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The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh
A family retells the story of the shillelagh that was whittled from a tree. During the Irish potato famine, Fergus and his family left for America. But first Fergus cut a branch from a blackthorn tree to take a piece of Ireland with him.
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 13, 2019
When the terrible blight destroys the potato crop upon which they depend, and hunger becomes a constant companion, Fergus and his family must leave their native Ireland for America. Determined to take a piece of his home with him, Fergus cuts a branch from his favorite blackthorn tree, whittling it into a shillelagh - a traditional Irish walking stick, and/or club - on the sea voyage over.
Working hard to make a new life, Fergus never forgets the land of his birth, or the terrible suffering of the Famine, eventually passing his shillelagh, and his stories, on to his son, Declan. Railway workers and bridge-builders, soldiers and singers, down through the generations, Fergus' descendants weave themselves into the fabric of American life, but they never forget the land from which their ancestors came...
A lovely picture-book exploration of the immigrant experience, and the multi-generational saga of one Irish-American family, The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh is a tribute to the power of stories to shape our sense of self, and a reminder of the importance of remembering our familial and ethnic/national history. I found myself tearing up, as I read it. With a simple but engaging narrative, and beautiful acrylic illustrations, this is one title I recommend for reading at any time of the year!
Working hard to make a new life, Fergus never forgets the land of his birth, or the terrible suffering of the Famine, eventually passing his shillelagh, and his stories, on to his son, Declan. Railway workers and bridge-builders, soldiers and singers, down through the generations, Fergus' descendants weave themselves into the fabric of American life, but they never forget the land from which their ancestors came...
A lovely picture-book exploration of the immigrant experience, and the multi-generational saga of one Irish-American family, The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh is a tribute to the power of stories to shape our sense of self, and a reminder of the importance of remembering our familial and ethnic/national history. I found myself tearing up, as I read it. With a simple but engaging narrative, and beautiful acrylic illustrations, this is one title I recommend for reading at any time of the year!
August 23, 2019
6 star book!
Wonderful generational history of the Irish in the United States.
Wonderful generational history of the Irish in the United States.
February 27, 2017
“The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh” by Janet Nolan.
****
Beautifully told and illustrated story of a family's history in departing the famine in Ireland in 1845 and the successive generations who lived in America.
“Day after day, Fergus felt a rumble in his empty belly as he sat beside his favorite blackthorn tree, watching the clouds reach down from the sky and touch the earth.”
“With the shillelagh held between their hands, Kayleigh and her Grandpa Garrett danced, on St. Patrick's Day, by the light of the stars and the glow of the moon.”
****
Beautifully told and illustrated story of a family's history in departing the famine in Ireland in 1845 and the successive generations who lived in America.
“Day after day, Fergus felt a rumble in his empty belly as he sat beside his favorite blackthorn tree, watching the clouds reach down from the sky and touch the earth.”
“With the shillelagh held between their hands, Kayleigh and her Grandpa Garrett danced, on St. Patrick's Day, by the light of the stars and the glow of the moon.”
June 6, 2018
The story of a potato famine and the migration to America, but also a story of tradition (especially oral tradition) and family history and passing both things and stories down from parent to child through time.
March 27, 2024
Irish American Heritage Month: book number 7.
The year is 1845, Irish people are starving due to the potato blight. When young Fergus learns that his family will travel to America, he goes to his favorite blackthorn tree and cuts off a branch. He wants to take a piece of Ireland with him.
“As passengers on the crowded ship waved goodbye to the land they would never see again, Fergus whittled the branch from the blackthorn tree into a fine Shillelagh. His tears softened the wood.”
(A shillelagh is a walking stick)
Janet Nolan, The St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh
Fergus worked hard in America, but he never forgot his beloved Ireland. He loved to tell a story. On St. Patrick’s day, he would tell the tale of the great hunger in Ireland, of his shillelagh, and his journey to America. One year, Fergus placed the shillelagh into his son Declan’s hands. From generation to generation, the St. Patrick’s shillelagh story was told. During the years, his family also contributed to the building and culture of America. They built railroads and bridges, they were singers, dancers, and teachers. A grandson fought in WWI and used the shillelagh to support his injured leg. A great-granddaughter helped build airplanes during WWII.
This is a heartwarming story about family, challenges, tradition, heritage, individuality, connection, and contribution.
Stories open our awareness. They help us grow our empathy. They inform us. They shape us. They connect us. They amuse us.
HOORAY FOR STORIES AND FOR BOOKS!!!
The year is 1845, Irish people are starving due to the potato blight. When young Fergus learns that his family will travel to America, he goes to his favorite blackthorn tree and cuts off a branch. He wants to take a piece of Ireland with him.
“As passengers on the crowded ship waved goodbye to the land they would never see again, Fergus whittled the branch from the blackthorn tree into a fine Shillelagh. His tears softened the wood.”
(A shillelagh is a walking stick)
Janet Nolan, The St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh
Fergus worked hard in America, but he never forgot his beloved Ireland. He loved to tell a story. On St. Patrick’s day, he would tell the tale of the great hunger in Ireland, of his shillelagh, and his journey to America. One year, Fergus placed the shillelagh into his son Declan’s hands. From generation to generation, the St. Patrick’s shillelagh story was told. During the years, his family also contributed to the building and culture of America. They built railroads and bridges, they were singers, dancers, and teachers. A grandson fought in WWI and used the shillelagh to support his injured leg. A great-granddaughter helped build airplanes during WWII.
This is a heartwarming story about family, challenges, tradition, heritage, individuality, connection, and contribution.
Stories open our awareness. They help us grow our empathy. They inform us. They shape us. They connect us. They amuse us.
HOORAY FOR STORIES AND FOR BOOKS!!!
June 9, 2020
The story time theme that never happened was "Lucky Plants" in March. This book centers around a branch from a tree in Ireland that ties a family of Irish immigrants to America to their past through telling stories on Saint Patrick's day about the significance of the family shillelagh. I'm always looking for fiction books where plants are a significant contribution in the story. This is one.
March 20, 2023
An entertaining story of an Irish family through generations beginning with their immigration to America - the stories they tell & the heirlooms they pass on! It is fun yet educational and my girls were super interested in the storyline and in turn, our own family history!
April 22, 2018
Irish immigration, story telling, family.
March 11, 2022
Nice story about a walking stick/shillelagh that is passed with an oral tradition from generation to generation in an Irish family from the Potato Famine in the 19th century to the present.
March 11, 2023
Cute story that celebrates heritage and passing down a family's history through generations.
May 26, 2026
This would be a lovely picture book to refer back to when teaching about family history.
March 21, 2010
Title: The St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh
Author: Janet Nolan (Illustrated by Ben f. Stahl)
Genre: Children’s
Challenges: 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, PB & J Challenge, Read and Review Challenge 2010, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge, 100 + Reading Challenge, Pages Read 2010,
Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: 28
Published: 2002
Back Cover: In Ireland, the potatoes are rotting and people are starving, so Fergus and his parents must leave their beloved homeland. On the night before they sail, Fergus cuts a branch from his favorite blackthorn tree. On board the ship to America, he carves the branch into a fine shillelagh.
In America, Fergus works hard and starts his own family. Every year on St. Patrick’s day, he tells the story of the shillelagh. When his son Emmet grows to be a man, Fergus passes the shillelagh --- and the honor of the telling its story – on him.
Generation after generation, through happy times and sad, this Irish-American family passes on the gift of its story. And now, at last, it is Kayleigh’s turn to received the shillelagh.
Mine: This is a wonderful generational story about family traditions. The main object is to make sure that each generation understands – in this story it almost missed and generation and was lost forever. This is a story about what family’s history and how they immigrated to America.
What a wonderful story for St. Patrick’s Day
Author: Janet Nolan (Illustrated by Ben f. Stahl)
Genre: Children’s
Challenges: 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, PB & J Challenge, Read and Review Challenge 2010, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge, 100 + Reading Challenge, Pages Read 2010,
Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: 28
Published: 2002
Back Cover: In Ireland, the potatoes are rotting and people are starving, so Fergus and his parents must leave their beloved homeland. On the night before they sail, Fergus cuts a branch from his favorite blackthorn tree. On board the ship to America, he carves the branch into a fine shillelagh.
In America, Fergus works hard and starts his own family. Every year on St. Patrick’s day, he tells the story of the shillelagh. When his son Emmet grows to be a man, Fergus passes the shillelagh --- and the honor of the telling its story – on him.
Generation after generation, through happy times and sad, this Irish-American family passes on the gift of its story. And now, at last, it is Kayleigh’s turn to received the shillelagh.
Mine: This is a wonderful generational story about family traditions. The main object is to make sure that each generation understands – in this story it almost missed and generation and was lost forever. This is a story about what family’s history and how they immigrated to America.
What a wonderful story for St. Patrick’s Day
August 15, 2008
I haven't been able to read through this book without crying! The sentiment is so absolutely and simply beautiful. It touches me as a genealogist, a daughter and a Mom (especially as a Mom) and my kids loved it too.
Before immigrating from Ireland to America, young Fergus cuts a branch from a blackthorn tree and while traveling to America he whittles it into a walking cane (a shillelagh). The shillelagh gets past down through the generations of his family with each generation adding to its story.
It is a beautiful and touching story about immigration and family; especially poignant for my family.
(Our local Scottish Society hosted Scots and Scots-Irish Day in Tennessee by having "Story Time" at the local library. We read stories, had a piper, Highland and Irish dancers and some Scottish food to taste. I found this book while hunting for something on immigration to read at that event. This was, by far, the best book I found. It addressed so much of that celebration; it seemed written for it.)
Before immigrating from Ireland to America, young Fergus cuts a branch from a blackthorn tree and while traveling to America he whittles it into a walking cane (a shillelagh). The shillelagh gets past down through the generations of his family with each generation adding to its story.
It is a beautiful and touching story about immigration and family; especially poignant for my family.
(Our local Scottish Society hosted Scots and Scots-Irish Day in Tennessee by having "Story Time" at the local library. We read stories, had a piper, Highland and Irish dancers and some Scottish food to taste. I found this book while hunting for something on immigration to read at that event. This was, by far, the best book I found. It addressed so much of that celebration; it seemed written for it.)
March 11, 2014
A shillelagh is handed down from one member of an Irish family to another, from the time of the great potato famine to present day, with each member telling "the story of the St. Patrick's Day shillelagh" to the person who's inheriting the walking stick. The story is, simply, the tale of how it has been handed down from one to another over time, and what it has meant to those who owned it and used it.
I don't think this is a great read-aloud or is the best fit for classroom reading on St. Patrick's Day, but Irish families who hold to tradition may like it for sharing with their families. It's a nice story, it just doesn't fit into the curriculum well.
I don't think this is a great read-aloud or is the best fit for classroom reading on St. Patrick's Day, but Irish families who hold to tradition may like it for sharing with their families. It's a nice story, it just doesn't fit into the curriculum well.
March 18, 2012
Leaving Ireland during the Great Potato Famine, Fergus brings a branch from tree, which he carves into a stick. This is passed down for several generations and as it is passed down the story of it arrived with Fergus is told. The story is often told on St. Patrick's day. It is a cute story that is accompanied with the beautiful illustrations. The idea of a family heritage being passed down is sometimes lost today as families become more and more assimilated.
February 11, 2014
So I liked this book but as an Early Childhood librarian for a PreK school this one is just above level. I love the concept and could probably modify it some as I read - but I'd also have to shorten it as well. Lovely story of a family's heritage for older students.
March 12, 2014
Probably more like 3.5. It opens with a family who immigrates to the U.S. from Ireland during the potato famine. I thought it was a nice story about passing on a family legacy and oral history. They worked hard and made good lives for themselves in America, but they never forgot their heritage.
February 23, 2016
This story traces the story of a family from Ireland to America, and the heirloom shillelagh they pass down from one generation to the next. Along with the shillelagh, the family shares a strong heritage of hard work, the value of story-telling, and red hair. We really enjoyed this book.
March 21, 2024
The shillelagh is used to tell an Irish-American family's story. It made us think about our family heritage as well.
☘️ Bookwyrms ✵ See our full St. Patrick’s Day read aloud list for Christian families.
☘️ Bookwyrms ✵ See our full St. Patrick’s Day read aloud list for Christian families.
March 19, 2011
Nice story about a family's story passed from generation to generation from Irish immigrant until today.
Read
March 19, 2011He drives a car.
அவன் ஓட்டுகின்றான் மகிழூந்து.
She goes to school.
அவள் போகின்றாள் பாடசாலைக்கு.
Sarmilan gets up early morning.
சர்மிலன் எழுத்திருக்கின்றான் அதிகாலையில்.
அவன் ஓட்டுகின்றான் மகிழூந்து.
She goes to school.
அவள் போகின்றாள் பாடசாலைக்கு.
Sarmilan gets up early morning.
சர்மிலன் எழுத்திருக்கின்றான் அதிகாலையில்.
April 4, 2011
A story about an Irish family that immigrates to the United states and how that story is shared through the generations.
February 26, 2013
This was a great story about the importance of families and remembering your history. I loved seeing all the ways the different family members used the shillelagh while helping to build America.
December 15, 2015
Would have been a much better experience for us if there was a section on what a shillelagh is and how to pronounce it.
November 24, 2008
Beautiful story with great illustrations.
Read
April 25, 2017This was a good book to look at. It had some Irish vocabulary put into it. It is good to look at how stories are passed down through the centuries. It had very nice illustrations as well.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews