St. Patrick’s Day is a traditional Irish folklore that is now celebrated throughout the world on March 17. We need to make sure our kids know about this wonderful cultural tradition and learn how and why it is celebrated every year.
To help you educate your kids on St. Patrick’s Day, I went ahead and curated for you this list featuring some of the best St. Patrick’s Day books for kids. These reads are a great way to bring in some fun and laughter while learning about the holiday’s rich history, customs, and traditions.
St. Patrick’s Day Books for Kids
From classic tales like Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato, to interactive board books like Brick Puffington, these St. Patrick’s Day books will provide hours of entertainment while teaching children about Irish culture and traditions. These stories feature leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, magical adventures, St. Patrick’s Day activities for kids, and funny rhymes that will certainly delight children of all ages.
1. Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase, by James Dean and Kimberly Dean
Pete the Cat is on a mission to catch a leprechaun in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. His friends have hired him to trap one, but catching a leprechaun is never easy. He soon discovers that it’s Clover, the most mischievous and trickiest of all leprechauns. Will Pete’s plan to catch Clover backfire or will he be successful? Read the story to learn the answer.
2. The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day, by Natasha Wing
The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day, by Natasha Wing tells the story of Tim and Maureen, two siblings who are determined to catch a leprechaun on the night before St. Patrick’s Day. After setting traps all night, they wake up to find that they’ve actually caught a leprechaun! The siblings then set on a journey through the countryside, in search of the leprechaun’s pot of gold.
Along the way, they meet some magical creatures and learn about Irish culture and tradition. In the end, their adventure leads them to an unexpected and happy ending. This is a great book for kids who love St. Patrick’s Day festivities or just want a fun story about Irish folklore.
3. This Is the Way the Leprechauns Play: A St. Patrick’s Day Nursery Rhyme, by Arlo Finsy
This Is the Way the Leprechauns Play is a book that celebrates the joy of St. Patrick’s Day with its lyrical text and adorable illustrations. Featuring a whimsical story about leprechauns playing hide-and-seek on St. Patrick’s Day, young readers will be captivated by the delightful rhyme and colorful illustrations as they imagine the leprechauns dancing and singing, hiding their gold, making little shoes and more.
4. Leprechauns and Irish Folklore, by Mary Pope Osborne, Natalie Pope Boyce
Leprechauns and Irish Folklore, by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce, takes readers on an adventure through Irish mythology. The book provides readers with up-to-date information about leprechauns, fairies, and other beings of Irish folklore. It includes photos, illustrations, and fun facts from Jack and Annie, the beloved characters from the popular Magic Tree House series.
The book also helps readers learn about the Irish language and culture. It includes an exploration of Celtic mythology and stories that have been passed down for generations. Plus, it has information about traditional Irish music and dance, as well as recipes for favorite Irish dishes like soda bread.
5. The Berenstain Bears’ St. Patrick’s Day, by Mike Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears’ St. Patrick’s Day, by Mike Berenstain, is an entertaining story about the Bear family celebrating the Irish holiday. Led by Gramps, Papa, Mama and their cubs dress up in green and set off to watch a parade down Main Street in Bear Town. During the parade, they watch the marching bands, dancers and pipers. To conclude the parade, a group of bears dressed as leprechauns appear carrying pots of gold!
The cubs learn about St. Patrick’s Day while they enjoy the fun activities that come with it. They listen to Gramps tell stories about leprechauns and dreams of the green and pleasant land. By the end, they have learned a lot about the holiday and had lots of silly fun along the way!
6. Leprechaun in Late Winter, by Mary Pope Osborne
Leprechaun in Late Winter, by Mary Pope Osborne, is the fifteenth book of the Merlin Mission series in the Magic Tree House collection. It follows Jack and Annie as they take a magical adventure to help an Irish girl. This inspires her to become Lady Gregory – a champion of Irish culture and heritage who starts a theater and helps bring back the Irish legends.
This book emphasizes the importance of creativity and imagination, as Jack and Annie set out to find creative people all over the world. Kids can explore different cultures, as well as develop their own original ideas, through this story.
7. St. Patrick’s Day, by Gail Gibbons
St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday celebrated around the world to honor St. Patrick of Ireland, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century AD. Gail Gibbons’ book explores the history and customs of this special day. The book discusses the life of St. Patrick, legendary stories about him, and how the holiday we know today came to be.
Kids will learn about the traditions of St. Patrick’s Day, like dressing in green, eating Irish foods, and marching in parades. Gail Gibbons’ detailed illustrations show a variety of images depicting the day — shamrocks, leprechauns and shillelaghs. At the end of the book, readers are treated to a few more facts about St. Patrick’s Day, as well as some fun activities to do on the holiday.
8. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover!, by Lucille Colandro
In There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover!, by Lucille Colandro, readers are reintroduced to the beloved character of the Old Lady who loves to swallow things. This time, she is accompanied by her trusty pet dog and together they journey around the country swallowing items in order to create a rainbow that will hide a pot of gold. Along the way they swallow a four-leaf clover, some shamrocks, a hat full of gold coins and even a leprechaun!
9. Happy Leprechaun Finger Puppet Plush St. Patrick’s Day, by Cottage Door Press, Brick Puffington
This St. Patrick’s Day board book introduces children ages 0-4 to a lovable leprechaun as he embarks on a journey to the end of the rainbow. Along the way, he encounters various mishaps and misfortunes but never gives up his search. The included finger puppet leprechaun encourages interactive play and hand-eye coordination while adorable rhymes entertain children.
10. Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato, by Tomie dePaola
Jamie O’Rourke is the laziest man in all of Ireland, living with his wife on a farm. One day, he has a chance encounter with a leprechaun, and the leprechaun grants him one wish. Jamie’s wish is that he can grow the biggest potato in the world, and soon enough he finds himself with a potato plant larger than he ever imagined. As the potato grows, so does Jamie’s fame, and people come from far and wide to see it.
However, when the potato gets too big for Jamie and the villagers to handle, they have to figure out what to do with it. With help from the leprechaun, they come up with an ingenious plan to make the most of the enormous potato and ensure Jamie’s fame lives on.
11. How to Catch a Leprechaun, by Adam Wallace
How to Catch a Leprechaun, by Adam Wallace is a fun and lively children’s picture book that encourages kids to start a St. Patrick’s Day tradition of building leprechaun traps. The story follows the journey of trying to capture the mischievous leprechaun and features STEAM concepts blended with hilarious rhymes and vibrant illustrations.
12. Lucky Tucker, by Leslie McGuirk
Lucky Tucker is a children’s book written by Leslie McGuirk about an adventurous terrier named Tucker. On St. Patrick’s Day, he goes out and rolls in a patch of four-leaf clovers, causing him to become the luckiest dog of the day! Throughout his journey, he experiences a variety of exciting adventures that are both hilarious and educational.
13. Liam the Leprechaun Loves to Fart, by Humor Heals Us
Liam the Leprechaun Loves to Fart is a fun and entertaining rhyming read-aloud story book for kids about a farting leprechaun, perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. Written by Humor Heals Us, the book is part of the Farting Adventures series which celebrates the value of laughter.
In this hilarious story, Liam the leprechaun is a mischievous and magical creature who loves to let out loud farts – much to the surprise of all his friends! Kids will love reading along as they learn about the fun adventures of Liam, while also learning an important lesson about being yourself and not caring what other people think.
Final thoughts
In wrapping up, the books i shared with you above serve as a vibrant bridge connecting young minds to the rich tapestry of Irish culture and heritage, instilling in them an appreciation for the traditions and stories that have shaped not only a nation but also the global celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day.
Each story, from the hilarious escapades of leprechauns to the heartfelt adventures across emerald landscapes, is a testament to the power of storytelling in fostering a sense of wonder, curiosity, and cultural awareness. These books are not merely a tool for entertainment; they are a means through which we pass on the values of friendship, courage, and the pursuit of dreams—themes that are universally resonant and deeply rooted in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day.
