Learning about St. Patrick’s Day with author Tomie dePaola

Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland tells the true story of St. Patrick’s life, and also retells a number of legends associated with him.  Children will not only enjoy dePaola’s vibrant illustrations, but the stories about St. Patrick getting rid of all of Ireland’s snakes, being captured by bandits and other adventures.A sequel to Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato, readers of Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka find that he continues to be lazy and with his wife away for a week when he is left in charge of the housework.  Between Jamie and his friends, the cottage quickly gets messy.  Jamie finds a pooka, or animal spirit, sneaking in and cleaning up after him as he sleeps.  Feeling lucky and eager to encourage the helpful pooka, Jamie rewards him – but what happens when Jamie’s wife arrives home?  Tomie dePaola’s story does not have a predictable ending, but light-hearted Irish phrases, beautiful pictures, a quick pace and a great sense of humour.Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato,packed with colourful, expressive paintings, is a classic folktale about a farmer who does not like to work. When he catches a leprechaun, he makes a wish that he believes will support his lazy lifestyle forever.  Jamie O’Rourke did not think his wish through and a giant potato threatens to unearth his home.  He can’t get it out of the ground on his own and when it finally is freed, it traps everyone in the village.   Is Jamie destined to be a slave to this massive ‘prattie’ forever? There are some Roman Catholic religious references in the text but they are not central to the story.View the list »
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the kids through Tomie dePaola’s stories!

General Education newsletter

St. Patrick’s Day is a great opportunity to teach children about the Irish. Celebrated annually on March 17, children will likely notice the shamrocks, leprechauns and thematic ‘green’ while out in the community and watching their television shows and be curious to know more. Depending on which direction parents would like to take, award-winning Irish-Italian author and illustrator Tomie dePaola provides Irish expressions and vocabulary, historical and religious references in these humorous and engaging Irish stories.

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Tomie dePaola is half Irish and half Italian, and began writing stories for his sister when they were both children. For a St. Patrick's day coloring activity from Tomie's website, click here.

To read Tomie dePaola’s St. Patrick’s Day stories Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato and Jamie O'Rourke And The Pooka, please go to the list where a description of each is provided.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!

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View the list
  • Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato,packed with colourful, expressive paintings, is a classic folktale about a farmer who does not like to work. When he catches a leprechaun, he makes a wish that he believes will support his lazy lifestyle forever.  Jamie O’Rourke did not think his wish through and a giant potato threatens to unearth his home.  He can’t get it out of the ground on his own and when it finally is freed, it traps everyone in the village.   Is Jamie destined to be a slave to this massive ‘prattie’ forever? There are some Roman Catholic religious references in the text but they are not central to the story.
  • A sequel to Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato, readers of Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka find that he continues to be lazy and with his wife away for a week when he is left in charge of the housework.  Between Jamie and his friends, the cottage quickly gets messy.  Jamie finds a pooka, or animal spirit, sneaking in and cleaning up after him as he sleeps.  Feeling lucky and eager to encourage the helpful pooka, Jamie rewards him – but what happens when Jamie’s wife arrives home?  Tomie dePaola’s story does not have a predictable ending, but light-hearted Irish phrases, beautiful pictures, a quick pace and a great sense of humour.
  • Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland tells the true story of St. Patrick’s life, and also retells a number of legends associated with him.  Children will not only enjoy dePaola’s vibrant illustrations, but the stories about St. Patrick getting rid of all of Ireland’s snakes, being captured by bandits and other adventures.
View the list
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, Newmarket Early Childhood Education Examiner

Ida Mae, mother of two and the voice behind the parenting and education blog "A Vision For Our Kids," is an elementary school special education teacher and a graduate of York University’s Faculty of Education. With experience teaching the primary grades and Reading Recovery™, her area of...

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