Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato: An Irish Folktale Board book – Illustrated, January 22, 2009

I bought this to add to my St Patrick’s Day book collection, and it was delightful! My kids still ask me to read it months later. The story has a good moral and introduces some ambiguity at the end, which is fun to discuss with an older child (who really tricked who?). Don’t hesitate, just buy it!

Such a cute book. Wanted to get some Irish books for my two young kids for Saint Patrick Day. I don’t know if they liked them but I did! Haha

This is a wonderful Irish folktale with adorable illustrations! Makes for a wonderful gift. Shipped fast and not bent at all.

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.

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.

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?

Excellent, funny and typical Tomie dePaula humor. Great book for early-mid elementary.

Love this wonderful children’s story!! Jamie O’Rourke is a funny character and it’s a great Irish tale! Tommy DePaola never fails to entertain in all of his stories!!! Be sure to read it with an Irish brogue!!!

Beautifully told and illustrated and a great story for all ages!

I had been looking for a book like this to bring home from Ireland for my grandson. I came home and found exactly what I wanted on Amazon. A simple but amusing story, well illustrated.

I just adore this author and happy the story came in board book format.

Great story, written in a lively fashion

This is a cardboard book for toddlers...but they don't tell you that. Not suitable for older kids in primary school.