Shamrocks, Harps, and Shillelaghs: The Story of the St. Patrick's Day Symbols [Paperback]

Ursula Arndt (Author), Edna Barth (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

The origins of St. Patrick's Day and the folklore, fancy, and traditions that give the holiday its many diverse symbols.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Edna Barth has made a name for herself creating engaging nonfiction books about the origins of holidays from Easter to Halloween. This may sound like a simple enough task, but books like hers are few and far between, making her concise and well-researched titles all the more valuable to parents, educators, and students alike. For Barth, it seems, the calendar year swims with holiday colors. "Sometime in February," her St. Patrick's Day book begins, "the hearts and cupids of Valentine's Day give way to shamrocks and leprechauns, Irish harps, flags and shillelaghs, clay pipes and top hats. The color green floods the windows of card shops, candy stores, and departments that sell gifts, souvenirs, and decorations for holidays. St. Patrick's Day is coming." Barth goes on to explain the origins of this ancient Irish holiday, including a 15-page chapter on St. Patrick himself; the history of this partly religious, partly festive holiday through the centuries; and a lively discussion of the symbols we associate with the greenest of green days--leprechauns, Irish music, top hats, shamrocks, shillelaghs, and more. A list of stories appropriate to read around March 17, a bibliography of sources, and an index round out this solid, simply illustrated exploration of the ins and outs of St. Patrick's Day. (Ages 9 and older)

Review

"Both background facts and current traditions are explored in this brisk, lively text." (Booklist, ALA )

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 95 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (January 18, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899190383
• ISBN-13: 978-0899190389
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,722,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Irish Traditions and Legends Simplified, March 26, 2000

By 

K Jewett (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shamrocks, Harps, and Shillelaghs: The Story of the St. Patrick's Day Symbols (Paperback)

What a wonderful book for adults and children alike. I found this book to be a terrific help in understanding some of the legends and history of Ireland and St. Patrick's Day. It was also invaluable in explaining these to my younger children, both at home and in Sunday School classes.

Both the writing and the illustrations work to offer a better understanding of Irish traditions. All in all, not only an educational read, but a pleasant one, too!