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The Story of St. Patrick: More Than Shamrocks and Leprechauns
Buried beneath the St. Patrick’s Day symbols of shamrocks and
leprechauns lies the story of a man determined to share the message of salvation with the people who made him a slave. Read this true story of the heroic martyr who loved Jesus more than his own life.
leprechauns lies the story of a man determined to share the message of salvation with the people who made him a slave. Read this true story of the heroic martyr who loved Jesus more than his own life.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2007
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 14, 2018
Simple writing and boldly colored illustration make this book appealing on the shelf. Buying it from Voice of the Martyrs makes it satisfying to support a good cause.
However, it is somewhat clunky. The author writes four pages of single spaced text in a preface entitled "A Note from the Author to Parents and Educators" that tells the story of Patrick in more detail than the book provides. This summary would be excellent for older students, but they could probably find something comparable on the web. There is also a bibiography at the end that can be used for further study.
Then, the text of the narrative is presented in two different forms. A large italicized text precedes a more detailed text in a smaller sized font. At first I thought this was a clever way for the book to be adjusted for children of different ages. For small children, simply read the italics and look at the pictures. Yet, doing so is ineffective at creating a good flow of thought. The reason for this presentation is no where addressed, so I guess I got a good idea from a poorly executed artistic decision.
On the last pages of the book, after telling Patrick's story and concluding with Patrick's death and the memorial of St. Patrick's Day, the author reaches to modern day slavery and introduces a Sudanese boy named Demare. Is he fictional or historical? Is there primary source material about him? Is slavery the only way his story parallel's Patrick? While he is mentioned briefly in the preface, no additional information is given. I felt that introducing the volatile idea that children are kidnapped as slaves in today's world in one page is a bit much for a children's book. The idea should have been more carefully developed (especially for younger children) or eliminated altogether. No guidance is given for how to learn more about the child kidnapping today, and the (also weak) discussion questions at the end are only about Patrick and too vague for children. The author has provided a single page face slap and then the books final page concludes with a weak application: "We may never be kidnapped by people of a strange land and forced to tend sheep, or camels, but like Patrick, our friends may laugh at us for believing in a God we cannot see with our eyes. As God's children, we have the same message as Patrick and Demare: the "promise of heaven!" It's a promise for everyone who chooses to believe in Jesus Christ."
My final conclusion is: It is okay, but disappointing. Read the entire text, without getting distracted by the italics. Skip the last two pages. Create your own questions to make the story more concrete for children. And if you have another book about St. Patrick that tells his story for children well, make a donation to Voice of the Martyrs instead of buying this one.
Cheryl Odden has a series of books on the connection between modern western holidays and Saints of the Christian faith. For the next title see...
The Story of St. Nicholas, Odden, 2007
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more on St. Patrick for children see:
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland, DePaolo, 1992
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
However, it is somewhat clunky. The author writes four pages of single spaced text in a preface entitled "A Note from the Author to Parents and Educators" that tells the story of Patrick in more detail than the book provides. This summary would be excellent for older students, but they could probably find something comparable on the web. There is also a bibiography at the end that can be used for further study.
Then, the text of the narrative is presented in two different forms. A large italicized text precedes a more detailed text in a smaller sized font. At first I thought this was a clever way for the book to be adjusted for children of different ages. For small children, simply read the italics and look at the pictures. Yet, doing so is ineffective at creating a good flow of thought. The reason for this presentation is no where addressed, so I guess I got a good idea from a poorly executed artistic decision.
On the last pages of the book, after telling Patrick's story and concluding with Patrick's death and the memorial of St. Patrick's Day, the author reaches to modern day slavery and introduces a Sudanese boy named Demare. Is he fictional or historical? Is there primary source material about him? Is slavery the only way his story parallel's Patrick? While he is mentioned briefly in the preface, no additional information is given. I felt that introducing the volatile idea that children are kidnapped as slaves in today's world in one page is a bit much for a children's book. The idea should have been more carefully developed (especially for younger children) or eliminated altogether. No guidance is given for how to learn more about the child kidnapping today, and the (also weak) discussion questions at the end are only about Patrick and too vague for children. The author has provided a single page face slap and then the books final page concludes with a weak application: "We may never be kidnapped by people of a strange land and forced to tend sheep, or camels, but like Patrick, our friends may laugh at us for believing in a God we cannot see with our eyes. As God's children, we have the same message as Patrick and Demare: the "promise of heaven!" It's a promise for everyone who chooses to believe in Jesus Christ."
My final conclusion is: It is okay, but disappointing. Read the entire text, without getting distracted by the italics. Skip the last two pages. Create your own questions to make the story more concrete for children. And if you have another book about St. Patrick that tells his story for children well, make a donation to Voice of the Martyrs instead of buying this one.
Cheryl Odden has a series of books on the connection between modern western holidays and Saints of the Christian faith. For the next title see...
The Story of St. Nicholas, Odden, 2007
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more on St. Patrick for children see:
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland, DePaolo, 1992
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 12, 2023
It was a good true story with cute pictures
December 28, 2012
Simple writing and vivid pictures make this book engaging. Buying it from Voice of the Martyrs makes it satisfying to support a good cause.
However, it is somewhat clunky. The author writes four pages of single spaced text in a preface entitled "A Note from the Author to Parents and Educators" that tells the story of Patrick in more detail than the book provides. This summary would be excellent for older students, but they could probably find something comparable on the web.
Then, the text of the narrative is presented in two different forms. A large italicized text precedes a more detailed text in a smaller sized font. At first I thought this was a clever way for the book to be adjusted for children of different ages. For small children, simply read the italics and look at the pictures. Yet, doing so is ineffective at creating a good flow of thought. The reason for this presentation is no where addressed, so I guess I got a good idea from a poorly executed artistic decision.
On the last pages of the book, after telling Patrick's story and concluding with Patrick's death and the memorial of St. Patrick's Day, the author reaches to modern day slavery and introduces a Sudanese boy named Demare. Is he fictional or historical? Is there primary source material about him? Is slavery the only way his story parallel's Patrick? While he is mentioned briefly in the preface, no additional information is given. I felt that introducing the volatile idea that children are kidnapped as slaves in today's world in one page is a bit much for a children's book. The idea should have been more carefully developed (especially for younger children) or eliminated altogether. No guidance is given for how to learn more about the topic, and the (also weak) discussion questions at the end are only about Patrick and too vague for children. The author has provided a single page face slap and then the books final page concludes with a weak application: "We may never be kidnapped by people of a strange land and forced to tend sheep, or camels, but like Patrick, our friends may laugh at us for believing in a God we cannot see with our eyes. As God's children, we have the same message as Patrick and Demare: the "promise of heaven!" It's a promise for everyone who chooses to believe in Jesus Christ."
My final conclusion is: It is okay, but disappointing. Read the entire text, without getting distracted by the italics. Skip the last two pages. Create your own questions to make the story more concrete for children. And if you have another book about St. Patrick that tells his story for children well, make a donation to Voice of the Martyrs instead of buying this one.
However, it is somewhat clunky. The author writes four pages of single spaced text in a preface entitled "A Note from the Author to Parents and Educators" that tells the story of Patrick in more detail than the book provides. This summary would be excellent for older students, but they could probably find something comparable on the web.
Then, the text of the narrative is presented in two different forms. A large italicized text precedes a more detailed text in a smaller sized font. At first I thought this was a clever way for the book to be adjusted for children of different ages. For small children, simply read the italics and look at the pictures. Yet, doing so is ineffective at creating a good flow of thought. The reason for this presentation is no where addressed, so I guess I got a good idea from a poorly executed artistic decision.
On the last pages of the book, after telling Patrick's story and concluding with Patrick's death and the memorial of St. Patrick's Day, the author reaches to modern day slavery and introduces a Sudanese boy named Demare. Is he fictional or historical? Is there primary source material about him? Is slavery the only way his story parallel's Patrick? While he is mentioned briefly in the preface, no additional information is given. I felt that introducing the volatile idea that children are kidnapped as slaves in today's world in one page is a bit much for a children's book. The idea should have been more carefully developed (especially for younger children) or eliminated altogether. No guidance is given for how to learn more about the topic, and the (also weak) discussion questions at the end are only about Patrick and too vague for children. The author has provided a single page face slap and then the books final page concludes with a weak application: "We may never be kidnapped by people of a strange land and forced to tend sheep, or camels, but like Patrick, our friends may laugh at us for believing in a God we cannot see with our eyes. As God's children, we have the same message as Patrick and Demare: the "promise of heaven!" It's a promise for everyone who chooses to believe in Jesus Christ."
My final conclusion is: It is okay, but disappointing. Read the entire text, without getting distracted by the italics. Skip the last two pages. Create your own questions to make the story more concrete for children. And if you have another book about St. Patrick that tells his story for children well, make a donation to Voice of the Martyrs instead of buying this one.
March 16, 2020
A wonderfully-illustrated and well-researched children's book, produced by Voice of the Martyrs. I love how the author included a section for parents / educators at the beginning, explaining even more about the life of Patrick. She also include a bibliography for further information.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
March 16, 2011
I ordered this b/c I have to do a presentation this weekend, but also to support VOM's work. I read it with her tonight and she enjoyed the illustrations. There is a nice intro for teachers and parents and a good bibliography.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews