The King with Horse's Ears and Other Irish Folktales by Batt Burns (Retold by), Igor Oleynikov (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Storytelling is one of Ireland’s oldest and grandest traditions, and these vivid tales of far-off days will introduce young readers to the country’s irresistible folklore. Here are brave warriors with superhuman skills, monster dogs with blazing eyes, fairy folk and leprechauns, and the magical land of Tir na nÓg. Author Batt Burns grew up with these beloved characters and legends, and he captures all their enchanting language and flights of fancy. Exquisite art by Igor Oleynikov enhances every tale.

Contents include:

·        The King with Horse’s Ears

·        The Greedy Barber

·        Oisín in the Land of the Ever Young

·        Back from the Fairies

·        Paying the Rent

·        A Clever Leprechaun

·        The Lost Island of Lonesome Seals

·        And many more!

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8

This collection of folktales by a master storyteller will make readers feel as if they have stepped into an Irish country farmhouse for an evening of tales near the hearth. The 13 stories range from legends of warriors such as Cuchulainn and Fionn Mac Cumhail, to tales of leprechauns and pookas, to stories of resourceful farmers and demanding landlords. The selections range from 4 to 10 pages in length, and are suitable for reading aloud. Each story contains a smattering of Gaelic names and phrases; pronunciation guides are included as footnotes, and a glossary expands upon unfamiliar terminology. The author provides a note at the beginning of each story to set the scene, and in the back matter he cites sources for the tales. Oleynikov's gouache illustrations provide a fitting accompaniment to the lyrical yet wild tone of the stories, at times haunting and mysterious, at times rollicking and playful. Booktalk this volume with Kate Thompson's The New Policeman (HarperCollins, 2007) for readers who are fascinated by Irish culture and legends.-Misti Tidman, Boyd County Public Library, Ashland, KY

Kirkus Reviews

Although he was born to the tradition, Burns's strong storytelling skills nevertheless too-frequently just simmer under the surface of this collection of Irish folktales, which lack the full power of his wit and timing. Selections include the fascinating changeling tale, "Back from the Fairies"; the enduring favorite, "The King with Horse's Ears"; the hero tale, "Fionn Mac Cumhail and the Fianna of Ireland"; the cunning "The Greedy Barber"; and the remaining nine, some of which are undocumented. A short, insightful paragraph of background information precedes each tale, but the tales themselves are pared down to fit the space, flattened by too much summarization. One of the Folktales of the World series, this collection of overly edited, shorter-than-necessary tales is still memorable because when the teller's inflections empower them, they leap to life. The border art and Oleynikov's gouache illustrations add to their charm. Folktale collections are low circulators for the intended readership, which makes this collection's shortcomings all the sadder. (introduction, glossary, sources) (Folktales. 9-11)

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