Three Ways to Trap a Leprechaun

Claire is an appropriately red-headed young girl determined to catch a leprechaun, and she’s crafty and creative enough that she just might pull it off. Her brother, Sam, doesn’t believe in leprechauns—“Leprechauns? Baloney!”—but she still enlists his help, and together they retreat to her “Leprechaun Trap Laboratory” where they begin scheming leprechaun traps. Even though Claire’s first two attempts end unsuccessfully, and Leprechaun Finn lets her know her attempts are futile, “Try and try, but / I’ll be gone. / You can’t catch me— / I’m a leprechaun,” she hits on an ingenious idea to confuse the boastful little man. Readers will admire Claire’s optimism and positive reaction to failure—rather than feel discouraged or defeated by her first two attempts when she is outwitted by Finn, she learns from the experience, discovering what she needs to try differently next time. Even the title Three Ways to Catch a Leprechaun calls to mind Thomas Edison’s (apocryphal) quote stating that he hadn’t failed but instead found thousands of ways that wouldn’t work. Claire’s Rube Goldberg machine is a fun inclusion and sure to delight young engineering minds learning about causes, effects, and processes. To’s illustrations are bright and playful, and readers will enjoy searching them for Finn throughout the pages, as well as a surprise visitor peeking in at Claire and Sam on the last page. This is a worthwhile addition to St. Patrick’s Day and leprechaun-related children’s literature.