Shawn O'Hisser, the Last Snake in Ireland

by Peter J. Welling

"Great for St. Patrick's Day read-alouds in class or at home."
--Copley News Service

"Tongue-in-cheek humor will be enjoyed by children as well as the cartoon-like illustrations."
--Children's Literature

"A delightful book."
--Rainbo Electronic Reviews

In this fast-paced new twist on an old tale, whimsical snake Shawn O'Hisser returns to his native Ireland from a visit to England and Wales to find that all of his snake friends have vanished, as has all the leprechauns' gold.

Shawn works to solve the mystery, using his wits to avoid being eaten by other inhabitants of the Emerald Isle. Things look pretty hopeless until Shawn is befriended by Edmund, the natterjack toad, and Kathleen, the orange mouse. Together, they set out to right a wrong, but will they solve the mystery in time? Will they find the leprechauns' gold, or did Dobherchu the Giant Otter take it? What did the monk named Patrick have to do with all those snakes disappearing? Laugh your way along the trail of the disappearing snakes to find the answers to these and other mysteries.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1589800141
• ISBN13: 9781589800144
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 9.3" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 3 years and up
• Grade Range: Preschool and higher

Customer Reviews

Don't expect the usual St. Patrick story

The illustrations are adorable--I'm not a big fan of snakes, but I have to admit Shawn really is cute. However, if you need a book to explain the traditional story of St. Patrick ridding Ireland of snakes, this is not the book for you. The story, while entertaining, is more of a "fractured fairy tale," with St. Patrick in a very minor role.

An enchanting children's book

Rarely do we see a writer so gifted as the amazingly talented Mr. Welling. Not only does he spin a good tale but he also illustrates his own books. That's almost unheard of in any time period.Shawn O'Hisser is the story about the last snake in Ireland. Upon returning to Ireland from a visit abroad, Shawn finds that all the snakes in Ireland have disappeared (except himself), and all the leprechaun's gold. He embarks upon a whimsical journey that leads him all over Ireland, where he encounters many potential pitfalls but escapes from those predicaments with the help of his two new friends, Edmund the toad and Kathleen the mouse. The written tale is cute and the illustrations tell the exact same tale. For very young children and those just learning to read, it is especially helpful to have two storytelling aides: text and pictures. This is a joyous adventure for both parent and child, and I highly recommend the book! (A glossary and pronunciation of Irish terms used throughout the book is included at the very end as an added bonus.)