For our study of Ireland, we listened to a lot of toe-tapping tunes and fancied finding wee folk all over. As with all of our place-based units, there’s a mixture here of folklore and history. We made connections to our own family background and our region’s Irish influences, not to mention finding a new bread recipe we love. I got to share one of my favorite childhood movies with my girls and found a new and enchanting film for us all. Our exploration of The Emerald Isle was filled with wonder, but the real magic, as always, is in the journey-by-book.

1. Brigid’s Cloak: An Ancient Irish Story by Bryce Milligan and Helen Cann
2. Watch Darby O’Gill and the Little People
3. Fiona’s Lace by Patricia Polacco
4. Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman and Kelly Murphy
5. Great Irish Legends for Children by Yvonne Carroll and Robin Lawrie
6. “Ireland” by CIA World Factbook
7. Color the flags of Ireland and Northern Ireland by Crayola
8. The Irish Cinderlad by Shirley Climo and Loretta Krupinski
9. Irish Fairy Tales edited by Philip Smith
10. Bake Irish Soda Bread
11. Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato: An Irish Folktale by Tomie dePaola
12. Leprechaun in Late Winter by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca
13. Leprechauns and Irish Folklore by Mary Pope Osborne, Natalie Pope Bryce, and Sal Murdocca
14. The Leprechaun’s Gold by Pamela Duncan Edwards and Henry Cole
15. Leprechauns on the Loose: An Adventure in Ireland by Disney’s Small World Library
16. The Long March: The Choctaw’s Gift to Irish Famine Relief by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
17. O’Sullivan Stew by Hudson Talbott
18. Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola
19. The Prince of Ireland and the Three Magic Stallions by Bryce Milligan and Preston McDaniels
20. Listen to Putumayo Presents: Celtic Crossroads
21. Listen to Putumayo Presents: Women of the World, Celtic
22. S is for Shamrock: An Ireland Alphabet by Eve Bunting and Matt Faulkner
23. Watch The Secret of Kells
24. This is Ireland by Miroslav Sasek
25. Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk: An Irish Tale by Gerald McDermott
26. Viking Ships at Sunrise by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca