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A Pot O' Gold: A Treasury of Irish Stories, Poetry, Folklore, and (of course) Blarney

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Though it may only be a small emerald isle, Ireland's heritage is very large indeed. In A Pot O' Gold, noted writer Kathleen Krull and beloved illustrator David McPhail bring this legacy to life. Created for families, this anthology compiles classic and rare examples of Irish culture including stories, poems, songs, recipes, and even a little blarney. From legends of leprechauns and fairies to the classic poetry of Yeats and Joyce, this treasury is a perfect way for anyone to share the wonders of Ireland.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2004

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105 people want to read

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Kathleen Krull

139 books117 followers

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5 stars
43 (37%)
4 stars
44 (37%)
3 stars
27 (23%)
2 stars
1 (<1%)
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Amber Escamilla.
15 reviews
February 11, 2016
I was excited to read this book because the majority of my ethnicity is Irish. There are lots of superstitious stories and home-remedies. Irish are known for being very superstitious. But, the stories were kind of boring. There were some Irish recipes as well which I liked.
8 reviews
April 22, 2019
I think this book is best for 3rd and 4th graders.
It is part of the folklore genre.
This book can be used as part of examining different cultures and multiple perspectives in the classroom as this clearly demonstrates Irish history and culture.
It can also be used to help students express their own culture. Once students understand what folklore is and the different mediums it can be expressed through, students will create their own piece of folklore pertaining to their own individual culture.
This was a wow book for me because I am Irish so I know a lot about Irish folklore already, but this taught me even more about it and it was fun because I feel like it was very relatable to me. It was super interesting to read and the fact that it contains all different things like songs and recipes made it even better, more layered and interesting. Parts of it were also written in verse which is nice so students can be exposed to that type of writing.
Profile Image for Colleen Chi-Girl.
889 reviews227 followers
June 1, 2019
During the month of March, as an elementary teacher, I always read a variety of Irish picture books and folktales to celebrate my Irish-ness, and in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. This, along with Finn McCoul, is one of my faves. And don't forget Tomie dePaola (of Irish and Italian descent). - I love all of his books.
Profile Image for Amber.
409 reviews
July 7, 2020
This book has a little bit of everything... I love it. So many Irish tales, poetry, limericks, and little sayings and quotes... Everything!
So very Irish... <3
The illustrations were lovely. Made me want to get out my watercolors and try to paint some of the Irish landscapes in the book...
Profile Image for Erin.
348 reviews10 followers
November 28, 2018
I really loved it. I will be getting a copy for my self to read to my kids. The poems were really beautiful and the faerie stories as well.
Profile Image for Ann.
640 reviews14 followers
February 21, 2017
Beautiful illustrations, and the poems selected are fabulous, but the stories/folk tales included are somewhat strange -- with narrative arcs that would likely be too unsatisfying for younger readers.
Profile Image for Rebecca Sheffler.
9 reviews2 followers
March 28, 2014
This is a book full of interesting and fun stories, poems, and Irish blessings! The literature in this book brings insight into the Irish world! It teaches children about Irish heritage, Irish food, and Irish folklore! This is a book that I would use around St. Patricks day to teach students' about the Irish heritage and the culture in Ireland. I think this book would be a great tool to use in the classroom. I would have an interactive read-aloud with students' and read certain stories in the book. We would then have a discussion as a class about the content and discuss the importance of the Irish culture. I would want to record the information discussed on a large poster board so that it could be posted on the classroom wall and refer back to it in later days.
Profile Image for Joy Gerbode.
2,024 reviews18 followers
March 4, 2017
This is the best collection of Irish folk lore I've read ... a combination of interesting stories, poems, recipes, home remedies, Irish blessings, all put together in a well organized fashion with wonderful illustrations!

Always enjoy this collection! I might try this book's recipe for Irish soda bread this year (I make it every year). And I WILL leave this book lying in my living room to share with guests throughout the month!
33 reviews1 follower
March 17, 2016
A delightful book! The perfect blend of Irish folk stories, lyrics, and sayings. While the content is written for children's enjoyment, I'm 24 and still enjoyed it, learning much more about my Irish heritage. I appreciate the amount of research and careful attention to historical detail that is given in presenting the entries.
Profile Image for Julie.
103 reviews4 followers
April 25, 2014
It was cute. Perfect for the St. Patricks' Day season.
Profile Image for Randy Imwalle.
Author 2 books5 followers
March 8, 2013
This is a very accessible book of Irish folklore. Loved most of the stories, especially the ones concerning leprechauns! I would have liked a few more limericks, but that is just me.
Profile Image for Amber.
Author 8 books155 followers
July 22, 2014
I read this aloud to Willow over a period of time--some of the stories were over her head, but mostly she enjoyed it. Poems, stories, curses..it has it all!
Profile Image for Elizabeth Marcus.
51 reviews1 follower
April 28, 2015
A lovely collection of stories with charming illustrations, plus a helpful background on certain Irish poets, authors and the country's history.
Profile Image for Set.
2,158 reviews
February 21, 2018
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☘️ I don't really care for the Irish gods but I love the saints, the Leprechauns and the fairies. 🍀
The Fate of the Children of Lir and The Land of Eternal Youth are stories that are a bit traumatizing at the end but this wouldn't be an Irish storybook without the Fae manipulating time. The Irish don't care much for happy endings but they do believe in revenge. A lot of these stories are a bit traumatizing. And it figures that the story of Cinderella would be about her going to church instead of the ball, Irish Catholics. 💒 There is even a story written by Oscar Wilde The Star Child. 🌠
I love reading about St. Bridget and St. Patrick. ✝️
And it's amazing the things you learn in these books like no earthquakes have ever been recorded in Ireland. 🌈
💚 The illustrations are different and very refreshing and the stories are fun and exciting. 🤞
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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