Finn McCool and the Great Fish

Bunting, E. (2010). Finn McCool and the great fish (Z. Pullen, illus.). Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear.

Genre: Folktale
Format: Picture Storybook
Age Recommendation: 4-12 years

Hailing from Irish folklore, Eve Bunting's Finn McCool and the Great Fish is a delightful read. Finn McCool is a gentle giant, whose constant good deeds, kind heart, and protection of the townspeople of Drumnahoon has made him loved by all. There's only one problem, though: he isn't very smart. Sometimes the townspeople whispered, although kindly, that "He's a bit of a turnip head....He doesn't know much. But he's a great big man for all that." One day Finn heard the whisper and set out in search of an old man in a nearby town who was said to know the source of great wisdom. Never before had the old man imparted this knowledge to anyone, despite the constant pleas and gifts bestowed upon him, but come to find out he didn't do so because he was waiting for Finn all this time. The old man tells Finn, "In the River Boyne there lives a fish, a great salmon, the red of the sky at sunset. In him is the wisdom of the world. Catch him, cook him, and eat him, and that wisdom will be yours." Finn sets out to do this great task, and gets as far as catching the fish when he can't bear to kill the poor thing. However, because the hook cuts both the fish's mouth and Finn's thumb, their blood gets mixed and the gentle giant magically receives the wisdom he desires. From that moment on, Finn was known for his wisdom as well as his size, and he always had the townspeople pondering why he always sucks his pink thumb when he's thinking.

As if the storyline weren't wonderful enough, the illustrations were absolutely stunning. The acryllic artwork perfectly captured every kind expression, every wrinkle on his brow, every tiny hair on his head. No combination of author and illustration could have better captured Irish culture and tradition the way Bunting and Pullen did. I would recommend this book for children ages 4-12. No matter how young or old they are, children will be drawn by the detail in the illustrations, and the story will warm their heart. This is a must read and I highly recommend it to librarians, teachers, and parents, especially for a storytelling time.

She Is Too Fond of Books. (2010, February 20). Children's Book Review: *Finn McCool and the Great Fish* by Eve Bunting. Retrieved from http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2010/02/20/childrens-book-review-finn-mccool-and-the-great-fish-by-eve-bunting/.

This review had nothing but positive things to say about the book. She was especially fond of the illustrations, saying "Zachary Pullen’s illustrations are gorgeous – detailed acrylics that carry the landscape of Ireland, the strokes of thatch on a roof, and perhaps most telling, the expressions on Finn McCool’s face." In addition, she points out that it's enjoyable for all ages, saying "Bunting retells the legend in a way that a 5-year-old will sit for it, and a 12-year-old will read it on his own." I couldn't help but agree with everything said in this review, and I liked the fact that she included publishing information as well as the books own description along with her review.