Amazon Pelican Publishing Company Peter J. Welling Category:  Children Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company ISBN-10:  1589800141 Type: Fiction Pages: 32 Copyright: Jan 1 2002 Shawn O'Hisser returns from vacation to find all the snakes in Ireland are gone. He sets out to solve the mystery of the miss-s-s-ing snakes and finds a lot more in the hills and towns of the Emerald Isle. Shawn O'Hisser confronts many local characters, myths and legends of Ireland as he seeks to solve the mystery of the missing snakes. A fast paced, humorous tale with a new twist. Children and Adults will enjoy the pictures as well as the story of the Emerald Isle's misty history Excerpt "I'd shake your hand but you don't appear to have any." Kathleen, the Orange Mouse.

Dr. Suess, Move Over
Reviewed by Elizabeth Burton Everyone knows St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland, right? Well, the fact is, there was much more to the story than that. Shawn O'Hisser returns from a short vacation in Wales to discover all is species has vanished. It seems someone convinced the leprechauns the snakes had stolen their gold, and to avoid the Little People's retribution the snakes asked Patrick if he could find them a way off the Emerald Isle. The only one left is Shawn. Writer/Illustrator Peter Welling tells the story of Shawn's search for his kind in a delightful and sneakily educational tale for tots, Shawn O'Hisser, the Last Snake in Ireland. The qualities that make the books of Dr. Seuss reading pleasure for both children and adults are in full flight in Mr. Welling's book. The narrative is replete with wordplay, and on each page a peripheral character utters a word in Gaelic, which a quick look at the pronouncing glossary provided shows relates to the page's content in one way or another. So, in addition to the story of Shawn and the creatures he encounters, young readers are introduced to a taste of a language they might otherwise never experience. Mr. Welling's illustrations do excellent justice to his story, making Shawn O'Hisser a pleasure to look at as well as read. The details of each page draw the reader back for to explore and see what he or she might have missed the first or second or third time through. You don't have to be Irish to enjoy this charming tale. You don't even have to be a kid, but if you know any this is certainly one book that should be on their shelves. Shawn O'Hisser, the Last Snake in Ireland Written and Illustrated by Peter Welling Pelican Publishing Hardcover, $14.95 ISBN 1-58980-014-1