Three Ways to Trap a Leprechaun

by Tara Lazar, Vivienne To (Illustrator)

Overview

Three Ways to Trap a Leprechaun, inspired by the leprechaun trap phenomenon made popular in elementary school classrooms, includes tips on how to trap your very own leprechaun—just be sure to let him go!

Maker-girl Claire is determined to catch a leprechaun to prove that these magical, mischievous, miniature marvels are real.

This picture book romp puts Claire head-to-head with her rival, Finn the Leprechaun, with hilarious results. Will this leprechaun be caught once for all, or will he give her the slip?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062841285
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/07/2020
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Tara Lazar writes quirky, humorous picture books featuring far-out places and zany characters. Her titles include 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story; The Monstore; Little Red Gliding Hood; Three Ways to Trap a Leprechaun; and many more. Tara lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters—but, sadly, no alien dog. Visit her online at www.taralazar.com.

Editorial Reviews

2019-09-24
A budding engineer proves to her younger brother that leprechauns are real.

In her "leprechaun trap laboratory," Claire sets about making a contraption that will give skeptical Sam hard evidence: a laundry basket and forked stick with "something shiny" as bait. Readers paying attention will spy a little figure in a green suit peeking through the window, so it's no surprise when the siblings find a note from Finn instead of the leprechaun himself. Claire's next, Rube Goldberg-esque trap is just as unsuccessful. But the third works: Some mirrors, invisible wire, a net, and a pot of gold coins catch Finn, but he uses his magic to escape, leaving them with a triple rainbow for a reward while taking the coins Claire somehow had on hand. Finally believing, Sam makes a list of a few other mythical beasts he'd like to try trapping. The final two pages offer readers some suggested supplies and advice for sketching and building their own traps (but no specific directions). Lazar introduces readers to some challenging vocabulary ("inescapable," "kaput," "nab," "vamoosed"), but Claire doesn't always sound like the kid she is: "Oh, zip! He tripped the trap but gave us the slip!" In To's shiny, cartoon illustrations, all three characters are white with red hair; Claire wears glasses, and the pockets of her jumper are filled with tools.

May trigger a flurry of STEM activity for the March holiday but not much beyond that. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews