Finn McCool and the Great Fish

A gentle giant, more kind than clever, Finn McCool was beloved of all the residents of Drumnahoon, who valued his freely given aid, and who called him "the best-hearted man" in Ireland. They also surreptitiously called him "turnip-head," a name that cut Finn to the quick, because he knew that it was true: he just wasn't very smart. Determined to do something about this, Finn visited a local man said to know the source of wisdom, and after an adventure with an extraordinary salmon, emerged as a gentle giant who is both kind and clever.

Eve Bunting's Finn McCool and the Great Fish is an interesting tale, in that in seems to bridge the two very different Finn McCool traditions to be found in Irish folklore - that of the giant Finn, who is show more often a rather comical figure, and that of Fionn mac Cumhaill, the heroic leader of the legendary Fianna. The episode involving the Salmon of Knowledge usually belongs to this latter tradition (see Lady Gregory's Gods and Fighting Men: The Story of the Tuatha De Danaan And the Fianna of Ireland, or Ella Young's The Tangle-Coated Horse and Other Tales: Episodes from the Fionn Saga), and is one of the key episodes in Fionn's boyhood, so it is surprising to see it in a story about the giant Finn. I'd be very interested to know Bunting's source for this tale - something that is not given in the book, I'm sorry to say. show less

Zachary Pullen's illustrations are, by far, the highlight of this book - breathtaking in some cases. The story leaves a bit to be desired, in my opinion. I wished it had been more clear where and why Finn gained his wisdom from the fish and how the fish is related to the old man. The illustrations suggest he IS the old man. I wonder if the story might have been more enjoyable to someone who is well versed in Irish folklore.

Finn McCool is the biggest and greatest giant in Ireland. Everyone would whisper about how he had a great heart but wasn’t very smart. One day, Finn overheard them and he went to the wise man in another town to learn how he could become wise. The wise man told him to go to the river and catch the salmon that is extremely red and eat it. Finn catches the fish and sees the wisdom of the world in its eyes but can’t bring himself to eat it so he lets it go. When he does, he notices that the salmon’s red color has faded some and Finn’s own thumb is very red. From then on, Finn is wise as well.

This book is based on an old Irish folktale. It would be great within any unit on folktales. I think students would also have a great show more conversation around whether or not he should have let the fish go and why he decided to do that. show less

This book's pictures are amazing and vivid. The illustrator put a lot of details into making the characters and they almost come to life when you look through the pages. The story itself is touching, and you fall in love with this loving, caring, and gentle giant.

Finn McCool was a very sweet and kind giant that lived in Ireland. He always helped his neighbors and used his size food good deeds. Although Finn was kind and helpful, he was not very smart. He over heard some of the people in his town talking about it one day and he becomes sad and wants to be smart. So one day a very wise man tells Finn about a magical red salmon that will help him to be a smarter person and bring him wisdom. Finn decides to search for the fish and he hopes for wisdom along the way. this book was touching and I really liked the story about the gentle giant.

The picture books discusses the legendary figure Finn McCool of Irish folklore and legend. Finn is known as the greatest warrior ever known, and has remarkable strength. He is strong, but not smart, so he goes to an old man to learn the secret of wisdom. When he saves a salmon, Finn learns that the secret of wisdom is to respect all forms of life.

I loved the fact that the giant is too big to fit on the page. This is a sweet Irish tale of kindness.