Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato: An Irish Folktale

by Tomie dePaola (Author)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

The laziest man in all of Ireland catches a leprechaun, who offers a potato seed instead of a pot of gold for his freedom.

Just when his poor wife's back gives out, lazy but lucky Jamie O'Rourke traps himself a leprechaun, from whom he wins a single wish. What does Jamie wish for? All the potatoes he can eat.  But this time Jamie may have bitten off more than he can chew, in this colorful Irish folktale filled with humor and a touch of blarney, too.

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ALA/Booklist

An engaging read-aloud choice for Saint Patrick's Day.

Kirkus

Attractive and amusing.

Tomie dePaola
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 forhis 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

copyright (c) 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.

Classification
-
ISBN-13
9780698116030
Lexile Measure
660
Guided Reading Level
M
Publisher
Puffin Books
Publication date
January 27, 1997
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV012030 - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore | General
Library of Congress categories
Folklore
Ireland
Elementary School Library Collection, 06/01/00
Wilson's Children, 10/01/10

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