I found this while searching for good St Paddy's Day books for storytime, and while it's way too long and convoluted for that use, I really enjoyed the story, and I liked that it was a newer book, and a more modern attempt to create a mythological-style Irish tall-tale. Also, the illustrations are fantastic!
O'Sullivan Stew
Hudson Talbott
ISBN: 0399231625
The King's men are stealing a beautiful stallion from the witch who lives on the beach, and Kate rushes into the village to get help for her, but the people demur, unwilling to face the King's wrath for a mere witch. This proves to be a mistake, as an angry and rejected witch causes misery after misery for the villagers, until Kate rallies her family to steal the horse back from the King, to give to the witch, to hopefully uncurse the village. Got it so far?
Sadly, Kate's family are terrible at horse theft, and they are summarily dragged before the King, who orders their execution, but Kate has been given the gift of blarney, and she's determined that her family will live. But will the yarns she spins out convince a skeptical King?
I have to say, that without the grand illustrations to carry the story, this wouldn't be nearly as fun and imaginative as it is. But with them, man oh man, this is a fun read. Kate is spunky and fun, the witch is justifiably angry at the stupid thoughtless villagers, and the King is increasingly incredulous at this loquacious upstart preventing him from dispensing justice. Everything of course ends well, and there is even an indication that Kate's blarney might actually be based on fact!
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