September 15, 1992
Gr. 2-4. Four third-grade students at Bailey Elementary suspect that the substitute gym teacher, Mr. O'Grady, is a leprechaun. They seek information on the subject from Howie's grandmother, whose telling is replete with "'tis," "aye," "Saints preserve us," and other staples of stage Irish. Deciding that Mr. O'Grady is there to steal a brooch worn by their teacher, Mrs. Jeepers, who happens to be a vampire, the children succeed in tricking the leprechaun, who is forced to return to Ireland, leaving the vampire free to be their teacher. No explanation is given, however, as to why a vampire would chose to teach third grade. Appealing light entertainment. ((Reviewed Sept. 15, 1992))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1992, American Library Association.)