A basic introduction to the holiday-how it began, the life and works of St. Patrick, and the various ways in which the day is celebrated. The text is clear and concise, and the pages are full of information. Gibbons's simple, clean, full-page watercolor-and-ink illustrations flow logically from one to the next. Particularly welcome are descriptions of some St. Patrick's Day symbols, such as shamrocks, leprechauns, and Celtic harps. A couple of picture books are available on the subject, such as Alice Schertle's Jeremy Bean's St. Patrick's Day (Lothrop, 1987), but this is an outstanding choice to fill the bill for nonfiction. Kay McPherson, Central Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, GA Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.