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El Dia De San Patricio 
Judy Zocchi
Illustrations by Rebecca Wallis
This book is part of the “Holiday Happenings” series. The text is in English and Spanish, with the exception of the enrichment pages at the end of the book. It is printed in a child-friendly font that looks as though a child handwrote the book. Fun facts and activities about the traditions and activities for St. Patrick’s Day are explained and illustrated very colorfully, with green the dominant color. Readers learn about St. Patrick and the holiday named after him. Key words and concepts are explained right on the page instead of in a glossary. The reader is directed to the publisher’s website to find activities that go along with this book. Teachers and parents will find that many of the ideas in the enrichment section can be used to enhance a child’s understanding of people in general and of the Irish culture in particular. Facts, discussion questions, and ideas for further research are mentioned in these topics: “Did you Know,” “Building Character,” “Culture Connection,” and “Try Something New.” A craft activity is included at the end of the book. Teachers and parents will want to have this book on hand to use in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. 2005, dingles&company, $15.50. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Liz Rice (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-891997-40-8
Good Luck! A St. Patrick’s Day Story
Joan Holub
Illustrated by Will Terry
Sentences that consist of two to four words constitute this story, but it works fairly well. Most of them are declarative with exclamation points, and there is a rhythm and rhyme to the text. There is also a very simple story. The ants in a St. Patrick’s Day parade spy a green ant and decide to follow him. They encounter clues related to the holiday—a shamrock, a rainbow, and a pot of gold, but in this case the gold is golden crackers--a real feast for the ants. A simple but effective first reader. 2007, Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 6, $3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-0955-2
ISBN: 1-4169-0955-9
The Irish
Karen Price Hossell, Book Editor
Perhaps no ethnic group has a more colorful yet painful history of immigration to North America than the Irish. Beginning during the years of the Great Potato Famines of the 1840s, millions of Irish citizens came to America and, to a much lesser extent, Canada. Upon arriving in North America, these Irish immigrants faced harsh discrimination and prejudice. But over many years, the Irish gained a firm hold on social, economic, and political life in their new homelands. Indeed, a case could be made that no other ethnic group has been more successful at achieving political power while holding fast to their cultural heritage. In this title, modern readers are provided source documents that chronicle the many phases of Irish immigration and assimilation in North America. Editor Karen Price Hossell has compiled information from varied sources that deals with topics such as the famine ships, bigotry against Irish immigrants, the role of the Irish in the American Civil War, Irish labor organizations, and many other areas. Also included are biographical sketches of successful Irish immigrants in various epochs. Hossell has crafted a fine resource book for youngsters interested in learning more about the tragic yet ultimately successful journey of the Irish to the New World. This title is part of the “Coming to America” series. 2005, Thomson Gale, $33.70. Ages 14 up. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog 2006 Supplement to the Ninth Edition, 2006; H.W Wilson Company; United States
Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2006 Supplement, 2006; H. W. Wilson Company; United States
ISBN: 0737721545
ISBN: 0737721553
Jakers! The Lost Shamrock
Adapted by Alison Inches
Images by Entara Ltd.
Piggley and his friends are prepared to give a report in school about symbols representing St. Patrick’s Day. Ferny is a pot of gold, complete with a rainbow beanie, and Dannan is dressed like a leprechaun. Piggley has made an Irish harp. Just as they get ready to set out for school and their big report about Ireland, they remember that Mr. Hornsby had given them his special shamrock, but suddenly they realize that they have lost it. The remainder of the story details how they try and reconstruct their actions until they do indeed find the lucky shamrock. The story is amusing, but the pictures tend to be a little dark and not really crisp. Fans of the “Jakers!” probably will not mind. 2006, Simon Spotlight/Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 6, $3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-4067-8
ISBN: 1-4169-4067-7
The Luck of the Irish
Margaret McNamara
Illustrated by Mike Gordon
The class is preparing to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and Katie, whose family is Irish, decides to make a shamrock for everyone in the first grade. Her parents describe what the shamrock looks like—three leaves that are heart-shaped. When Katie gets to school, her teacher pulls out a shamrock and shows it to the class, but it is nothing like Katie’s. It has four leaves and they are not heart shaped. After she shows hers to her teacher, they go and look up shamrocks and sure enough, Katie’s are correct. What the teacher has is a four-leaf clover. It is interesting but it sure does not say much for that teacher. A Level 1 book in the “Ready-To-Read” series which contains tips for parents and teachers on the inside cover. 2007, Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 7, $3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 978-1-4169-1539-3
ISBN: 1-4169-1539-7
On Saint Patrick’s Day
Judy Zocchi
Illustrations by Rebecca Wallis
This book is part of the “Holiday Happenings” series. It is printed in a child-friendly font that looks as though a child handwrote the book. Fun facts and activities about the traditions and activities for St. Patrick’s Day are explained and illustrated very colorfully, with green the dominant color. Readers learn about St. Patrick and the holiday named after him. Key words and concepts are explained right on the page instead of in a glossary. The reader is directed to the publisher’s website to find activities that go along with this book. Teachers and parents will find that many of the ideas in the enrichment section can be used to enhance a child’s understanding of people in general and of the Irish culture in particular. Facts, discussion questions, and ideas for further research are mentioned in these topics: “Did you Know,” “Building Character,” “Culture Connection,” and “Try Something New.” A craft activity is included at the end of the book. Teachers and parents will want to have this book on hand to use in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. 2005, dingles&company, $15.50. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Liz Rice (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-891997-39-4
St. Patrick's Day: Day of Irish Pride
June Preszler
With a brief history of the saint and the introduction of the Irish celebration into America, the reader becomes acquainted with Irish culture. The theme is carried out with information on favorite foods, the shamrock, leprechauns, and parades. Capsules tell further facts, such as: “Green is the national color of Ireland.” An unusual story is told about dyeing the Chicago River green. Directions are given for making a leprechaun trap. Clear, brightly colored photographs, large print, simple vocabulary, and green chapter titles invite children into the text. There is a table of contents, glossary with pronunciation guide, lists for further reading, Web sites, and an index. Part of the “First Facts” series and “Holidays and Culture” extension, this is a resource for libraries for children. 2007, Capstone Press, $21.26. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-6398-8
ISBN: 0-7368-6398-2
Too Many Leprechauns
Stephen Krensky
Illustrated by Dan Andreasen
The quiet little town of Dingle, nestled among the rolling hills of Ireland, is upset. Hordes of leprechauns have swarmed in and the incessant tap-tap-tapping of their hammers as they make fairy shoes is driving the villagers crazy. It's up too clever Finn O'Finnegan to set things right. With a determined step he sets out and comes upon a scowling leprechaun named Dobb. Dobb is furiously tapping away and in between taps Finn learns that leprechauns have gold fever and the more fairy shoes they make, the bigger their mountain of gold becomes. How will Finn restore peace to the village without offending the sensitive leprechauns? Children will enjoy the magical twists and turns of this Irish tale and they'll never have to wonder about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow again. Full-page, colorful illustrations depicting whimsical leprechauns and magical rainbows are a perfect complement to the text. A delightful read-aloud, especially for St. Patrick's Day. 2006, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $12.99. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Cheri Stowers (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-689-85112-X
That's What Leprechauns Do
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully
It is the duty of leprechauns to put the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. So grumbling, Ari, Boo, and Col set out to do their job as the rain clouds gather, promising no mischief along the way. But they just cannot help their nature. So they stop to paint Pansy the cow’s hooves red, to knot the legs of Jamie’s long johns drying on the line, and to have Miss Maud Murphy’s hen, Birdie, surprise her with a tennis ball instead of an egg. But the rain soon produces a rainbow, so they hurry to dig up the pot of gold and place it at the end. As usual, nobody comes to find it. So they rebury the pot, smiling at the mischief they have done, and at Miss Murphy’s anger at the yellow tennis ball. McCully’s watercolors have a lightness appropriate for the harmless pranks of the charming traditionally-costumed, red-haired trio and for St. Patrick’s Day reading. The landscapes and rocky roads describe an Ireland believably suited for the tricksters and their magic. The artist makes all the characters more than stereotypes. A note on leprechauns and how and where to find them is added. 2005, Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company, $16.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-618-35410-7
For more books about the Irish or
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Added February 26, 2008
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