Saint Patrick - Hardcover

The lineaments of Saint Patrick's life comprise the barest of bones in this work from Tompert (How Rabbit Lost His Tail, 1997, etc.), which is less biography than leap in the dark. The story opens with Patrick's birth in southwest Britain during the fourth century. He was a son of the manse, a lousy student, and lax as could be regarding his religion. When Irish pirates sold him into slavery, Patrick saw the light (or, rather, heard a voice that urged him to escape and return home). Miracles start raining, prayers are routinely answered, as Patrick makes his way back to Britain. Once there he has a dream that counsels he return to Ireland to spread the faith. As an author's note makes clear, Tompert attempts to stick to the few known facts of Patrick's life, but the insertion of his words into the narrative turns the story, including the more sensational aspects, into an eyewitness account instead of something mythical or hallowed. As the story pales, Garland's curious, mixed-media illustrations, with a variety of digitalized patterns, become that much more compelling. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Kindergarten-Grade 3?This biography marshals what little material is available about the man who Christianized the Irish into a simply written, straightforward narrative unembellished by the various legends that have been associated with the saint. It is mounted in an exceptionally handsome format, with a formal presentation of the text on yellow backgrounds richly framed by borders of brown and gold, facing full-page, mixed-media illustrations of power and distinction, gleaming with brilliant color. The artistic style is decorative yet forceful, with an interesting variety of landscapes and flat, simple, but very expressive human figures. An author's note is included. Eileen Dunlop's Tales of St. Patrick (Holiday, 1996) and Margaret Hodges's St. Patrick and the Peddler (Orchard, 1993) are attractive titles that deal with the legends. Tomie dePaola's Patrick (Holiday, 1992), also an excellent, easy-to-read biography, has stiller, less dramatic artwork with a more sober and eternal air.?Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.