Saint Patrick and the Peddler

by Margaret Hodges, Paul Brett Johnson (Illustrator)

When a poor Irish peddler follows the instructions given to him by Saint Patrick in a dream, his life is greatly changed

Genres: Picture Books, Ireland, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Folk Tales

40 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1993

About the author

Margaret "Peggy" Hodges was an American writer of books for children.

She was born Sarah Margaret Moore in Indianapolis, Indiana to Arthur Carlisle and Annie Marie Moore. She enrolled at Tudor Hall, a college preparatory school for girls. A 1932 graduate of Vassar College, she arrived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband Fletcher Hodges Jr. when in 1937 he became curator at the Stephen Foster Memorial. She trained as a librarian at Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie Mellon University, under Elizabeth Nesbitt, and she volunteered as a storyteller at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Beginning in 1958 with One Little Drum, she wrote and published more than 40 books.

Her 1985 book Saint George and the Dragon, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, won the Caldecott Medal of the American Library Association.

She was a professor of library science at the University of Pittsburgh, where she retired in 1976.

Hodges died of heart disease on December 13, 2005 at her home in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. She suffered from Parkinson's disease.

She wrote her stories on a notepad or a typewriter. "I need good ideas, and they don't come out of machines," she once said.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

So yes, as a story in and of itself, I do think that Margaret Hodges with her 1993 picture book Saint Patrick and the Peddler, tells a for the most part sufficiently engaging and entertaining little tale (filled with whimsy, treasure searching, sharing said treasure around once found and of course also having multiple appearances by the Patron Saint of Ireland), but that in my humble opinion, Hodges does really take a bit too much time to establish a textually believable sense of historical time for Saint Patrick and the Peddler. Because until Margaret Hodges mentions the potato crops failing (which happens about half way through Saint Patrick and the Peddler), there is really no way for readers and/or listeners to know without a doubt that Saint Patrick and the Peddler is obviously supposed to be taking place in the 19th century, during the time of the Irish Potato Famine.

But while as already mentioned above, the storyline itself as it is presented by Margaret Hodges in Saint Patrick and the Peddler on the surface and generally speaking seems to be a decent enough piece of Irish-inspired folklore, while reading Margaret Hodges' presented text, I was also and indeed from her first presented sentences feeling rather as though she, as though Hodges has simply taken a non specifically Irish folklore story, transplanted it to Ireland and then added details regarding Saint Patrick and the like to make it feel more authentic, with the final result being a tale that although basically readable and fun at the same time and definitely also kind of feels more than a trifle artificial and unrealistic, non authentic in scope and feel. And although I do appreciate that Margaret Hodges admits in her author's note that Saint Patrick and the Peddler is in fact an originally English (from England) folktale that she has taken, transplanted to Ireland and then added on information on Ireland and on Saint Patrick (which has been gleaned from Jospeh Jacobs' collection More English Fairy Tales) and that well and at least for me, Saint Patrick and the Peddler just does not really ever truly feel all that truly specifically Irish, that the addition of Saint Patrick, Dublin, the Irish Potato Famine etc. do not really make Saint Patrick and the Peddler an Irish fairy or folk tale, but rather Joseph Jacobs' The Pedlar of Swaffam painted with a thin veneer of Irishness.

Therefore, as far as the text for Saint Patrick and the Peddler goes, I for one do find the fact that Margaret Hodges has simply tried to make Joseph Jacobs' The Pedlar of Swaffam into an Irish tale (and also not always that successfully in my humble opinion) enough for me to only consider a two star rating. But that yes, because (and truly only because) I have aesthetically and visually absolutely adored Paul Brett Johnson's accompanying illustrations (and which actually are delightful works of art by themselves and for themselves and do not in fact even require Margaret Hodges' words, do not need her presented text in order to absolutely and totally visually shine), my final ranking for Saint Patrick and the Peddler (even with my disappointment regarding Margaret Hodges' featured narrative) will be three stars, a rather low three stars, to be sure, but three stars all the same.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poor peddler of Ballymena, a small village in County Antrim, Ireland (currently Northern Ireland), treats everyone who comes to his door with kindness and generosity in this Irish adaptation of a traditional English folktale. When the Great Famine strikes, the entire countryside is reduced to poverty, and the peddler to starvation. For three night Saint Patrick comes to the peddler in a dream, instructing him to travel to Dublin, and to stand on the bridge across the Liffey, for there he will hear something of benefit to him. Eventually giving in, the peddler does as he is told, and learns that he has had a fortune all along, buried underneath his old cauldron...

According to author Margaret Hodges' afterword, the story in Saint Patrick and the Peddler is actually taken from Joseph Jacobs' 1893 collection, More English Fairy Tales , where it was entitled The Pedlar of Swaffam. Hodges decided to transplant the story from England to Ireland, setting it in Ballymena because that is where some of her ancestors hail from, and combining it with the lore of Saint Patrick. Leaving aside the question of origins, the story itself is engaging, with a worthy and generous hero and a happy ending. The artwork from illustrator Paul Brett Johnson, done in acrylic paint, has a lovely impressionistic feeling to it, and beautifully captures the Irish countryside, and the play of light on the land. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, and to picture-book readers looking for stories for St. Patrick's Day.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The gorgeous illustrations of Ireland are my favorite part of this story. Just lovely! The story itself is mildly interesting; I gather from the author's note that the author combined a folktale (of perhaps non-Irish origins) with some legends of St. Patrick to create a new version of the tale. I think I would have rather read the original version, but I do appreciate the author's creativity. In this story, a poor but kind peddler is visited in his dreams by St. Patrick who gives him rather vague directions that will supposedly increase his fortune. The peddler decides to have faith and is rewarded.

Note, apparently The Treasure by Uri Shulevitz also takes on the original folktale.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

We loved this Irish tale and it’s clear moral.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same basic tale as The Treasure

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining Irish tale that combines parts of different stories along with the history of Saint Patrick. The narrative is fun to read aloud and the acrylic painting illustrations are gorgeous - they really convey the time period of the story. I loved the picture of the River Liffey - it has such a nice impressionistic style.

The author also includes a short legend of Saint Patrick and a note that explains her inspiration for the tale. Overall, we thought it was a very engaging story and we really enjoyed reading it together.

[Lynnette · Rating 3 out of 5]

illustrations were pretty. the story is fine. I would definitely want to verify with a child that this is a made-up story. my toddler didn't sit through it very well. he was pretty impatient because there were a lot of words on the page.

[Kaycee Monnens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little legend that pulls on my Catholic heartstrings ❤️

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very darling tale about St Patrick and a peddler. Combining beautiful paintings with a short, rich tale.

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little tale of St. Patrick helping a poor man by giving him messages in his dreams. He is led to a pot of gold.

[Tym · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not big on the not so subtle catholic messaging in this one, the art is gorgeous

[hr arch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A favorite from when I was a kid, with lovely illustrations, but unnecessary paganbashing. (Of course.)

[Jerry]

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[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations of Ireland, and an interesting folk tale about St. Patrick. I don't see why the ghost Saint had to send the poor peddler to Dublin, he could have just said: "look under your pot there's a bunch of gold there," but that's the spirits for you.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am giving this book 4 stars because it has great usefulness as a mentor text and writing inspiration in the classroom. I picked it up as a last remainder on a shelf of St. Patrick's Day books at the library. I needed another read aloud to add to the 2 I usually use. Even as I began reading it, I thought it was just OK. However, my first grade students liked it from the beginning, intrigued, I think, by the main character's dreams. It turned out to be a great jumping off for our writing lesson about what you would do if you found a pot of gold. It is a nice change from the more contemporary children's books published for this holiday.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful folklore to read! In the back of the book it tells about the truth behind the story. and of course the story itself starts and tells the story of a peddler that listens to his dreams and St Patrick.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated Irish story of a kind poor peddler who follows his dreams (literally) in hopes that his fortune will turn. Margaret Hodges included an informative afterward about the life of Saint Patrick that shouldn't be overlooked when sharing with your kiddos.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Who wouldn't put their faith in a St. after that sort of blessing?
This is an updated version of The Treasure by Uri Shulevitz.
(She was a children's librarian and wrote for young people.)

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are exceptionally nice! The story is interesting and enjoyable!

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story.

[Alena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite folktales. Sometimes the treasure that we seek the world over, can be found in our own backyards.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book ... a simple story of faith and obedience. And blessing.

Once again a very enjoyable book!

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It's nice to have a St. Patricks day story without the leprechauns. :)

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story reminiscent of The Alchemist.