Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato

Pure magic, the watercolor drawings of this book for 2 to 5 year-olds, bringing to life 22 new friends--24 if I include the giant potato and the leprechaun. Set in an Irish-like countryside of about 200 years ago, Tomie dePaola retells an old story that appears in many cultures.

Jamie doesn't like to work; his wife Eileen does what's needed for them to eat. When her back goes out, Jamie fears he'll die from lack of food, so off he goes to get ready for the sad event. On his way to the village, he finds a fairies' shoemaker (the leprechaun) who outsmarts his captor by giving him a seed for the biggest potato on the world, rather than his treasured gold. The blessing becomes first a bane (can't get that veggie out of the ground), then a blessing (the curious villagers help), then a bane (ooops! it blocked the road), then a blessing thanks to quick-witted and kind Eileen (every one can have all they want), then a bane (the villagers eat and eat and eat and eat until they never want to see a potato again), and then a blessing as they offer food for life if Eileen and Jamie plant no more giant potatoes...the big pratie for sure.

The story has a fine lilt of words and as I mentioned, the drawings are wholly charming in DePaola's much-loved style. Is there anything more though to reading children this story?

To me, this is a classic tale of the apparently not-too-bright person--a schlemiel, a trickster, a lazy person---who by a "fortunate misfortune" and a certain talent for keeping on, brings fortune to her/himself and the community. I particularly like that the heroine is the hard-working, cheerful, and very bright Eileen who invites everyone to take all the potato they want, and how the community eventually pitches in to deal with the situations. The children with whom I have read this giggled at the turns of the story and loved the gay illustrations and the rhythm of the tale.

Recommended with delighted enthusiasm for the humor, imagination, and good things to be shared here. It seems to me an opportunity for readers, if they chose, to add some history.

This is a cute story, but the ending and moral are not what you would expect at all. Instead of an ending that teaches what happens if you're lazy, in fact, things turn out well and the reader essentially "hears" that the wife shouldn't have doubted her lazy husband. So, you end up having a discussion about what USUALLY happens when you're lazy (things don't turn out well) and then discussing that sometimes you can make assumptions that aren't right. It's really just a fun story, but I think because the ending doesn't teach the "right" lesson, it does offer some opportunity to have discussions on a number of issues that make everyone think. The husband's success in this story was just plain luck - for several reasons, the story should have ended badly for him...

It is highly important for chidren to read folktales to learn about cultures and history. This includes stories that are just plain fun. I highly disagree with the reviewer here who said this story should be left untold. Not all stories have to have a moral (although IMO, this one had one, but I digress). Some stories illustrate to us what a wonderful, fine sense of humor the Irish had (and still do). Jamey had quite an adventure with the wee folk and his "Prattie". My children loved this book, as did I. We liked the dialogue, including, as I mentioned, Tomie de Paola's using of the Irish "prattie" for potatoe. The long-suffering wife was witty, and poor Jamey O'Rourke was a hoot. After reading the library version, we bought our own copy.

As far as creatvity and originality goes, this is a cute story. I love the fact that the reader/listener can sense Jaime's wife's frustration with him. I love that the villagers worked together to solve a problem. I love the wit the leprechaun displayed. It is true that Jaime did not get a lasting consequence for his slothfulness, but it it is no different than reading a book like 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' where Tom got out of painting the fence white because he outwitted his friends. There are people like this my friends. It is just a part of life. We just have to be aware about our gullibility. Also, it isn't like the village community got nothing in return for their industry. It is all about perspective. I disagree with the reviewer who stated that it was an awful book.

This book is slightly racist, lazy, and really quite insulting to any real credible Irishman or woman. The overall message of this book is... nothing. It is not even nothing in a good safe harmless way, it is a bad nothing. The kind of bad that will erode your soul. If you stare into the abyss that is mediocrity you will read "Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato". The story relies on false sterotypes of the worst kind. An Irishman who is lazy, laying around eatting potatoes, meeting leprechauns. Avoid at all costs.

Tomie dePaola is one of our favorite children's authors. We love Clown of God, Strega Nona, Tomie, and others, but Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato may just be our most-loved! I read it to my children, using an Irish dialect, naturally, and now have purchased a new copy to read to the grandchildren. Be sure to ask the children to whom you read it: Who outsmarted whom? Jamie, or the leprechaun?

Sent to nieces and nephews of all ages!

This is a unique tale that became an instant classic and is much requested in our home. I greatly value that Mr. dePaola's tales include the cultural backdrop of Catholicism which is ever so foundational to Europe, whether one recognizes it or not.

Gave these out to the class kids for St. Patrick's Day since they have to read every night. The kids love them.

when I read this to my first grade class they were enthralled by the humor.