Author & Illustrator: Amber T. Kingston
ISBN: 978-0-9795933-0-7
Laura and the Leprechauns is Amber T.Kingston's first effort as writer and illustrator as she borrows a page from Irish mythology and folklore.
It is a tale of two leprechauns, Maddy and Be-bub, who receive a letter from a little girl, Laura, asking them to visit her. Although Laura's friends don't believe in Leprechauns, she believes they do in fact exist and she often tries to find them whenever a rainbow crosses the sky. Laura assures the Leprechauns that she will not steal their pot of gold. If you know a little about Leprechauns, it is a popular belief that they are extremely wealthy and like hiding their gold in secret locations.
As Leprechauns hardly ever receive letters from humans, Maddy and Be-bub decide to take up Laura's offer to travel from their home in Shrilannon to visit her in a small Bavarian town where she lived. Hopping onto their magic four-leave clover, they were determined to reach Laura before St. Patrick's Day.
After a long and tiring trip, the leprechauns arrive safely in Laura's garden and notice her bedroom window covered with a child's drawings of shamrocks and hearts. With their knowledge about magic, the two Leprechauns build a small house of twigs where they decide to arrange a surprise treasure hunt for Laura. In order to carry out their plan, several clever clues are transcribed on tiny bits of paper and piled on pebbles. They then hurled the pebbles at Laura's bedroom window however without little success because the room was too high for the pebbles to reach their destination. To resolve their predicament, Be-bub climbs up the vines and rose- bushes and eventually succeeds in throwing the pebbles at Laura's window.
Laura wakes up to the sound of tiny taps against her window and she discovers on her balcony a tiny note containing drawings of two ladybugs with the following message: "These ladybugs are wee as we. Place them by your ears to see what they be." The ladybugs turned into two ladybug earrings and Laura knew that only a leprechaun could perform such a magical feat. Subsequently, Laura discovers other clues and realizes that the Leprechauns were visiting her. She eventually meets up with them on St. Patrick's Day where all three enjoy a wonderful tea party with tiny china plates and cups. "They drank clover tea-a speciality from Shrilannon-and ate mouth-watering raspberry tarts." And as Laura says: "it's the best St. Patrick's Day ever." The Leprechauns are sorry to leave Laura, however, they must return to Shrilannon and they promise Laura that they will someday return.
Kingston has wisely stayed away from verse and effectively related her tale in articulate and simple prose that will unquestionably captivate not only early elementary audiences but also their parents.
Her illustrations are just as endearing as her story. Laura is a pretty blond girl, albeit sometimes drawn in too much detail, as in the front cover. It would have been preferable if the pencil markings were subtler. Nonetheless, the Leprechauns are colourful, drawn in a very simple and nave way and the expressive and innocent faces portrayed in Kingston's energetic illustrations are right in synch with the story. At times they are so full of energy that they almost float off the pages.
Moreover, there is a great deal of intimacy with the vibrant close-ups of Laura and her Leprechaun friends making it easy for the reader to engage emotionally with the characters.
Where Kingston really shines is in her computer-enhanced renditions of photographs. The night scene with the moon sleeping, the city lights twinkling, the shimmer on the river and the collaged glittering shamrocks are precious. As well, the sun peeking out of the horizon shining on a bucolic scene is one example of her sense of humor.
Let Laura and the Leprechauns visit your wee ones on St. Patty's day and even on other days. They will adore them!
The above review was contributed by: The Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com,
Norm Goldman, B.A. LL.L, Retired Title Attorney: Norm is also a travel writer and together with his artist wife, Lily, the couple meld Norm's words with Lily's art. To check out their travel site click on
Sketchandtravel.com Click here to view Norm's Reviews & Interviews.
