St. Patrick's Day in the Morning (Clarion books) [Paperback]

Eve Bunting (Author), Jan Brett (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Clarion books

Jamie seeks a way to prove that he is not too young to march in the big St. Patrick's Day parade.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

On March 17, young Jamie wakes up and realizes it's St. Patrick's Day. The green sashes are laid out on the table for his father and two older brothers--all ready for them to sport in the big parade. This is all very exciting, but Jamie's family had told him he was too small to walk in the parade--too young to make it all the way up Acorn Hill. He decides to take matters (and his trusty flute) into his own small hands, and embarks on an early morning walk--all the way up Acorn Hill--with his dog Nell. What did they know? Sure enough, while the village is sleeping, he traverses the parade route to the top of the hill where he greets the sun with a hearty, "A happy St. Pat's to you, sun." And, he makes it home before breakfast! While no one finds out what Jamie has done, you suspect that he may tell his family later. Kids will love the fact that Jamie climbs all the way up the hill when everyone said he couldn't. A simple but satisfying St. Patrick's Day read-aloud, and an IRA/CBC Children's Choice. (Ages 4 and older)

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 4-St Patrick's Day in the Morning, written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Jan Brett (HM, 1980), is a warm and lively tale set in a village in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day. The main character, Jamie, is the youngest in his family, too small to participate in the annual special parade. Disappointed, Jamie awakens early and sets out to prove them wrong. The story that follows is his march through the village, making music and creating a parade on his own, proving to himself that he is truly big enough to participate. The narration is done with an authentic Irish accent, and there is music. Listeners can view the illustrations of the Irish village while listening to the voice and music of Ireland. This is an excellent purchase for schools in need of book/tape materials. It is one of very few good St. Patrick's Day stories. A bonus in this case is the glimpse of Irish culture and way of life. Listeners should be able to see the illustrations while listening to the tape.-Jane Enfield, Howe Community School, Minneapolis, MN

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (February 25, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899191622
• ISBN-13: 978-0899191621
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #118,282 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Holidays & Festivals > Religious
  • #9 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Religious
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > General

More About the Author

Eve Bunting has written more than 200 books for children, many of which can be found in libraries around the world. Her other Clarion titles for very young readers include My Big Boy Bed, which was also illustrated by Maggie Smith, and Little Bear's Little Boat, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. She lives in Pasadena, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making your own way, March 19, 2001

By 

Chess Heart "paxbear" (Canton, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: St. Patrick's Day in the Morning (Clarion books) (Hardcover)

Young Jamie wakes early on St. Patrick's Day, much earlier than his sleeping family. He remembers that there will be a parade to the top of Acorn Hill today, and then he remembers that his brothers say he's too little to march in the parade.

Well, fine then! He'll just have a parade of his own!! Jamie sets off in his green sweater, hat and coat with Nell the dog and march up the center of town to Acorn Hill by themselves. Along the way, the meet some of the other villagers, one of whom gives Jamie an Irish flag that he proudly waves in his own parade. Does he make it to the top?? You'll have to read to find out!!

"St. Patrick's Day in the Morning" is a beautiful story for any child who has ever been told that they're too small, too weak, too short, too this, too that, to do something. You can see Jamie's' happiness at proving everyone wrong. The pen and ink illustrations are lush and detailed: you could count the shingles in the roofs or the bricks in the walls. Green and a little yellow are the only colors in the book, emphasizing the spirit and colors of St. Pats in Jamie's sweater, the flag of Ireland and, of course, the lush green grasses of the Emerald Isle.

Because it's not a book about the history or legend of St. Patrick, there is no reason to limit it's reading only to March 17th. Teachers would find it a useful book in teaching both about Ireland and, of course, proving that smaller doesn't mean incapable. A fine book by Bunting and Brett, and highly recommended.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful St. Pat's Day book, October 6, 2006

By 

STLCardsFan15 (MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: St. Patrick's Day in the Morning (Clarion books) (Paperback)

I loved this story. My mom would read it to my brother and I every March, and we would get so excited as the 17th approached. I, like Jamie, loved marching in our parade. Now I have a son of my own, and hope he enjoys it as much as I did.

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging story to which children should be able to relate, March 17, 2011

By 

J. Olsen (UT, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: St. Patrick's Day in the Morning (Clarion books) (Paperback)

The clever illustrations by Jan Brett are rich in detail but minimal in color--highlighting the greens and golds of Ireland and the orange of the flag. The charming story is of a young boy who is considered by the rest of his family to be too young to march in the St. Patrick's Day parade. With his faithful dog at his side he sets out very early in the morning to show them they are wrong, and even faces the doubts of local merchants as he proceeds on his solitary way. Undaunted, he finally reaches his destination, celebrates with the bottle of ginger ale a shop owner had given him, and the little flag of Ireland he carried with it is placed in the empty bottle--as a sort of conquerer's claim to the territory. He returns home and, exhausted, curls up in a chair with his dog. His unsuspecting family wakes to find him all decked out, as if for the parade, and they chuckle over the fact that he is too little for such a venture. But he has the last laugh, for "what do they know?" A fun read!