St. Patrick's Day
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day!
March 17th is the annual celebration of St. Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland. A national holiday in Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide, by those with--and without--Irish heritage. The first parade was celebrated, not in Ireland, but in New York City in 1762. Since then, many of the largest celebrations are found in cities like Boston, Chicago, Savannah, and New York. In Ireland, the holiday has traditionally been a religious occasion (pubs were closed), and it is only in the last twenty years that the government has produced elaborate festivities showcasing Irish culture to the world. Last year, around one million people celebrated St. Patrick's Day in Dublin.
Besides wearing green, St. Patrick's Day is an excellent opportunity to explore Irish folklore, history, traditions and culture. (Or for children interested in more contemporary Irish trivia, did you know that Harry Potter actors Brendan Gleeson, Kenneth Branagh and Richard Harris were born in Ireland?)
Browse through these titles and those from previous years for some selections to share with your family or students.
And for more information on St. Patrick's Day visit:
http://www.history.com/content/stpatricksday
Contributor: Emily Griffin
Reviews
Benny and Babe
Eoin Colfer
Duncade is the Irish town where thirteen-year-old Benny fusses and fumes about life being unfair: why is he stuck in this boring hick town, why is his little brother a poet instead of a ball boy, why do not people appreciate his hurling ability, and so forth. He is going through life with a chip on his shoulder, passing time crawlie fishing, and secretly playing with his action figure. Benny meets Babe, a "culchie," when he is recruited for the village hurling team. She and her mutt Conger are on the team. Benny's Granda and his friend Jerry, along with Babe and the other villagers are amusing and idiosyncratic characters in this thoroughly absorbing coming-of-age story. The author uses local dialect and vivid language to convey a strong sense of place. Readers will be able to taste, see, and smell the small fishing village on the Irish coast where the action is set. A story that seems fluffy at the outset becomes deep and substantial as the tale is told. Believable characters, great dialogue, and an engaging plot make this story one that will resonate with readers. This reader was sorry to see it end. 2001, Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 10 up, $18.95. Reviewer: Jeanne K. Pettenati (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4231-0283-5
ISBN: 1-4231-0283-5
The King with Horse's Ears and Other Irish Folktales
Batt Burns
The author presents a beguiling collection of stories that together capture the spirit of Irish folklore. Included are traditional tales of the Fianna and Oisin, folktales familiar in Ireland but less known in the United States, and wonderful original tales based on stories told by the author's family and others. Some are light-hearted, some melancholic, a few are philosophic, and more than one is frightening. The frequent mention of specific locales adds authenticity to the stories, anchoring them to real places and people. Special kudos to the pronunciation guides provided in the footnotes and glossary. The richly colored illustrations balance with the text in a mutually enhancing manner. Some feature striking and bold compositions that pull your eye right to them. Others sit unobtrusively on their page until the action they illustrate is reached in the text. Suddenly they spring to life, perfectly capturing the story's action. Other illustrations convey moods of foreboding, melancholia, fear, or humor. All taste of Celtic Ireland. The book, with its evocative mix of traditional and original tales, breathes new life into Irish folklore and is worth adding to any collection. Recommended. 2009, Sterling Children's Books, 96pp., $14.95 hc. Reviewer: Amy Hart (Library Media Connection, August 2009).
ISBN: 978-1-4027-3772-5
ISBN: 1-4027-3772-6
Leprechauns and Irish Folklore
Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce
Illustrated by Sal Murdocca
Did you know that Leprechauns are not the only Irish fairies, that ring forts are found all over the Emerald Isle, and the American custom of Halloween had its roots in Irish Celtic culture? To learn more, open this book. The Pope Sisters present clear definitions and explanations of types of Irish fairies and what they look like, their music and dance, where they live and where they can be found, and how they are an integral part of Irish culture. There are several stories of interactions with leprechauns and other fairies. Some of the stories are several hundred years old, such as that of Turlough O'Carolan, a blind harper and poet, who fell asleep on a fairy fort and woke up to play the music of the fairies. One of the stories takes place in 1999 when a group of engineers wanted to remove a hawthorn tree in order to build a road. Eddie Lenihan, a renowned storyteller, told them the fairies would be so angry that there would be many traffic accidents on that spot. He convinced them to work around the tree so as not to upset the fairies. Black and white photographs, copies of famous paintings and drawings by Murdocca illuminate the information in the text. Readers will discover ways to protect themselves against fairy mischief. They will find tips on how to do research. A bibliography, internet resources and an index are all part of this very readable and interesting "Magic Tree House Research Guide" intended as a companion to Leprechaun in Winter, book #43 in the Magic Tree House series. 2010, Random House, Ages 6 to 10, $4.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-375-86009-6
ISBN: 978-0-375-96009-3
Look Out, Jeremy Bean!
Alice Schertle
Illustrated by David Slonim
Jeremy Bean has to find a collection to take to school. No ordinary collection like rocks, stamps, or coins will do. It has to be unusual. He thinks about collecting eggs, cookies, or hats. But they will not do either. He tries to collect shoes until his mother stops him. Finally, after talking to his Gramps, he comes up with the best kind of collection there is. Wait until the kids at school find out about his unique collection. This story and two others will keep young readers wondering what Jeremy is up to next. Have you ever heard of feeding dust bunnies? Well, Jeremy tries to do that by leaving food in his room. He also does some strange things, like wearing a lampshade on his head and hiding under a blanket to catch a dust bunny. He is determined to keep one as a pet. He is shocked when a dust bunny tries to catch him. The last story is about St. Patrick's Day at Jeremy's school. Everyone celebrates and makes a big deal out of the holiday. When Jeremy forgets his sweater, he is teased by his classmates. When he is embarrassed and tries to run from the problem he is helped by someone whom he did not expect. Children will be entertained by the imagination and creativity in this book. The illustrations are well done, realistic, and add to the tone of each story. This funny book would be a great addition to any classroom. 2009 (orig. 1987), Chronicle Books, $14.99. Ages 7 to 9. Reviewer: Cathi I. White (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780811856096
ISBN: 0811856097
St. Patrick's Day in Savannah
Polly Powers Stramm and Janice Shay
Photography by Kirt Witte, Richard Leo Johnson, Wayne C. Moore, and Bill Bennett
If you cannot be in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day, Savannah, Georgia is the next best thing. Employing the photo essay format, the authors and photographers take you through all the preparations, festivities, and fun of the annual parade. A brief history reveals that the first parade, held by the Hibernian Society in 1813, was a private affair. It opened to the public in 1824 and has been held every year since. Upwards of 500,000 people descend on the small city to celebrate by either marching in or watching the parade. There are bands, pipers, Irish dancers, clowns, belly dancers, and anything that is green and moves can be a float. One of the most whimsical traditions to come out of the parade is that females along the route kiss all marching men and boys. Pictures of young cadets sporting a plethora of bright red lipstick smooches are most amusing. Perusing all the photos from the somber Mass at the cathedral to begin the day to leprechauns and green bearded men, babies in buggies, princesses in their tiaras, Army Rangers in fatigues, and the celebrating throngs along the route it all looks like a lot of fun and is a tempting invitation to join in. The impressive photos lure the reader into turning more and more pages. Not a first purchase but it sure is fun and makes you want to head for Savannah come March 17. 2009, Pelican Publishing, Ages 10 up, $24.95. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-58980-636-8
St. Patrick and the Three Brave Mice
Joyce A. Stengel
Illustrated by Herb Leonhard
After driving all of Ireland's snakes to the ocean with his magical bell, St. Patrick is unaware of one scheming snake still hidden in the forest. One night Tulla the mouse sees the sneaky snake stealing St. Patrick's famed bell. As the snake slithers away with the bell in his tail, Tulla and her mouse friends devise a plan to return the bell to St. Patrick. When the mice begin to escape with the bell, the snake rears back and glares menacingly into the eyes of the mice. As Tulla leaps away from the snake and onto the bell, St. Patrick awakens and reaches for his bell, looking into the eyes of the snake for the last time. The text will inspire rich discussions of fear and bravery and children will be captivated by the emotionally charged illustrations. Throughout the book, the eye of the snake is a focal point in the illustrations, becoming more sinister as the tension increases. Celtic motifs and borders suggest the historical Irish significance to the reader. This book is appropriate for year-round reading and discussion and need not be read exclusively during St. Patrick's Day. Recommended. 2009, Pelican Publishing Company, 32pp., $15.95 hc. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Katie Henry (Library Media Connection, October 2009).
ISBN: 978-1-58980-663-4
ISBN: 1-58980-663-8
For more books about the Irish, click here, or
to view Irish-American Heritage features from a previous year, click on the following links:
2008 feature
2007 feature
2006 feature
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Added 2/25/2010
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If you're interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.