Product Description

Someone has stolen the witch of Crookhaven's horse, and there will be no peace in the village until it is returned. So bold, brassy Kate O'Sullivan takes matters into her own hands. But instead of saving the day, she manages to land herself-and her family-in trouble with the king. So Kate sets out to save their hides the only way she knows how-with a good story. Filled with imagination, wit, and a healthy helping of good old-fashioned Irish blarney, this is a hilarious tale that will keep readers coming back for more.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #429007 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

From Publishers Weekly
A feisty Irish girl sets out to save her village from starvation. "Visually and verbally inventive in its details and its broader storytelling, this one is a shiny shamrock," said PW. Ages 4-8. (Jan.)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-5-Feisty Kate O'Sullivan may daydream some of the time, but she knows when action is needed. When tax collectors visit her Irish village and steal the witch's red stallion, the girl tries to enlist the help of the townsfolk, who shrug their shoulders and declare that their neighbor isn't one of them. The witch goes "into a snit," all sorts of disasters occur, and food becomes scarce. Kate prods her father and brothers into action and they set off to steal the stallion back. Caught by the king and threatened with hanging, Kate saves each family member by telling a clever story. The horse is returned, and the O'Sullivans are set free, whereupon they go home to celebrate. When the king arrives at Kate's doorstep to declare his love, she says that she might marry him in five years, after she has some of her own adventures. Kate is a lively, take-charge heroine and Talbott's colorful illustrations capture her spirit perfectly, whether her hair is standing on end as she sneezes a mighty "AAAA CHOOO" or her eyes mirror innocent pleasure as she turns down the king's proposal. This is not a simple tale, but the pictures and text work so well together that the events move along with ease. Full of broad and subtle humor, the story will be a read-aloud favorite, but it also has much to offer children who like to pore over detailed illustrations and daydream about other worlds.
Barbara Scotto, Michael Driscoll School, Brookline, MA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
Clever Kate O'Sullivan cooks up a feast of family stories to save her and her kins' lives. When the king's men snatch away a beloved horse from an outcast witch, and the Crookhaven community fails to take action, brave Kate, her father, and two brothers come to the rescue; they are caught trying to steal the horse back, and sentenced to hang. Kate knows their only chance of survival is for her to unleash her secret weapon of storytelling. She spins her enchanting--and hilarious--yarns of giants, monsters, leprechauns, and a pack of tone-deaf cats, and one by one, the king lets each O'Sullivan off the hook. Kate's sense of fairness, the refreshing, feminist ending, and the offbeat humor give the old-fashioned tales a grandly modern flair. Talbott's illustrations are just as fanciful and fun; story and pictures are bound to charm an audience just as they captivate the king. (Picture book. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

By Crikey, it's Ummm Mmmm good!
I bought this book for my nephew but decided to wait to give it to him for several reasons. The main one being that I absolutely LOVE the book myself! LOL! However, while the story is good and I know he'll enjoy it, he's still a bit young (not even 2); it seems more appropiate for 4 years old or older.

In the story, Young Kate uses her wits to save her family and her village with an ending I never saw coming -- not your typical 'Fairy Tale Ending' but an excellent one nonetheless especially for our modern times. I fell in love with the illustration's ton of detail that kept me looking at each page long after the reading was over.

My one complaint is that, while the book itself is good sized so you can see the pictures, the paperback edition seems a bit flimsy. If this story is to be loved (and thus read) as much as I think it will then I may have to order another copy or two to last through the years. Perhaps the school binding edition is more sturdy?

Both girls and boys will enjoy this story and I think you grown ups will, too.

An all-around fantastic book!
"O'Sullivan Stew" is a rollicking book with a truly heroic female protagonist. The pictures are both lovely and funny--if you pay special attention to facial expressions I guarantee you'll be laughing out loud. Kate, the heroine, spins yarns with a skill beyond her years, painting pictures with her inventive tales. Her speech is like music--you can practically hear her brogue while you're reading. And if her storytelling doesn't convince you that she's painting pictures with her words, then the illustrations will. They vary from dreamy pastels to muted and murky to bold and bright depending on the nature of the tale she's telling. And when she stops, the world turns black and white.

Not only does this book contain excellent illustrations, a strong, believable heroine, and a captivating story line, but there are several surprises and an unexpected ending. I hope you'll read it... it would be a shame to miss out on such a marvelously fun book!

O'Sullivan Stew
The children in my school love this book. One of my little boys asked, a couple of weeks ago, if it was St. Patrick's day yet,and could I begin reading O'Sullivan Stew! The pictures are quite detailed, and the adventure story is a good one. I am a school librarian and I highly recommend this title for storytime., or for a study of Irish folktales. Another excellent title is the new The Last Snake in Ireland .