The skies over the Irish countryside are clouding up: A rainbow is on the way. Leprechauns Ari, Boo and Col have a job to do. Despite the fact that no one ever finds their pot of gold, they must hide it at the end of the rainbow when it appears, because that’s what leprechauns do. As they scurry down the country road, Ari, Boo and Col try to resist the temptation to do mischief (something everyone knows leprechauns do too). They just can’t pass Mrs. Ballybunion’s cow without painting her hooves red. They can’t pass a stray tennis ball that, if found under a chicken, would confound Miss Maude Murphy. They complete their appointed task, and make it back in time to have a laugh at Miss Murphy’s expense. This nice, if unnecessary, addition to St. Patrick’s Day literature is a good introduction to the holiday’s wee fairy symbols. Caldecott-winner McCully’s sprightly watercolors bring prolific Bunting’s cut-and-dried story to life. (Picture book. 4-9)
