6 Attempts to Friend “Dear Mr. Leprechaun”
To Maryellen: “Wishing you good luck and true friendship forever!”Martin Nelson Burton
This was the inscription that author Martin Nelson Burton wrote in November 2004, on Maryellen’s copy of Dear Mr. Leprechaun, Letters From My First Friendship.
This is a delightful, true tale based upon the author’s childhood writings to his leprechaun friend. The original letters and the responses (written by the author’s father, aka The Leprechaun) are presented in the book.
On each page, there is a leprechaun that younger children will enjoy searching for. The beautiful artwork of Clint Hansen was created with paper sculpture. The last page of the book gives a brief description of the sculpture process that children and adults will find fascinating.
Add this to your St. Patrick’s Day collection and pair it up with one of our other recommended tales from last year’s blog: A Leprechaun Lesson for St. Patrick’s Day with Story Grammar Marker.
Below is the book outlined as a Complete Episode. Modify it to meet your student’s needs. (I could not help but think that an added activity would be to have each child complete a Braidy or Story Grammar Marker Character Map on him/herself and then write and introduce themselves to Mr. Leprechaun!)
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Martin (the author of the story, age 5-11)
Home
Martin has a friend, The Leprechaun
happy, content, curious, sometimes frustrated!
To keep his friendship going with the leprechaun by writing lettersThe attempts to carry out this plan are shown in letters to the leprechaun and responses from the “leprechaun” (actually from Martin’s father, as older children will figure out).
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(Illustration indicates that Mr. L. followed this suggestion!)
(We see the response letter that Mr. L. thinks that Martin is trying to trick him!)
(Response is he is almost done arranging this and that Martin will have all the luck he needs!)
(The leprechaun indicates that he is all set!)
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Martin asks Mr. Leprechaun to draw a picture of himself; (Mr. L does writes a letter – sending a picture of himself and also, describing his life.)
Martin gradually loses touch (writes less) with Mr. L after 6 years of corresponding. He remembers how the leprechaun always made time to reply (illustration shows Martin as an adult looking at a picture of what we must infer is his father). We learn that if he catches Mr. L. they will talk about the good old days.
Feels like Mr. L. is still near him… still loves him (his father)This selection will be enjoyed by children of all ages. Younger students can imagine a leprechaun writing and older students will make a connection to Martin’s father. In a response to a review on Amazon, Martin Nelson Burton wrote:
A Note From the Author
By Martin N. Burton on October 16, 2005
I greatly appreciate the kind words of the reviews below. I do want to make it clear that in my book, I do not state that my father is the one who wrote the leprechaun's notes to me. True, some people think the leprechaun was my father. But many others - especially children - strongly believe that the leprechaun wrote to me himself. I respect both sides, and included the actual notes in the book so the reader could decide. I am satisfied the story can be fully enjoyed either way.
Above is from the Amazon link
Yes, either way, this is a beautiful account of a young child’s friendship and love! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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