Happy St. Patrick’s Day, a day when we are all Irish, or wish we were. As so many parades and festivities are cancelled across the world, I thought I’d share two picture books to help you celebrate.
Irish Legends for Children
Retold By: Yvonne Carroll
Illustrator: Lucy Su
Publisher/Date: Gill & Macmillan Ltd/1995
Ages: 4-8
Themes: myths, legends, Ireland, magic, compilation
Short Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Once upon a time, kings, knights,
and dragons roamed the verdant hills of Ireland, and druids used their sorcery
for both good and evil. It was a time of magic. It was a time of warriors. It
was a time of legends.
The six legends presented here are
taken primarily from two cycles in Irish lore: An Rrai1/2ocht (The Red
Branch Knights Cycle) and An Fhiannai1/2ocht (The Fianna Cycle). These
stories have been passed down from generation to generation in Ireland but will
delight children of any heritage. They deal with many diverse topics, yet they
all share an underlying theme: the journey into adulthood.
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato: An Irish Folktale
Retold & Illustrated By: Tomie dePaola
Publisher/date: A Whitebird Book (GP Putnam’s Sons)/1992
Ages: 4-8
Themes: folktale (Irish), laziness, luck, making assumptions, humor
Short Synopsis (from Goodreads):
When his wife injures her back and can’t do all the work, Jamie O’Rourke–the laziest man in all of Ireland–is sure he’ll starve to death. A wiley leprechaun intervenes, and one wish later, Jamie is the proud owner of a potato as big as a house! An engaging read-aloud choice for St. Patrick’s Day.
Read a review by Susanna Leonard Hill.
I paired these books because they feature Irish legends on a day when we celebrate all things Irish!
Looking for similar reads? See all-med.net which features free downloads of Irish Legends for Children and other books containing Irish legends.
Wander, Ponder, Write 