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Paddy's Pot of Gold
Brigid enjoys making friends with Paddy the leprechaun and wonders if he has a pot of gold
114 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 1990
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About the author
Dick King-Smith
329 books309 followersDick King-Smith was born and raised in Gloucestershire, England, surrounded by pet animals. After twenty years as a farmer, he turned to teaching and then to writing children's books.
Dick writes mostly about animals: farmyard fantasy, as he likes to call it, often about pigs, his special favorites. He enjoys writing for children, meeting the children who read his books, and knowing that they get enjoyment from what he does.
Among his well-loved books is Babe, The Gallant Pig, which was recently made into a major motion picture, and was nominated for an Academy Award.
Dick lived with his wife in a small 17th-century cottage, about three miles from the house where he was born.
Dick writes mostly about animals: farmyard fantasy, as he likes to call it, often about pigs, his special favorites. He enjoys writing for children, meeting the children who read his books, and knowing that they get enjoyment from what he does.
Among his well-loved books is Babe, The Gallant Pig, which was recently made into a major motion picture, and was nominated for an Academy Award.
Dick lived with his wife in a small 17th-century cottage, about three miles from the house where he was born.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 19, 2019
Oh, to be young and read Dick King-Smith! I can attest to the pleasure it is. His sentiments are warm and wise, his kid characters sweet and sincere, his stories tinged with just the right amount of sadness. Paddy's Pot of Gold is a lighthearted yet meaningful romp in Ireland of the late twentieth century, an Ireland whose people no longer believe in magic. Brigid is a lucky girl on the morning of her eighth birthday. She rises at first light and goes outside to feed a carrot to Snowy, her white rabbit, in his hutch. On the way, Brigid spots a tiny green man with wild orange hair, a leprechaun just as in legends of yore. Patrick Victorious Wellington Right-Handed O'Reilly introduces himself and wishes Brigid a happy birthday; it takes a highly specific sequence of events to go exactly right for leprechauns to be visible to a human, and by pure chance Brigid has hit on that combination today. She can now see and converse with P.V.W.R.H. (Paddy) O'Reilly for as long as he lives, and leprechauns live a long time.
Mother and Dada wouldn't believe Brigid met a leprechaun, so she refrains from mentioning the encounter. But she asks them a few questions to refresh her knowledge of the little green imps. They're mean, says Dada: wealthy creatures that each have a pot of gold buried somewhere, but won't share a single coin. That image of Paddy conflicts with his cheerfulness toward Brigid earlier, though when they meet again and she asks for a loan, he comes up with a plausible excuse not to help. No matter, Paddy is a delight in every other way. He can talk to the animals on Brigid's family farm, who all see leprechauns. Paddy relays information to Brigid from the animals when they're sick or afraid, and Dada is surprised by her sudden golden touch with the livestock. This saves the lives of numerous animals that would have died by the teeth of prowling carnivores.
Paddy ventures from his underground home to greet Brigid whenever she bangs a nearby elder tree with a stick. He's a bit of a grump when stirred from slumber, especially if he overindulged in whisky the previous night, but his good humor balances shortly. Paddy is one hundred seventy-four years old, elderly for a leprechaun, so he's entitled to brief bouts of crankiness; however, in the back of Brigid's mind, Paddy's age worries her. How long does he have left? Not even a magical little man of Irish lore lives eternally.
Brigid adores Paddy, who always makes time for her. After she says she's never seen a badger, Paddy asks the family of them he lives with to go outside and let Brigid see them frolic, and it's a wondrous show. Brigid wants to purchase Paddy a Christmas gift to show her affection, but all he wants is liquor, and Brigid can't buy that. Or can she? A determined girl might just get Paddy his desired present. He's pleased by the whisky but offers no gift in return, not that Brigid expected him to. Her family could use money to supply their farm with new animals and equipment, but a leprechaun never parts with his gold. Brigid enjoys their friendship, but nothing lasts forever. Goodbye will come, though Brigid might have known that Paddy wouldn't leave her without a token of thanks for her fond companionship, extended without expectation of receiving anything in return. P.V.W.R.H. O'Reilly's legacy will go on in Brigid's memories of a funny green imp with a flair for enjoying himself and a heart to take care of all gentle animals in his vicinity. He'll also take care of Brigid when the time arrives.
Dick King-Smith's writing isn't electric, but his books wend their way into one's heart. We learn to love the characters through their adventures, which are by turns silly, risky, and lightly dramatic. These episodes within the larger story reveal who the characters truly are so we can love them with no illusions. It sets up the poignancy of the ending, the sadness of losing something special but not without consolation, offered in ways that fill us with warmth and hope. This is the charm of Paddy's Pot of Gold, laughter mingled with tears. I'd rate the book two and a half stars and round up to three, and part of me wants to grant the full three; it is a fine novel by an author whose work I have loved over the years, a man as treasured in America as in his native England. Paddy's Pot of Gold and Dick King-Smith are both the real deal.
Mother and Dada wouldn't believe Brigid met a leprechaun, so she refrains from mentioning the encounter. But she asks them a few questions to refresh her knowledge of the little green imps. They're mean, says Dada: wealthy creatures that each have a pot of gold buried somewhere, but won't share a single coin. That image of Paddy conflicts with his cheerfulness toward Brigid earlier, though when they meet again and she asks for a loan, he comes up with a plausible excuse not to help. No matter, Paddy is a delight in every other way. He can talk to the animals on Brigid's family farm, who all see leprechauns. Paddy relays information to Brigid from the animals when they're sick or afraid, and Dada is surprised by her sudden golden touch with the livestock. This saves the lives of numerous animals that would have died by the teeth of prowling carnivores.
Paddy ventures from his underground home to greet Brigid whenever she bangs a nearby elder tree with a stick. He's a bit of a grump when stirred from slumber, especially if he overindulged in whisky the previous night, but his good humor balances shortly. Paddy is one hundred seventy-four years old, elderly for a leprechaun, so he's entitled to brief bouts of crankiness; however, in the back of Brigid's mind, Paddy's age worries her. How long does he have left? Not even a magical little man of Irish lore lives eternally.
Brigid adores Paddy, who always makes time for her. After she says she's never seen a badger, Paddy asks the family of them he lives with to go outside and let Brigid see them frolic, and it's a wondrous show. Brigid wants to purchase Paddy a Christmas gift to show her affection, but all he wants is liquor, and Brigid can't buy that. Or can she? A determined girl might just get Paddy his desired present. He's pleased by the whisky but offers no gift in return, not that Brigid expected him to. Her family could use money to supply their farm with new animals and equipment, but a leprechaun never parts with his gold. Brigid enjoys their friendship, but nothing lasts forever. Goodbye will come, though Brigid might have known that Paddy wouldn't leave her without a token of thanks for her fond companionship, extended without expectation of receiving anything in return. P.V.W.R.H. O'Reilly's legacy will go on in Brigid's memories of a funny green imp with a flair for enjoying himself and a heart to take care of all gentle animals in his vicinity. He'll also take care of Brigid when the time arrives.
Dick King-Smith's writing isn't electric, but his books wend their way into one's heart. We learn to love the characters through their adventures, which are by turns silly, risky, and lightly dramatic. These episodes within the larger story reveal who the characters truly are so we can love them with no illusions. It sets up the poignancy of the ending, the sadness of losing something special but not without consolation, offered in ways that fill us with warmth and hope. This is the charm of Paddy's Pot of Gold, laughter mingled with tears. I'd rate the book two and a half stars and round up to three, and part of me wants to grant the full three; it is a fine novel by an author whose work I have loved over the years, a man as treasured in America as in his native England. Paddy's Pot of Gold and Dick King-Smith are both the real deal.
March 18, 2019
This is a delightfully charming book! It would be a great read-aloud bedtime story for children 👍🏻
May 2, 2017
A good read for St. Patrick's Day!
March 6, 2023
I remember my second grade teacher reading this to my class and I loved it then. My friends would even play Paddy's pot of gold at recess. Ha. So I decided to read it with my daughter. We chose the audiobook which was awesome. It was magical! Perfect for March! Yes, there's definitely a funny emphasis on whiskey and a smoking pipe for a children's book, but...it felt in character for a leprechaun. 😂 I thought it was a sweet magical story and I was surprised at the lack of traction it actually has. My daughter liked it as well! My high stars may be fueled by nostalgia, hard to say.
October 25, 2020
I spotted a copy of this on ebay and had to buy it as it was my favourite book as a child! I read it again recently and for a couple of hours I was back to being a kid reading about Ireland and Leprechaun's and pots of gold. It is such a simple story and I will make sure I read it to my Niece when she gets older. Sometimes you need to go back to really simple, harmless things and this book gives that escape!
April 11, 2020
Charming. Set on a farm so there is a bit with a shotgun and a fox. Also the Leprechaun enjoys his whisky. But if as a parent you don't mind those two things it's a charming tale. I read it to my 5 year old this March and he was fixated. I think it will become our new St Paddy's Day tradition!
October 16, 2021
I thought it was cute, but there was many mentions of wine and drinking that would make me hesitate to give it to a younger person.
June 14, 2025
It was wonderful to read this aloud with my kids around St. Patrick's day. Good memories.
May 15, 2023
J'ai attendu que mon fils aîné ait l'âge requis pour lire ce grand classique anglophone et je dois dire que je ne regrette absolument pas.
Emprunt de magie grâce à O'Reilly le leprechaun, ce roman mêle amitié, tendresse, découverte de la nature et amène un sens philosophique à la vie.
Un grand classique à découvrir !!
Emprunt de magie grâce à O'Reilly le leprechaun, ce roman mêle amitié, tendresse, découverte de la nature et amène un sens philosophique à la vie.
Un grand classique à découvrir !!
February 22, 2016
Slows down a bit towards the end, but wonderful before Paddy starts hibernating.
November 13, 2013
This was my favourite book as a kid. This needs to come back in print
June 29, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. The 5th grade teacher read it to us because we had been asking for her to read it love this 📖
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews