St. Patrick's Day: A Festive Classroom Story About Irish Culture and Music for Kids (Ages 4-8)

Mrs. Madoff's Class

by Anne Rockwell, Lizzy Rockwell (Illustrator)

On St. Parick's Day, come dance a jig with the students in the classroom ALA Booklist calls "a lively place." Today in Mrs. Madoff's class we all wore something green to school. Kate played the fiddle and we danced to Irish music. Then we learned about St. Patrick and many Irish tales and traditions. Now we know why there are no snakes in Ireland. Not every-one in school is all Irish like me, but we all can celebrate St. Patrick's Day together!

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, School, Cultural, Ireland

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 26, 2010

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ages: 4 - 8

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[Celia Buell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I liked this one.

One thing we've talked about is creating relevance in social studies and other content topics, and how this can sometimes be done by having students choose the format of their research presentations instead of just "reports." I appreciated the way this was shown in St. Patrick's Day. Groups created a skit, learned a jig, and created hand-drawn presentations based on their interests. All of these activities showcased various aspects of St. Patrick's day in the US. Various teachers and school staff including the music teacher and the librarian are shown to have helped as well. It's so important for these people to be at the forefront in schools in order for them to be respected as part of the learning community. I appreciated seeing this in children's literature where the topic was presentations as well.

I liked the multicultural and multifaceted aspect of this one too. Various groups look at the history of St. Patrick's day, Irish traditions, and St. Patrick himself through their creative work. I like how this shows what an ideal collaborative learning environment throughout a classroom and school could look like.

While I recognize St. Patrick's Day could have been more informative, I think it's just the right amount of information and fiction for young readers. I'm excited to share this one with the kids this month.

*Read for: Children's Book group (Picture Book Club) - March 2023 Holidays Scavenger Hunt - St. Patrick's Day

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one was just okay for me. It covers a variety of St. Patrick's Day activities a little boy and his classmates enjoy in the classroom. From wearing something green, to writing a story about St. Patrick and acting it out, to dancing a jig to fiddle music and receiving a little clover plant, the activities sound fun but the story is not conveyed in a very entertaining way. It's more informative. I wanted more vitality and style. Also, since it is so classroom-based (except for the end where the boy's mom makes Irish Soda Bread), it might not be the best choice for kids who aren't yet in the classroom or for homeschool families.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah. This book is not engaging at all, and the author sidesteps the religious element of St. Patrick's life and legacy by saying that he went back to Ireland to teach people to "be kind." Why even teach about St. Patrick at all if you're not going to address his faith and his missionary work honestly?

Even aside from that, this book is not very compelling. The illustrations are average, and the information about the holiday is presented in a bland way, even when the children's school projects and activities are interesting in theory.

Saint Patrick the Forgiver: The History and Legends of Ireland's Bishop is an excellent alternative that focuses on Saint Patrick's faith. Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland is another good option that is more mainstream while still appropriately representing the specifics of Saint Patrick's story.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well rounded children’s book on St. Patrick’s day. It covered a brief lesson on the saint with no mention of God. As Christian mom I added those details of the saints life, but overall a good basic retelling. It also included many traditions such as wearing green, shamrocks, soda bread, and leprechauns. This is a good introduction to the holiday, my kindergarten enjoyed the story and is looking forward to celebrating in a couple weeks.

[Darci Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an ideal read for St. Patrick's Day, and you could do a lot with it! The kids in the book have created books/plays/etc to tell the history of St. Patrick's Day, so you could do the same in your class to tie this in. It also explains why we celebrate it here in the United States, so it is a good way to tie in the heritage of children in the class.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to help a 3 year old (and older!) to learn about this holiday. The illustrations are engaging and it's a lovely little story. Helped us to better connect with our Irish ancestry and this holiday that's fun for everyone.

Everyone could use some luck of the Irish! Just make sure you wear green, unless you want to get pinched!!

[Christine Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Rockwell brings us a book about a school’s celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. The students are partnered up and each group presents their take on the holiday through various learning styles. Fun and informative, primary grades will benefit from the colorful illustrations and explanation as to why St. Patrick’s Day is a favorite holiday celebrated around the world.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Some untruths told, (for example, Shamrocks are native to Ireland - it's clear the author didn't do her research) and the author also clearly intentionally left out the religious aspect of St. Patrick's Day, which makes up the majority of the history of the person and the day.

[Calvin Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a good book as a way to show another culture and to bring the discussion up with students and explain St Patrick's Day as March is the month where you see shamrocks, green and leprechauns all over school.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I don’t expect a children’s picture book to touch on how Christians colonized Ireland and killed and converted the Irish pagans, it was too much to read that St. Patrick went to Ireland to teach people to be kind to each other.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story, perfect for children.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't tell why St. Patrick used a shamrock, but it was funny seeing kids enact St. Patrick driving the snakes out of England.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used for March Storytime.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute.

[R. L. Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I remember correctly, this was about a class party! It was a cute story and one that would be fun to recreate in real life!

[LadyHague · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got the point across ok…but at Patrick himself is always so shunted!

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read to my daughter - got from the library - certainly green!

[Lynnette · Rating 1 out of 5]

awful. disinformation like shamrocks are native to Ireland and Patrick went back to teach the Irish to be kind. the pictures were good, but that's it.

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nicely illustrated book all about the history and traditions surrounding St. Patrick's Day, in the context of information gathered and presented for a class project. My story time audience listened politely to this story and it did hold their attention, but it was not as engaging as most of the books that I read. I searched long and hard for a book about St. Patrick's day that would appeal to toddlers and this was the best one I found. The illustrations are fun and the story is solid and simple.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book very lightly introduces some of the history, symbols, and traditions behind St. Patrick's Day. By the end of the book, I wanted to go get a book that would give me more details and depth. Would be good for preschoolers.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a class celebrating St. Patricks Day. They wear green, make a book, perform a play, and just learn about Ireland. This book is a great culture lesson on the history and meaning of St. Patrick’s Day. It would be a great book to read on this holiday.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classroom of students spends time learning about St. Patrick's Day traditions in this picture book for lower elementary. It's one of the best books about this holiday for reading aloud that I've come across.

[Erma Talamante · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting, says my 13 year old. This is a good introduction or supplement to St. Patricks Day, and the events that surround it as school children each take turns in their own way to tell a different part of why we celebrate this holiday.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute for a St. Patrick's Day book.

[Lesley Looper · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a children's book about classroom activites surrounding St. Patrick's Day. It's okay, not as entertaining as others I've read lately.

[Seashell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Q thought it was very boring.

[Lindsey Lubker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book about a class and how the celebrate St. Patrick's day. This book shows what this holiday is all about and how we celebrate it.

[Miri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children's St. Patricks story.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little story about different traditions on St. Patrick's Day - some I didn't know.