[.ca] St. Patrick's Day in the Morning (ISBN 0395290988)

From Amazon.com:
On March 17, young Jamie wakes up and realizes it's St. Patrick's Day. The green sashes are laid out on the table for his father and two older brothers--all ready for them to sport in the big parade. This is all very exciting, but Jamie's family had told him he was too small to walk in the parade--too young to make it all the way up Acorn Hill. He decides to take matters (and his trusty flute) into his own small hands, and embarks on an early morning walk--all the way up Acorn Hill--with his dog Nell. What did they know? Sure enough, while the village is sleeping, he traverses the parade route to the top of the hill where he greets the sun with a hearty, "A happy St. Pat's to you, sun." And, he makes it home before breakfast! While no one finds out what Jamie has done, you suspect that he may tell his family later. Kids will love the fact that Jamie climbs all the way up the hill when everyone said he couldn't. A simple but satisfying St. Patrick's Day read-aloud, and an IRA/CBC Children's Choice. (Ages 4 and older)

Making your own way:
Young Jamie wakes early on St. Patrick's Day, much earlier than his sleeping family. He remembers that there will be a parade to the top of Acorn Hill today, and then he remembers that his brothers say he's too little to march in the parade. Well, fine then! He'll just have a parade of his own!! Jamie sets off in his green sweater, hat and coat with Nell the dog and march up the center of town to Acorn Hill by themselves. Along the way, the meet some of the other villagers, one of whom gives Jamie an Irish flag that he proudly waves in his own parade. Does he make it to the top?? You'll have to read to find out!! "St. Patrick's Day in the Morning" is a beautiful story for any child who has ever been told that they're too small, too weak, too short, too this, too that, to do something. You can see Jamie's' happiness at proving everyone wrong. The pen and ink illustrations are lush and detailed: you could count the shingles in the roofs or the bricks in the walls. Green and a little yellow are the only colors in the book, emphasizing the spirit and colors of St. Pats in Jamie's sweater, the flag of Ireland and, of course, the lush green grasses of the Emerald Isle. Because it's not a book about the history or legend of St. Patrick, there is no reason to limit it's reading only to March 17th. Teachers would find it a useful book in teaching both about Ireland and, of course, proving that smaller doesn't mean incapable. A fine book by Bunting and Brett, and highly recommended.