Magical Celtic Tales

Gr 3–5—This humorous collection is rife with moral platitudes, brave acts, and witty Celts outsmarting magical folk trying to get the better of them. In these nine short stories, inspired by tales from Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Brittany, Cornwall, and Wales, the clever are rewarded when their common sense prevails, and the bad receive their comeuppance when their greed-fueled schemes backfire. Each selection reads independently; the text is simple and clear, the characters are well imagined, and information on Celtic phrases, foods, and songs is sprinkled throughout with a light hand. Endnotes acknowledge the origin of each story and provide further detail on cultural traditions. Most of the entries are cheerful in tone and beg to be read aloud. The love story of "Diarmuid and Gráinne" and "The Seal Catcher's Story" veer into darker territory (both include violent hunting scenes), but even in these tales the nastier bits are glossed over and much is left to the imagination. Unfortunately, the muted pen and watercolor illustrations that accompany each story lack the whimsy, consistent rhythm, and fantastical quality of the text. Some watercolor pieces have been completed with great care, such as the complex full-page illustration that opens "Connor the Brave," and others, including the smaller panels in "The Red Dragon" and "The Magic Pail," appear unfinished and hastily completed by comparison. Characters' faces are repeatedly recycled, and in many cases opportunities to bring to life dynamic scenes are eschewed in favor of subdued paintings of characters in conversation or post-conflict.