Enhance the St. Patrick’s Day holiday with various children’s books that include a colorful story, silly leprechaun friends, and an Irish accent. Let children slip into an imaginative place and enjoy amazing picture books from your book basket, as they explore fiction books and educational nonfiction books as they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
1. Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase
This beloved character brings us a Saint Patrick’s Day book! Pete the Cat has decided to open a leprechaun-catching business. Pete will learn quickly that busy leprechauns are super sneaky and hard to catch!
2. That’s What Leprechauns Do
Leprechauns do all types of mischief-making things! This quirky book is a cute look at what all leprechauns like to do. Let children read about how they bury leprechaun gold, play, and act silly in this fun story.
3. Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato
Another hit from Tomie DePaola, this classic folk story is a great book for children. This beloved author brings Irish history to life with this funny story about a lazy Irish man named Jamie O’Rourke. He meets a leprechaun and begins to grow the biggest potato ever!
4. Green Shamrocks
This cute little fiction story is a great Saint Patrick’s Day book! Rabbit is the main character and he loves to collect green shamrocks in a golden pot for an upcoming, fun parade. What will happen if the pot goes missing? This is a fun read-aloud for story time.
5. St. Patrick’s Day (Celebrations in my World)
A great nonfiction option, this book is filled with real photographs, true facts, and interesting information. This would be a great part of your nonfiction text features unit, as it includes many examples like bolded words and a glossary.
6. The Leprechaun Who Lost His Rainbow
When a little girl is sad, a little leprechaun appears to grant her a wish. This is no free wish. Colleen must give him something that is very important to her. Read to find out what happens next!
7. Shamrocks, Harps, and Shillelaghs
Edna Barth brings us a great little nonfiction book about the symbols of this Irish holiday celebration! Learn more about the symbols, culture, and traditions of St. Patrick’s Day in this book!
8. A Fine St. Patrick’s Day
Two villages that are right beside each other have an annual decorating contest. This is a big deal to the people who live there and they work hard to do a good job with this task. When a small stranger shows up, he shakes things up and creates more competition in this decorating battle!
9. Finn McCool and the Great Fish
This little book is about a great, big giant! He may be big, but he also has a big heart and he helps others in the village. Finn learns about a magical fish and he decides to go and catch it. Read about his journey along the way!
10. Flying Feet
When two Irish dancers come to the same town, at the same time, there is only room for one to stay. They will battle it out in a competition of dancing with fast feet. Which man will win and become the town’s new dance master? It is based on a true story.
11. Mr. Mischief and the Leprechaun
Mr. Mischief is full of pranks and playing tricks and jokes on other people! Then he meets a leprechaun who does those things to him. Will they join up and become great friends or become enemies?
12. Leprechaun in Late Winter
Part of the Merlin Mission of the Magic Tree House series, this chapter book is full of magic and adventure! Jack and Annie meet an Irish girl who works hard to bring the Irish culture back into play!
13. Irish Fairy Tales
This is a fun little book with Irish folktales and fairy tales. It has a few simple illustrations but mostly focuses on the stories inside. Interesting characters and events laced with humor make this one a fun read!
14. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Curious George
George is a curious monkey and always up to something new. In this St. Patrick’s Day tabbed board book, he dresses the part and celebrates St. Patrick’s Day and all the traditions that come with it!
15. Hooray for St. Patrick’s Day
This interactive flip-the-tab book is perfect for busy little hands! They will learn all about the holiday of St. Patrick’s Day through crafts, snacks, and traditions. Keep them busy by searching for the hidden little leprechaun on each page.
16. The Story of St Patrick’s Day
This little board book will provide your learners with a delightful snippet of information. With each turn of its pages, they’ll discover why this iconic holiday is celebrated, through stunning illustrations that portray the culture and traditions that form the foundation of this special day.
17. St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning
Eve Bunting brings us another wonderful picture book for children. Filled with Irish culture, this story is about Jamie and how he wants to be part of the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
18. Ten Lucky Leprechauns
This adorable counting book is written in rhyme and is all about leprechauns. This colorfully illustrated children’s book is a great picture book to share with students during story time!
19. How to Trap A Leprechaun
This children’s book is perfect for letting children think on their own! They will have to be very crafty to catch such tiny and fast little leprechauns. Sue Fliess brings a magical feel to this children’s storybook.
20. The Secret Life of Leprechauns
Best for younger readers, this book is all about the secret lives of leprechauns. Let little ones explore, as they learn more about these quick and quiet little leprechauns and what they do all day!
21. The Luckiest Leprechaun
This is a cute story about a leprechaun who is able to keep humans from finding his pots of gold! He meets a dog who really likes him and won’t leave him alone. Students will enjoy this cute little book for St. Patrick’s day!
22. Pout Pout Fish Lucky Leprechaun
Everyone loves the pout-pout fish! Read his story about St. Patrick’s Day and see if he is able to find the pot of gold. Children will love the colorful photos in this picture book.
23. Liam the Leprechaun Loves to Fart
Liam the leprechaun is always farting. Sometimes it bothers the other leprechauns, but sometimes it helps when it is needed! Read more about Liam and his tooting adventure.
24. Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk
Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, this picture book is about a man and his wife who don’t have much money or food. Luckily, they stumble upon a group of leprechauns who grant them riches!
25. Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland
Another wonderful book from the talented Tomie DePaola, this one is about the Irish Patron Saint, Patrick. It tells of his life and travels and is a great book to include in your St. Patrick’s Day rotation.
26. O’Sullivan Stew
In order to restore the peace in the village after the witch’s horse is stolen, a young girl makes a stew. This humorous story of Irish folklore tells about how the girl’s plan backfires and her journey along the way.
27. The Leprechaun Under the Bed
Happy and living alone without being bothered, Brian the leprechaun doesn’t like it when a nosy human tries to invade his space by building a house. Brian decides to scare the human away with his magic shenanigans, but it doesn’t work. Will they become friends or stay enemies?
28. Jack and the Leprechaun
A little mouse named Jack takes a trip to visit his cousin in Ireland. While he is there, he tried to catch his very own leprechaun. Throughout his journey, he learns all about the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, the country of Ireland, and the customs and traditions associated with both.
29. Let’s Count St. Patrick’s Day Edition
Geared for little bitty kiddos, this is a perfect book for helping little ones learn to count. Full of St. Patrick’s Day-themed illustrations and graphics, this book is colorful and engaging for young learners.
30. Fiona’s Luck
A leprechaun king has locked away all the good luck and left a town without any. Fiona, a smart young girl, finds a way to get their good luck back by tricking the leprechaun king. This adorable folktale is beautifully illustrated.
31. Leprechauns Never Lie
This cute little book is a great picture book about leprechauns. In this story, a leprechaun is bothered by two lazy humans who don’t want to do their chores. He decides to trick them into doing their work and never finding his treasures.
32. There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Clover
One of the many “Old Lady Who Swallowed A..” series, this one is written with the St. Patrick’s Day holiday in mind. The old lady swallows clovers this time. What will happen when she swallows too many?
33. The Luckiest St. Patrick’s Day Ever
This St. Patrick’s Day book is full of cute, comic-type illustrations and tells all about the holiday. These lucky, little leprechauns are ready for the parade and all the fun traditions that come with this holiday!
34. How to Catch a Leprechaun
Full of bold and colorful illustrations, How To Catch a Leprechaun is a fun book that incorporates STEAM and STEM into your classroom. This is a great project that the kids will enjoy and have tons of fun with while learning!
35. St. Patrick’s Day
Written by the incredible Gail Gibbons, this Saint Patrick’s Day book is full of information and history about the holiday! This is perfect for use in a holiday collection or around the time of St. Patrick’s Day.
36. The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day
The night before St Patrick’s Day, two kids stay up late, setting leprechaun traps. They are successful in catching a leprechaun, but will they be able to find the valuable pots of gold?
37. The Berenstain Bears St. Patrick’s Day
Another great Berenstain Bears adventure, this Saint Patrick’s Day storybook is fun and full of parades and leprechauns. Join the Berenstain Bears as they celebrate this Irish holiday.
38. Too Many Leprechauns
Living next door to a leprechaun family is all fun and games on Saint Patrick’s Day, but for the rest of the year, it is no fun at all. They are mischievous leprechauns, always getting into trouble. Will clever charades help calm these little leprechauns?
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