Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka

Reach for this book when you are locked in a battle of wills over a messy bedroom or if your child is convinced that someone else will eventually do their chores for them. It is a humorous and gentle way to address the consequences of laziness without being overly preachy, using a classic Irish folklore setting to drive the point home. The story follows the notoriously lazy Jamie O'Rourke, whose house is a mess after his wife leaves to visit a sister. When a magical, hairy creature called a Pooka arrives to clean everything for him, Jamie thinks he has it made. However, his attempt to reward the creature backfires in a way that forces Jamie to finally take responsibility for his own space. It is a perfect choice for parents looking to model the value of hard work and the pride found in personal accomplishment, wrapped in Tomie dePaola's signature warm illustrations.