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Summary
Summary
Every St. Patrick's Day two Irish towns compete for the best decorations. But no one has counted on a stranger arriving who will turn the contest upside down! With a charming text by award-winning author Susan Wojciechowski and vibrant folk-art style illustrations by acclaimed artist Tom Curry.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-The towns of Tralee and Tralah hold a competition each year to see which one can devise the most spectacular decorations for St. Patrick's Day. Tralah has always won, but this year little Fiona Riley has an idea that may give Tralee a chance at garnering the golden shamrock-paint everything green. The night before the contest, a tiny man dressed in green with pointy ears and bells on his boots rides frantically through both towns, begging help for his cows, which are stuck in the mud in the river. The citizens of Tralah flatly refuse as they are too busy decorating, but the people of Tralee come to his aid, knowing it will cost them the prize. Their task completed, they drop into bed exhausted. In the morning, the stranger is gone, but their town is painted "shimmering, glimmering, glorious green-from the wee doghouses to the tall spire of the church," and the shamrock is theirs. Wojciechowski has a pleasing way with words, and the text flows gracefully from beginning to end. Curry's acrylic paintings have jewel-bright blues and greens nicely tempered by softer shades of brown. The folk-art style complements the folktale feel of this pleasant story about the rewards of kindness and community.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Are decorations, parties and all the trimmings what make a holiday special? Wojciechowski (The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey) explores this notion in a lively original folktale about compassion and cooperation-with a bit o' Irish magic thrown in. For years the villages of Tralee and Tralah have competed in the annual St. Patrick's Day decorating contest. And never yet has Tralee claimed the gold shamrock given to the winner. But six-year-old Fiona Riley has a sure-fire plan. In the midst of the villages' flurry of preparations, however, "a little man on a large horse" gallops into the two towns seeking help to rescue his stranded herd of cows. The residents of Tralah refuse to break from their decorating and soundly turn the man away. Crossing the meadow, the man finds an ally in Fiona Riley, who rallies her Tralee neighbors to his aid. Rewarded for their kindness, the people of Tralee win the contest in a most satisfying finish. The author's smooth storytelling and steady pace create a vivid setting, and her tale delivers a solid, never treacly message. In boldly colored acrylics, Curry (The Bootmaker and the Elves) creates a bucolic Old World mood using simple, rounded shapes, which include expanses of emerald green hillside. His distinctive technique produces a striking texture, sometimes akin to oil or pastel on a slightly rough canvas, sometimes tapestry-like and, in other instances, crisp and smooth. All told, an arresting series of compositions. Ages 5-8. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
(Primary) This folk-like tale of kindness rewarded features a winning young heroine, a traditional story arc, and plenty of Emerald Isle atmosphere in the richly colored illustrations. The town of Tralee is excited about this year's plan for the annual St. Patrick's Day decoration contest with rival burg Tralah. Fiona Riley, ""though she's but a wee lass of six,"" comes up with the fine idea to paint all of Tralee green, giving the townsfolk hope that they'll win the trophy for the first time ever. On the day before the holiday, as both towns busily prepare for the contest, a red-bearded little man dressed in green arrives, looking for help with his cows: ""sure and begorra, they are stuck in the mud!"" In Tralah he is turned away at every door he knocks on, but when he appeals to the people of Tralee, the whole town puts down their paintbrushes to help, knowing they've sacrificed their chance for the trophy. Or have they? Their generosity begets a greater prize, and Fiona Riley has an idea for next year: no more contests--from now on they'll decorate the town ""simply for the joy of it."" Wojciechowski tells a fine story that reads well aloud; Curry's drolly mock-primitive paintings practically glow with color and bristle with texture. Practice your brogue, and sure and begorra, start working some story-hour magic. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Though the author makes a bit of a leap at the end, this original tale, celebrating the benefits of generosity over ambition, makes worthwhile reading. The more goal-oriented town of Tralah always beats rival Tralee in the annual St. Patrick's Day decoration contest--until one year when the Tralahvians turn away a wee man who comes to their doors begging for help to free his cows from the mud. With only a little reluctance, the Traleenians leave off their frantic decorating to lend a hand, and wake the next morning to find their entire town painted a deep, prizewinning green. Then the citizens of Tralee enjoy their victory feast so much that they decide to chuck future competition and just have the dinner. Curry places the thatch-roofed, quaint-looking villages amid verdant, rolling fields, and though Wojciechowski never comes right out with it, the "little man," dressed in a long, pointed hat and curly-toed shoes, has a recognizably leprechaunish look. A thought- and discussion-provoking tale that shouldn't be relegated to the "holiday" shelves. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
K-Gr. 2. The neighboring towns of Tralee and Tralah compete each year in a St. Patrick's Day decorating contest, and each year Tralee loses. This year, however, six-year-old Tralee resident Fiona Riley has an idea that may turn the town's luck around--she suggests that they paint the entire town green. As the two towns busy themselves with contest preparations, a stranger comes to Tralah, a small, pointy-eared man on a white horse who needs help getting his cows unstuck from the mud. The townspeople of Tralah can't be bothered to help him; they are cutting shamrocks out of cardboard to glue on all their trees. But the good folks of Tralee, led again by Fiona, agree to hang up their paintbrushes and help the cows. Despite their sacrifice, they win the contest; the stranger paints the town green while they are sleeping. Wojciechowski's charming tale is beautifully complemented by Curry's stylized depictions of green rolling hills and thatched-roof houses. Both text and art convey a sturdy feeling about community and charity, brushed with touch of whimsy. --Karin Snelson Copyright 2003 Booklist
