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The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids Holiday Specials #4
Leprechauns Don't Play Fetch
A clever new Holiday adventure in the best-selling series about the Bailey School Kids-complete with an extensive puzzle and activity section.
There are some pretty weird grown-ups in Bailey City, but is the owner of the new pet store really a Leprechaun? And is he using the Blarney Stone to take over the town? The Bailey School Kids are going to find out!
There are some pretty weird grown-ups in Bailey City, but is the owner of the new pet store really a Leprechaun? And is he using the Blarney Stone to take over the town? The Bailey School Kids are going to find out!
96 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2003
About the author
Marcia Thornton Jones
204 books70 followersMarcia Thornton Jones has published 131 books for children with sales totaling more than 43 million copies world-wide. Her works include CHAMP (mid-grade novel), RATFINK (mid-grade novel), GODZILLA ATE MY HOMEWORK (chapter book), THE TALE OF JACK FROST (picture book) and LEPRECHAUN ON THE LOOSE (picture book). She is the co-author of seven popular series including The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids, Keyholders, Ghostville Elementary, The Bailey School Kids Jr. Chapter Books, Triplet Trouble, Bailey City Monsters, and The Barkley School for Dogs.
Marcia has been listed as a top 100 author by the Educational Paperback Association and selected for the Children’s Top 100 Books list by the National Education Association, International Reading Associations Children’s Choice Award. Marcia's books have received many honors and have appeared on on the Publisher's Weekly Bestsellers lists,
Marcia, a full time writer living in Lexington, Kentucky enjoys presenting at schools and conferences. As a veteran teacher with more than 20 years of experience, she easily relates the importance of writing to students of all ages.
Marcia has been listed as a top 100 author by the Educational Paperback Association and selected for the Children’s Top 100 Books list by the National Education Association, International Reading Associations Children’s Choice Award. Marcia's books have received many honors and have appeared on on the Publisher's Weekly Bestsellers lists,
Marcia, a full time writer living in Lexington, Kentucky enjoys presenting at schools and conferences. As a veteran teacher with more than 20 years of experience, she easily relates the importance of writing to students of all ages.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 23, 2023
It starts off with Eddie’s aunt giving the kids some money to go to the candy store. But they spotted a new pet store and Eddie wanted to get Diamond a bone. Mr. McDawgle, the owner, had a clear aversion to dogs and backed away from Diamond. He got him a bone but threw it instead of giving it to him and had him wait outside. He weirdly didn’t keep dogs or snakes in his shop.
He then talked the kids into buying all kinds of things they didn’t need, for pets they didn’t even have. He sang a rhyme about buying what he says and they came away with all kinds of things and didn’t even know how it happened.
On the way back they ran into Mrs. Jeepers and we go back through the rigamarole of her being a vampire with her brooch that she runs to entrance kids into doing what they want. I’m so tired of her appearing in others’ books. She had her book. She’s a vampire with powers. We get it. When they told her Mr. McDawgle talked them into buying all this stuff, she said it sounded like he was full of blarney. She told them about the legend in Ireland where if anyone kissed the Blarney Stone they would be able to talk anyone into anything. She asked them to describe him and stopped smiling when they did, rubbed her brooch, and said she must visit him, like she knew him or something. But it went unexplained.
It was a funny moment when Eddie’s aunt offered him tea, because she wasn’t going to give them more money to get candy, and he smiled and said thank you, that would be very nice. And then he poured it out in the bushes!
They went to get their $ back at the pet store and found business hopping. One kid liked a kitten but said his parents thought he was too young for one, so Mr. McDawgle sang a rhyme and the kid bought it. The kids said they didn’t want their things and instead of refunding, he exchanged them for more useless items.
They saw Mr. McDawgle walking 5 dogs but he had gloves on. He played fetch with them but didn’t let them get close to him. Howie claimed that he was a leprechaun. Melody said leprechauns definitely don’t play fetch. I didn’t like that it didn’t match the title exactly and she should have just said leprechauns don’t play fetch.
Howie insisted because Mr. McDawgle uses limericks and he doesn’t look anyone in the eye. Melody knew that you gain control over a leprechaun by looking in their eyes.
They saw Mrs. Jeepers confront Mr. McDawgle and he took a piece of stone out of his pouch and let her kiss it. Howie yelled that they were in big trouble, as these kids do a lot of yelling, and the adults heard them. Diamond ran over and snatched the stone. It was funny how Eddie yelled for them to run for their lives.
The kids asked Howie’s grandma how you got rid of the blarney. She said the only cure was the kiss of a beast. Liza had the idea to dump treats on Mr. McDawgle so Diamond would like him, and it worked. He screamed no, and when the kids asked to return the items he let them this time.
They had to take care of Mrs. Jeepers too. Eddie gave her a piece of linty cookie from his pocket. She said they’d finish their math books this week and the kids started going along with it. Liza told Eddie to kiss her hand because he’s a beast, and when they asked if they really had to finish their math work she said of course not, it would be too much. So the curse was broken on both.
It was interesting how the legend of the Blarney Stone was tackled because you don’t come across that a lot. I wish the leprechaun aspect had been more utilized because there was hardly anything. It was just ok but not interesting and I’m tired of Mrs. Jeepers being in everything.
He then talked the kids into buying all kinds of things they didn’t need, for pets they didn’t even have. He sang a rhyme about buying what he says and they came away with all kinds of things and didn’t even know how it happened.
On the way back they ran into Mrs. Jeepers and we go back through the rigamarole of her being a vampire with her brooch that she runs to entrance kids into doing what they want. I’m so tired of her appearing in others’ books. She had her book. She’s a vampire with powers. We get it. When they told her Mr. McDawgle talked them into buying all this stuff, she said it sounded like he was full of blarney. She told them about the legend in Ireland where if anyone kissed the Blarney Stone they would be able to talk anyone into anything. She asked them to describe him and stopped smiling when they did, rubbed her brooch, and said she must visit him, like she knew him or something. But it went unexplained.
It was a funny moment when Eddie’s aunt offered him tea, because she wasn’t going to give them more money to get candy, and he smiled and said thank you, that would be very nice. And then he poured it out in the bushes!
They went to get their $ back at the pet store and found business hopping. One kid liked a kitten but said his parents thought he was too young for one, so Mr. McDawgle sang a rhyme and the kid bought it. The kids said they didn’t want their things and instead of refunding, he exchanged them for more useless items.
They saw Mr. McDawgle walking 5 dogs but he had gloves on. He played fetch with them but didn’t let them get close to him. Howie claimed that he was a leprechaun. Melody said leprechauns definitely don’t play fetch. I didn’t like that it didn’t match the title exactly and she should have just said leprechauns don’t play fetch.
Howie insisted because Mr. McDawgle uses limericks and he doesn’t look anyone in the eye. Melody knew that you gain control over a leprechaun by looking in their eyes.
They saw Mrs. Jeepers confront Mr. McDawgle and he took a piece of stone out of his pouch and let her kiss it. Howie yelled that they were in big trouble, as these kids do a lot of yelling, and the adults heard them. Diamond ran over and snatched the stone. It was funny how Eddie yelled for them to run for their lives.
The kids asked Howie’s grandma how you got rid of the blarney. She said the only cure was the kiss of a beast. Liza had the idea to dump treats on Mr. McDawgle so Diamond would like him, and it worked. He screamed no, and when the kids asked to return the items he let them this time.
They had to take care of Mrs. Jeepers too. Eddie gave her a piece of linty cookie from his pocket. She said they’d finish their math books this week and the kids started going along with it. Liza told Eddie to kiss her hand because he’s a beast, and when they asked if they really had to finish their math work she said of course not, it would be too much. So the curse was broken on both.
It was interesting how the legend of the Blarney Stone was tackled because you don’t come across that a lot. I wish the leprechaun aspect had been more utilized because there was hardly anything. It was just ok but not interesting and I’m tired of Mrs. Jeepers being in everything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2023
Read this on St. Patrick’s Day. Pretty fitting, but I didn’t expect much from it, having been disappointed by the last couple reads in this series, and the randomness of the title.
Leprechauns use limericks.
You can gain control of a leprechaun by looking into their eyes.
They’re tricksters and shy.
It was confusing having Howie’s grandmother and Eddie’s aunt in here, keeping them straight. I would get them mixed up. Did they know each other? Were they friends?
Eddie’s aunt gives them candy to go to the candy store but when they check out the pet shop the owner talks them into buying all this stuff for pets they don’t have and don’t need.
When they go back to get their money back, he talks them into buying more stuff. But how did they have money to buy more things?
I thought the gift of blarney was just the gift of gab, being able to talk people into stuff, not that it made people do whatever you say!
The kiss of a beast undoes the gift of blarney. I’ve never heard that…Maybe that was made up for the book?
I didn’t think it was necessary for Mrs. Jeepers to be in here. What was her connection to Mr. McDawgle? She pales when she finds out he’s from Ireland.
He apparently had a piece of the Blarney Stone. How did he get that? She kissed it but then the dog went and grabbed it out of his hand and ran off with it. No more was said of it. Did he take it all the way home? Do they own the stone? That’s a big deal if they own the stone and have the gift of blarney!
We never found out how Mrs. Jeepers knew him.
What doesn’t make sense is why, if a kiss from a beast can erase the gift of blarney, would Mr. McDawgle work at a pet shop?! Yeah he didn’t keep dogs there, but anyone can walk in with a dog, like the kids did with theirs, and he apparently walked dogs? He had gloves on but that does not prevent a dog from licking you. As we found out when Diamond licked him. So… This didn’t add up.
Another mediocre read that disappointed…
Leprechauns use limericks.
You can gain control of a leprechaun by looking into their eyes.
They’re tricksters and shy.
It was confusing having Howie’s grandmother and Eddie’s aunt in here, keeping them straight. I would get them mixed up. Did they know each other? Were they friends?
Eddie’s aunt gives them candy to go to the candy store but when they check out the pet shop the owner talks them into buying all this stuff for pets they don’t have and don’t need.
When they go back to get their money back, he talks them into buying more stuff. But how did they have money to buy more things?
I thought the gift of blarney was just the gift of gab, being able to talk people into stuff, not that it made people do whatever you say!
The kiss of a beast undoes the gift of blarney. I’ve never heard that…Maybe that was made up for the book?
I didn’t think it was necessary for Mrs. Jeepers to be in here. What was her connection to Mr. McDawgle? She pales when she finds out he’s from Ireland.
He apparently had a piece of the Blarney Stone. How did he get that? She kissed it but then the dog went and grabbed it out of his hand and ran off with it. No more was said of it. Did he take it all the way home? Do they own the stone? That’s a big deal if they own the stone and have the gift of blarney!
We never found out how Mrs. Jeepers knew him.
What doesn’t make sense is why, if a kiss from a beast can erase the gift of blarney, would Mr. McDawgle work at a pet shop?! Yeah he didn’t keep dogs there, but anyone can walk in with a dog, like the kids did with theirs, and he apparently walked dogs? He had gloves on but that does not prevent a dog from licking you. As we found out when Diamond licked him. So… This didn’t add up.
Another mediocre read that disappointed…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2022
I kind of thought this might be a return to the leprechaun from Leprechauns Don't Play Basketball, but it does make sense to introduce a new character.
March 7, 2023
My kids really enjoyed this book. They laughed out loud quite a bit while I read this book to them. Overall I don’t prefer to read these types of books out loud… oversimplified plot with lots of holes… but it’s almost St. Patrick’s day so it was a quick read to introduce some Irish legends. My kids enjoyed it enough that they may now read more of the series so I count that as a win.
June 30, 2022
The BSK are convinced the new pet shop owner is a leprechaun - and he's kissed the Blarney Stone - so he's influencing everyone in town to buy things from his store! Can they stop him before it's too late?
February 9, 2021
I love this Book
March 20, 2022
Ava thought this book was cute and it was a fun read for St. Patrick’s Day week. I remember liking this series when I was a kid.
March 22, 2024
"I would recommend this to friends because the dog kissed the shop man, the Leprechaun, to get him to stop talking people into buying things at his store!" -Conley, age 8
September 9, 2025
read to a student
December 13, 2018
I think the only problem that I had was that this leprechaun was manipulating people, and kids to buy things that they don't even need. I wish it had more to do with St. Patrick's day or some sort of Irish legend or something, but I think it was still entertaining. Not my favourite, but the mystery was still there at least.
June 24, 2015
I found this at the library and thought the kids might like it since it was supposed to be about leprechauns. It really didn't have much to do with St. Patrick's day, but oh well. My boys still enjoyed it. It was just okay for me.
December 28, 2015
Bailey School Kids always find mysteries.... This book was kind of cute.
December 4, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I would definitely use this as introductory chapter book for my students. It is an easy read but still very fun to use in this classroom.
February 28, 2014
great just great! <3
March 12, 2014
My nephew really enjoyed this book. It's the second in a very long series of Bailey School Kids. The book is fun, has great characters, and is just the right level for 1st - 2nd grade.
March 7, 2015
Is the pet store owner really a leprechaun who's convincing people to buy things they don't really need because he has the gift of blarney? The Bailey School kids are going to find out!
April 19, 2015
Levi: "It was interesting that Mr. Dawgle was a leprechaun. I liked how they were under a spell. What was kinda gross when Eddie kissed the girl."
Levi recommends this book for others to read.
Levi recommends this book for others to read.
June 17, 2008
i didn't like this book. i think it is for older kids.
*didn't finish*
*didn't finish*
Read
June 16, 2016Greta
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews