Under the Hawthorn Tree by Marita Conlon-McKenna

Marita Conlon-McKenna is a wonderful author who writes exciting stories for children. She lives in Ireland and loves to tell tales that make us feel happy, sad, and everything in between. One of her most famous books is "Under the Hawthorn Tree," which tells the story of three siblings during the Irish Famine. Marita's stories teach us about history, family, and friendship. She has written many more books that take us on amazing adventures and teach us important lessons. Marita Conlon-McKenna's books are a treasure for children to enjoy and learn from.

  1. Who is the author of "Under the Hawthorn Tree"?
  2. Where does Marita Conlon-McKenna live?
  3. What is one of the themes in Marita's stories?
  4. Why are Marita's books described as a treasure for children?
  5. Can you think of a lesson you learned from a story by Marita Conlon-McKenna?

Under the Hawthorn Tree

Under the Hawthorn Tree is a captivating book written by Marita Conlon-McKenna. It tells the story of three siblings, Eily, Michael, and Peggy, during the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s. The children are left alone when their parents must travel to find work, and they struggle to survive on their own.

  1. What are the names of the three siblings in the story?
  2. Where does the story take place?
  3. Why do the children have to fend for themselves?
  4. What major event is happening during the time period of the story?
  5. How do the siblings support and care for each other throughout the book?

Visit to the Birthplace of Under the Hawthorn Tree

I am an 8-year-old girl named Tara. Last week, my family and I went on a special trip to the birthplace of Marita Conlon-McKenna. It was so exciting! We visited a city called Dublin in Ireland, where the famous author was born.

  1. We explored the quaint streets of Dublin and learned about Marita Conlon-McKenna's childhood home.
  2. After that, we visited the Dublin Zoo, which was so much fun! I loved seeing all the different animals.
  3. Walking around the city, we saw beautiful old buildings and heard stories about its history.
  4. One of my favorite parts of the trip was trying traditional Irish food like fish and chips.
  5. Overall, visiting Dublin was an amazing experience that I will never forget!
  1. What is the name of the city where Marita Conlon-McKenna was born?
  2. What tourist attraction did Tara visit in Dublin?
  3. Can you describe Tara's experience exploring Dublin?
  4. What was Tara's favorite part of the trip?
  5. What type of food did Tara try in Dublin?

Your Turn!

After reading Under the Hawthorn Tree by Marita Conlon-McKenna, how about creating your own piece of writing based on the book? Perhaps you may prefer to write a book review of the book instead? Another idea might be to give a summary of the book or create a picture that summarises the book. Perhaps you could redesign the book cover? Whatever you or your teacher decides you try and do, good luck!

Slideshow - Under the Hawthorn Tree by Marita Conlon-McKenna
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