The Irish have observed St. Patrick's Day for over a thousand years. March 17th, the anniversary of St. Patrick's death in 461, falls during the Christian season of Lent. In the past, Irish families would attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon—with Lent rules relaxed for the day, people would eat, drink, and dance—in some ways, not much has changed over time.
March is a great month to explore Irish history, culture, and its peoples. The Irish have a long and rich history; originating in Ireland around 8,000 years ago. Now, an estimated 80 million people of Irish descent live all over the world—the largest number of which live in the United States (around ten times more than in Ireland). The selections below are recent examples of fiction and nonfiction with Irish themes.
For further information visit:
http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day
http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/ireland
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/110316-saint-patricks-day-2011-march-17-facts-ireland-irish-nation/
http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day
http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/ireland
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/110316-saint-patricks-day-2011-march-17-facts-ireland-irish-nation/
Megan's Year: An Irish Traveler's Story
Gloria Whelan
Illustrated by Beth Peck
Megan's Year: An Irish Traveler's Story is a volume in the "Tales of the World Series" from Sleeping Bear Press, which partners with another series titled "Discover the World" to make fictional stories from exotic lands available to young readers. "Megan's Year" is about a girl in a family of Irish Travelers, whose parents migrate through parts of Ireland, seeking seasonal and other work during the summer months. There is a Summer Megan and a Winter Megan. The Summer Megan travels in the caravan with her family moving from job to job and living off the land with other Travelers. The Winter Megan returns to government housing in apartments in Dublin, and attends St. John's National School. Sometimes other girls are unkind to Megan at school, calling her a dirty tinker. The Sisters (teachers) try to teach all children to show charity. Megan misses her summer life in the winter school days. Megan's family is descended from Irish farm folk who were forced off their land by English landlords and the potato famines. Today about 25 thousand Travelers, or Travellers, as they are called in Ireland and England, lead an itinerant life style seeking seasonal employment and moving about. They have their own culture and a unique secret language called Gammon. "Megan's Year" introduces students to a different life style and some of the expressions of Gammon, while describing a year in the life of a young girl. "Megan's Year" is both compassionate and honest in its representation of the life of the Irish Travelers today. "Megan's Year" is highly recommended for students ages 6-10. The Multicultural Shelf, Sleeping Bear Press, Ages 6 to 10, $16.95. Reviewer: Midwest Book Review (Children's Bookwatch, December 2011).
ISBN: 9781585364497
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