole And The Wee Folk. Finally Kathleen had had enough, and without even a crumb left to eat, sent her husband out to look for work. Tim O'Toole walked the entire county, but had no luck. But as soon as he sat down to rest, "he heard the faint sound of merry piping and lilting voices raised in song and laughter." Leprechauns! Now Tim knew his luck had changed, for "whoever spies the wee folk in the light of day can demand their treasure". And they rewarded him richly with a goose that lays golden eggs. Unfortunately, on the way home, Tim stopped for the night at McGoon's farm. Unable to control himself, he bragged a bit about his good fortune, and while he was asleep, those nasty McGoons replaced his golden goose with one of their own..... Mr McDermott's wonderfully engaging text is full of magic and humor and begs to be read aloud with a lilting brogue. His amusing, colorful, and expressive illustrations complement the tale and add to all the fun. And as the wee folk come to Tim's rescue and save the day, kids and adults alike will be cheering and laughing out loud. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Tim O'Toole And The Wee Folk is a joyous, good-time, entertaining read that will bring out a little bit of Irish in each of us.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Leaping Lephrucauns, March 8, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

Tim O' Toole is a fantasy tale about a poor man who goes to find work in the town. When Tim takes a rest he discovers a festive group of wee folk. Tim being a wise fellow indeed he threatens the weefolk
to hand over thier treasure and they'll be safe . The weefolk disagree and they give Tim a goose that lays golden eggs. The weefolk warn Tim not to tell a soul. When Tim goes and tells his neighbors , the Magoons.Knowing the great tresures of cherish they steal the goose. When Tim comes crying to the lepracauns they give him a magical tablecloth.Once again the samething happens. Will Tim get his cherished itams back, buy the book to see. The main cahracters are Tim, his wife Kate,the Magoons, and the weefolk. The lesson is becareful who you trust.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy St. Paddy's to our 4 year-old and 2 year -old grandkids!, March 24, 2006

By 

Wizzy to 4 (Laguna Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

With so many long-time traditional holidays being pushed to the wayside to be replaced by those more currently popular and politically correct, we are always looking for ways to celebrate and anchor traditions with our grandchildren. To help our pre-school grandbabies get a little more anchored with their Irish heritage, we thought they were old enough this year to be introduced to the connections of this special cultural holiday. "Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk" was just the answer. Woven within the adventure of this tale of the very Irish Tim O'Toole are subtle but effective lessons about the benefits the moral values we hold dear, the outcome of choices made, and no small amount of fun, courtesy of the fanciful Wee Folk. To include in the package with this book and a strip of four-leaf clover stickers and green T-shirts, we also purchased from Amazon the "RiverDance" CD. We hear our grandkids were delighted with the whimsy of our gift and asked for the story of Tim O'Toole to be read twice before bed on March 17. Happy St. Patrick's Day!