Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk 

an Irish tale told and illustrated by Gerald McDermott

Folk Literature, Multicultural Fiction

This Irish tale tells the story of Tim O'Toole and his wife, Kate.  The story begins with describing the extent of poverty that this couple is experiencing and how Kate demands that her husband go and find some work.  Tim eventually goes out to find some work when he luckily finds a group of little people and demands their treasure.  The little people tell Tim to go home with his treasure, but he ends up staying with the McGoon family for the night. The McGoons trick poor Tim by switching his golden egg laying goose with one of their own. Tim is astonished when he realizes his goose does not lay golden eggs. He finds the little people and angrily demands their treasure, they again tell him to go directly home. However, Tim once again stays at the McGoons home and is tricked by them a second time. The following day the little people tell Tim of the evil McGoons and how he should have listened to them by going directly home. The little people raid the McGoons house and Tim is given is treasure back.  The end of the story closes with the O'Toole family resting happily with their treasure.  I would use this book in my classroom as a piece of folk literature.  Children enjoy stories where the main character is given opportunity for fortune, especially when the characters do not have much. This story is exciting for many young readers because it includes mystical tales of little people and a golden egg laying goose.  The illustrations are vivid and allow children to really put themselves into the story.  Furthermore, this story offers a great lesson to teach children: to always listen to directions. The little people again and again tell Tim to go directly home and he continually goes to stay the McGoons who end up tricking him.  I would certainly place this book in my classroom library.