THE BOOKWORM
“When Irish eyes are smiling, sure 'tis like the morn in spring. In the lilt of Irish laughter you can hear the angels sing. When Irish hearts are happy all the world seems bright and gay. And when Irish eyes are smiling, sure, they steal your heart away.”
--Chauncey Olcott and George Graff Jr.
A morning in spring is most glorious, with birds hopping about and crocuses popping through the snow. That those “smiling Irish eyes” shine with as much warmth as the sun is a testament to the determination of the Irish to bring light to the darkest of times.
What better time of year than springtime in March to celebrate Irish-American Heritage month. We honor the many and myriad contributions of both Irish immigrants and their descendants, considering their unflagging resilience in impacting our society.
No matter what their own heritage, all children should be encouraged to read about the lives of Irish Americans, both in nonfiction and fiction. Such books teach young readers about history in a most intriguing way.
Moreover, as children pour through the pages of each book, they will be inspired by stories of strong resilience and fierce determination. Boys and girls will thus learn through hard work and optimism that they, too, can tackle their own challenges.
* I AM THE WIND: IRISH POEMS FOR CHILDREN EVERYWHERE, edited by Lucinda Jacob. It has been said that the Irish have a way with words, and this collection of poems both historical and contemporary perfectly proves the point.
No matter what their heritage, young readers will be inspired to perhaps pen their own poems in celebration of their roots and where they are today.
* JFK, by Jonah Winter. A deeply inspiring biography about the life of President John Fitgerald Kennedy. Of strong Irish ancestry, both his paternal and maternal ancestors immigrated from Ireland to the United States during the 19th century potato famine.
Read how Kennedy rose to become the first Irish American president.
* SO FAR FROM HOME: THE DIARY OF MARY DRISCOLL, AN IRISH MILL GIRL. by Danny Denenberg. Written in diary format, this inspiring story shares the fictional life of a young Irish immigrant girl and her experiences as a worker in a mill in Lowell, Massachusetts.
* TOM BRADY by K.C. Kelley. Legendary football champion Tom Brady has a strong Irish ancestry, with his great-great-grandparents immigrating from Ireland to Boston during the 1840s Irish famine.
Read how this renowned quarterback rose to legendary stardom both on and off the field.
* WALT’S IMAGINATION: THE LIFE OF WALT DISNEY, by Doreen Rappaport. This beautifully illustrated picture biography stunningly captures the magic of famed Walt Disney and his rise from humble beginnings to create a still popular entertainment industry.
All along the way, Disney was fiercely proud of his Irish ancestry, his roots informing his work.
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