Product Description

The story of Patrick's life and how the day is celebrated.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #589261 in Books
• Published on: 1995-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 30 pages

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-A basic introduction to the holiday-how it began, the life and works of St. Patrick, and the various ways in which the day is celebrated. The text is clear and concise, and the pages are full of information. Gibbons's simple, clean, full-page watercolor-and-ink illustrations flow logically from one to the next. Particularly welcome are descriptions of some St. Patrick's Day symbols, such as shamrocks, leprechauns, and Celtic harps. A couple of picture books are available on the subject, such as Alice Schertle's Jeremy Bean's St. Patrick's Day (Lothrop, 1987), but this is an outstanding choice to fill the bill for nonfiction.
Kay McPherson, Central Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, GA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 2-4. In a book similar to those she's done for topics ranging from boats to birthdays, Gibbons offers information about St. Patrick's Day in an easily digestible text and a clean, colorful format. She covers the salient details of Patrick's life--his boyhood in slavery, his return to Britain, where he was ordained, and his life dedicated to the conversion of the Irish--and she highlights the symbols and happenings of St. Patrick's Day. At the conclusion, she describes some of St. Patrick's miracles, one to an illustrated box. The artwork, as one would expect, is heavily accented with green and is typical of Gibbon's work--simply drawn, yet full of zest and quite appealing for its audience. A festive addition to holiday shelves. Ilene Cooper

About the Author
Gail Gibbons has published close to fifty distinguished nonfiction titles with Holiday House. According to "'The Washington Post"', "'Gail Gibbons has taught more preschoolers and early readers about the world than any other children's writer-illustrator."' She lives in Vermont. Her website is www.gailgibbons.com

Customer Reviews

His Legacy Still Survives.
Most or many of the stories like his banishing all of the snakes from Ireland are false. They are the evidence of exaggerated storytelling. Actually he was born in Britain in the fourth century. He was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders and transported to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. He was guided by visions to become a missionary to convert the Irish to Christianity.

Actually, his family were not deeply religious, but most Irish practiced a pagan religion. This was changed due to the activities and beliefs of this saint. Spinning exciting tales to remember history has always been a part of Irish life. I always thought that my mother, Lettie Lane, was Irish. After seeing the PBS special, I am sure of it, though she did not have the lilting dialect, coming from the mountains of Union County. She died when I was seven. Alec was born on March 17. His brother Eric is a 711 child. It is thought that St. Patrick died on this date.

Snooooozzzeee...
I'm always a five star kind of reviewer, figuring if it wasn't great why say anything. Actually that applies to how I approach people and situations too. Except it can get to a point where...it's not fair to me. I have a right now and again to notice and speak to situations as they are... This has to be written up review-wise as something that just went stale. And I'd much rather pretend otherwise. Basic honesty however precludes delusions.

Today I read this to my 1st graders watching them for reaction and it's just not there. This was nothing more than beautiful green illustrations and a few facts. I am sorry but I lost 'em. And lately that's hard to do, they love stories. Go get Tomie De Poala, really. Not to be mean, I love other Gail Gibbons, but I think pages that say some people wear green or have parties is scraping for material. Yeah, we knew that, thanks. Wow, green huh? Why not teach twenty Irish expressions, or show some native dress, or discuss the crafts of Ireland, or the cities or perhaps get some facts on major contributions of the Isle to our fair land, or discuss the potato famine, or even tell about St. Patty parades. But maybe I'm being a bit picky. But still. Some "decorate with shamrocks". Okay even moon people know this. My second language kids were rolling upside down in sheer boredom. Not even recounting specifics about what foods....Irish foods? Why not list some and put in a nice soda bread recipe or corned beef recipe. Come on if we are going to try it let's get inspired. Rip out some content. Sheer a sheep if you have too. Speaking of which I really recommend Charlie's Cloak, De Poala. What a winner.

Teachers can get stuck in those content poor zones now and again, disappointed with this or that, maybe it's all in striving for excellence.. Or maybe my grumpy-ness...maybe it's getting the third wave of fevers having been terribly ill this month or the news of the passing of a loved one...ah well for whatever reason the cover is actually delightful and certainly the pictures sound, the text slimmer. My biggest dread in U Pick It Read Aloud Time is the students asking to go get drinks. Today was a record, they all went.It's not easy to put together a solid holiday book. This one fell flat today leaving me hanging there like a limp rag.Albeit a wet one.I really think it's one I'll put in the home book bags.Sorry.

A fabulous book about St. Patrick's Day
This is a beautifully illustrated, well written, story about the life of St. Patrick and descriptions of how and why we celebrate this holiday. My daughter is very interested in her Irish heritage and read it to her Kindergarten class this year. It was a hit!