I have it on good authority that the leprechaun is something of a sore spot for many Irish people, who view its over-exploitation - both by their own tourist industry and by Irish-America - with significant chagrin. Despite that fact, this collection of ten tales, all featuring those pint-sized, green-clad fairy shoemakers, was published in Ireland, by Cork-based Mercier Press. Here the reader will discover:

The End of the Rainbow, in which a young hunchback named Liam manages to find a treasure for his king, and win the heart of the beautiful Princess Eileen.

A Little Bit of Luck, in which a warm-hearted old couple are rewarded for their kindness and modest desires by a leprechaun.

The Call of the Waves, in which a farmer named Malachi must find a way to rescue his wife Nora, whose beautiful singing causes her to be kidnapped by Manannan Mac Lir, Lord of the Sea.

Princess Máire, the Leprechaun and the Giant, in which a young princess's friendship with the fairies leads to a duel between Larry, their leprechaun shoemaker, and the giant terrorizing her father's kingdom.

Conor McHugh and the Leprechaun, in which a farmer thinks his fortune is made when he happens upon a leprechaun, only to be outwitted when the leprechaun disguises his fortune with a field of ribbons.

The Magic Shilling, in which a lazy man named Peter O'Dea finds himself tricked by a wily leprechaun, and sentenced to two months of unpaid labor as a consequence.

Tim the Tailor, in which a humble tailor demonstrates his wisdom, when he wishes to always have a good dinner, rather than to possess great riches.

The Greedy Landlord, in which a poor farmer named Seamus is twice given help by the local leprechaun, who pities all the oppressed tenant-farmers of the area.

The Leprechaun and the Storyteller, in which Kieran O'Kelly, a great wandering storyteller, is given the gift of magical boots.

And finally, Foolish Brothers, in which two very dim brothers waste the three wishes given to them under duress by a leprechaun.

The Keeper of the Crock of Gold is an engaging read, and I recognized a few of the tales from other collections. Although leprechauns are featured in each of the ten tales found here, there is nothing twee about them, no gratuitous cuteness. The colorful illustrations by Oldřich Jelen sometimes seem a little cartoonish, but will undoubtedly keep young readers' attention. All in all, an excellent collection for any reader looking for leprechaun folklore. ( )