School Library Journal
K-Gr 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
From the Publisher
…[will make] everyone feel a little bit Irish.
School Library Journal - Audio
04/01/2016
K-Gr 3—Beloved author/illustrator Gail Gibbons's early nonfiction books display her inimitable clarity of style and deserve to be translated to media formats. Though her original works date back to the 1990s, the content is not outdated. The history of both holidays sets the context. English-as-a-second-language classes would find these programs useful for understanding American customs. Though the productions are minimally animated, music and sound effects do improve the presentation. By far, St. Patrick's Day is the livelier and more entertaining of the two, accompanied by the sounds of birdsong, pipe, and guitar. In Valentine's Day, there is a valentine how-to bonus track, with step-by-step instructions. VERDICT If you have to choose, purchase St. Patrick's Day for its energetic content and its six legends about the intriguing patron saint of Ireland.—Lonna Pierce, MacArthur & Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schools, Binghamton, NY
