Saint Patrick the Forgiver

retold and illustrated by Ned Bustard

Is Saint Patrick’s Day just a great time of celebrating Irish heritage with parades, green beer, and shamrocks? Ned Bustard shares the real story of St. Patrick along with some of the tall tales that have surrounded his legacy. In his book Saint Patrick the Forgiver, Ned Bustard retells the ancient story in poem format that is suitable for young and old.

Patrick was born in 385 in England. He was kidnapped and sold as a slave in Ireland where he worked as a shepherd. He had an encounter with God and became a follower of Christ. Later God spoke to him in a vision, provided a boat, and led him safely on the long journey back to his family.

After this escape he had another vision that he was to return to the land and people who had enslaved him. He was able to forgive them because God had forgiven him.

This book is a treasure of spiritual truths, beautiful poetry, and fitting illustrations. Saint Patrick the Forgiver would be a wonderful addition to your St. Patrick’s Day celebration. It shares history and legend differentiating between the two. Most importantly it teaches the lesson of forgiveness.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Children’s Fiction, Christian, Religion and Spirituality

Notes: 1. The author’s note at the end summarizes the book in prose and has two discussion questions, a verse from Ephesians on forgiveness, and two resources for further reading.
2. Intended Ages—4-8, but it would make great family reading for all ages.
3. Currently Amazon has a special pre-order price for this hardback that is almost 50% off. (I have no financial connection with Amazon; I just noticed the price when I looked for the age range.)

Publication: 2/21/2023—InterVarsity Press (IVP Kids)

Memorable Lines:

Hello, my name is Patrick—
you may have heard my story.
I walked the span of Ireland
to tell of God’s great glory.

To the Irish I returned
to preach of love and grace.
I spoke first to the High King’s son
—our Lord he did embrace.

I saw the Spirit moving
all across the Emerald Isle.
It wasn’t luck—it was God’s grace,
and that always makes me smile!

This book is written in verse with woodblock-style illustrations in vibrant colors. The story takes you deeper into the history of Saint Patrick's life, largely based on his own writings, It is an interesting story to share with a kid who doesn't have much exposure to the deeper story of Saint Patrick outside the limited information about him that is tied to the holiday. There are also interesting tidbits about Ireland's history and cultural shift from druids to Catholicism. The rhyming verse structure is clever and engaging, so it's engaging even for pretty little kids.

I have always loved the story of Saint Patrick. This children's book just reaffirmed why. I do feel like the illustrations could have been more appealing to kids but the story was amazing.

Such a fun, whimsical, and informative book. As an adult I still love reading children's books from many age levels. As a reader I chalk it up to wanting to know what the next generations are reading. To be honest a great deal of them seem to be like money grabbing swill. But this one is a diamond in the rough. You get information on the topic, history/holiday, the artwork is cute and eye-catching while also being culturally relevant. The rhyming grabs you and doesn't let go to the end. A super fun way to find out all about St Patrick and the history surrounding his day. I hope the author/publisher decides to make this a holiday series because I for one would sure love to see a Saint Valentine💘

Saint Patrick the Forgiver is a quick picture book about the person behind St. Patrick’s Day. I read this with my daughters and while I learned a couple of things I didn’t know about St
Patrick’s life, unfortunately, my 7 and 10 year old weren’t very impressed with the writing style and illustrations. They didn’t like the poetry style of it. I thought it was a quick read and informative.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

This children's book is more about the history of St Patrick himself than the holiday named after him. The illustrations are beautiful with Celtic knots throughout.

This is an excellent book to teach elementary children about the life of St. Patrick. It's simple but gives a great account of his various endeavors. Here's the Christian story behind St. Patrick's Day. The illustrations were modern biblical drawings. I would love to see others about other saints.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Ned Bustard and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I read this book in honor of my husband Patrick, who is named after St. Patrick! I loved learning about St. Patrick's life. I look forward to having a copy for my future children. I thought this told a great story of him and his life.

Saint Patrick the Forgiver is an interesting book focused on the origins of Saint Patrick. I do like the illustrations throughout the book, and the story told in rhyme makes it easy to read and learn at the same time. While I'm typically not into religious books (especially those for children), it does provide something about the history of the day, rather than the usual, so it has its place within religious households.

This author/illustrator beautifully shares the story of St. Patrick. The images are as much a stand alone work of art as they skillfully support the text. This book provides the historic background of a holiday much misunderstood and the message of forgiveness is a powerful one for readers of all ages. I will add this book to my elementary library collection if it is available through our vendors.

If you are considering this book for your family, you likely have some familiarity with St. Patrick; his use of the shamrock for teaching about the Holy Trinity, the lack of snakes in Ireland attributed to him driving them out, but have you considered the story of St. Patrick in regard to forgiveness? Ned Bustard's retelling of the beloved "apostle to the Irish" is told in lyrical poetic form, the rhyming soothing to listen to while drawing you his tale. A perfect read aloud at 32 pages, each page spread contains the gorgeous linocut artwork of Bustard opposite the corresponding stanza. Each word is purposeful in telling the story of the English teenager captured into slavery, the visions sent to him by God, his teaching, and miracles that this patron saint of Ireland is known for. The unique focus of Bustard on the necessity of Patrick to forgive his captors for his years of slavery and the difficulty of leaving his homeland and family again to return to minister to the people Ireland presents important discussion topics for even the youngest family members. The story also referenced a few legends that I was unaware of and I will enjoy sharing with my family.

This book is simply beautiful and I plan to purchase the hardcover edition for our family library. I received an advance ebook copy from the publisher and am leaving my review voluntarily.

There is so much about Saint Patrick that I did not know before reading this book! What a great way to educate children on who he is and why we really have holiday dedicated to him.

This book makes it easy to understand Saint Patrick's life, his trials, triumphs, and what he accomplished that earned him his sainthood. The illustrations are basic but good for children to grasp the story. This story discusses religion and Saint Patrick almost from a historical perspective rather than a religious perspective and very kid friendly. It also teaches children a lot about forgiveness and kindness onto others that is important for any child to learn.

Saint Patrick the Forgiver tells readers, young and old alike, of the history, myths, and messages he brought to Ireland.

He preached forgiveness and used the simple clover to teach the concept of the Trinity.

The author’s note at the end of the book adds even more to the story and includes discussion questions.

If you are looking for a St. Patrick’s Day children’s book that discusses the religious aspects, this is the book for you.

Review of eBook

Kidnapped at the age of fifteen; taken from his home in Britain and sold into slavery in Ireland, Patrick became a shepherd. After a time, having received a message from God in a dream, Patrick walked some two hundred miles, found a boat, and returned home to his family.

Called in another dream to return to Ireland, Patrick took his Bible and a bell and, because he received forgiveness, knew he must find a way to forgive those who had stolen him from his family. Receiving an old barn from the High King’s son, Patrick had a place to start the church.

Teaching both slave and free, Patrick soon found himself the focus of stories and tales; one legend claimed he gathered up all the serpents and threw them into the bay. Despite the stories and tall tales, Patrick’s work turned people away from their pagan gods.

Patrick set up schools and founded many churches and, as he taught the people, he remained true to his faith.

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Although the targeted audience for this delightful book is young readers ages four through eight, all readers are sure to find that this book speaks to them in some way. Including both the history and the myth of Saint Patrick, the narrative is magnificent.

Told in rhyme, this enchanting tale of the Patron Saint of Ireland teaches young readers important lessons about faith, grace, and forgiveness. Add the stunning linocut illustrations accompanying the story of Saint Patrick following God’s call as he brought Christ to Ireland and readers young and old will find much to appreciate in this exquisite book.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from InterVarsity Press, IVP Kids and NetGalley
#SaintPatricktheForgiver #NetGalley

Ned Bustard’s Saint Patrick the Forgiver provides young readers with a quick and clever introduction into the life and work of the Patron Saint of Ireland.

Brief, bite-sized sentences take readers on a nimble journey through Patrick's life, beginning with his birth in old Britain. It explains how he’s stolen from his parents and winds up in the wild and pagan country of Ireland as a slave. Working as a shepherd, Patrick discovers God’s grace and turns to Christ.

After escaping slavery and returning to his homeland, Patrick receives a vision. He’s told to return to Ireland and share the grace and love of God with the Irish. Patrick balks at first. Why in the world would he want to return to the land of his captivity? Realizing the depth and scope of God’s grace and forgiveness in his own life, however, Patrick eventually returns to the Irish “with a Bible and a bell.” God’s love and grace win out. Patrick tours the island, preaching Christ and the One-in-Three, bringing the Light of the World into a previously dark and pagan land.

This is a great story. Even if you’ve heard about the legend of Saint Patrick for years, there’s something endearing and uplifting about the simplicity of this book that's fresh and new. The rhyming writing style is charming and catchy. It’s like nestling into grandma or grandpa’s lap and hearing them tell you the story as they tuck little ones into bed.

Saint Patrick the Forgiver’s emphasis on grace is refreshing. The text is accompanied by vivid color illustrations that will captivate young readers. Older readers will also appreciate this delightful overview of the life and work of Ireland’s patron saint.

This book is delightful! I loved the illustrations with their Celtic inspiration and how they reflected the period in which Saint Patrick lived. The text is written in verse and was fun to read.

I learned some things I had not know prior to reading this book, like the fact that he was born in England. I like that it mixed the truth of his life with the legends that have been told about him, while staying true to his mission to share the love of Jesus with the people of Ireland.

Do you know how hard it is to find a St. Patrick’s Day book without leprechauns and blarney? If so, you’ll be happy to know, this is free from imaginary creatures.

The story of St. Patrick is retold in rhyme, and is accompanied by old fashioned, almost woodcut like drawings in bright colors. I think my students would enjoy this book.

This is a cute little children's book telling about the Saint Patrick of 'St. Patrick's Day' fame. It's told in a bit of a fun rhyming lilt & accompanied by unique illustrations that do capture the mood of the book. I especially like the Author's Note at the end. This adult reader even learned something about the little Saint that I hadn't known.....always a plus!
I received an e-ARC from publisher InterVarsity Press/IVP Kids via NetGalley for review purposes. This is my own fair/honest review.

This would be cute for a young church group read. I’m not a religious person but gave it a shot. I do think it leaves a lot out and shames those not Christian so I simply cannot rate it any higher than 3 stars.

As a historian, I am familiar with the life of Saint Patrick, but this beautiful picture book written in rhyme presents Patrick in a novel way for both children and adults.

The line cut illustrations in brilliant colors combined with the rhymes that are fun to read and roll off the tongue compel readers to revisit the book and its lessons. Bustard integrates the larger-than-life legends about Patrick, but lays bare his personal human struggles. How could he forgive the slave captors who had kidnapped him and obey God’s calling to voluntarily return to the site of his captivity? Children immediately realize his torment and feel how difficult it might be to forgive.

This book is a good choice for Christian parents seeking to explain the role of St. Patrick in Ireland’s history or for educators teaching about the St. Patrick holiday. It teaches them a valuable lesson about forgiveness.

Highly recommended for children of all ages and adults who enjoy reading a well-written rhyming picture book that educates the mind while pleasing the eye.