Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato

In this classic Irish folktale, renowned children’s book author and illustrator Tomie dePaola—who has celebrated his Irish heritage more than once (Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland)—tells of Jamie O’Rourke, “the laziest man in all of Ireland.” When Jamie’s wife, Eileen, asks him to go out and harvest the potatoes—the “praties”—he insists he’ll “break in two” if he even tries to climb out of bed. But then Eileen hurts her back as she digs, so Jamie has no choice but to get up. (However, he still has no intention of working; he heads for the church to confess to the priest before he starves to death.) Luck strikes as he wanders upon a leprechaun, but lazy Jamie appears to be duped by the leprechaun when he lets him go in exchange for a magic seed. Time will prove it was a good trade, however, as the seed grows a potato so big Jamie shares it with the town folk, who, when they’ve eaten more pratie than they can stand, offer to provide Jamie food for life if he just won’t plant another pratie seed. And being paid to not work is something Jamie can handle: “What a perfect life for a lazy man.” dePaola illustrates his classic tale in his signature folk style with plain, rounded characters and soft colors. A moral tale of the value of a strong work ethic it certainly is not—though Jamie’s laziness is hyperbolized to a laughable level—but as an enduring folktale it connects with the human instinct that drives gold rushes and seems to be for some at least part of the fun of St. Patrick’s Day festivities—the hope of striking it rich with a pot of gold, or in Jamie’s case, one big potato.