Great Picture Books To Capture the Spirit of St. Patrick’s Day
by Keith Rice
St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner! With all the four-leaf clovers, pots of gold, and favorite traditions, it can be a delightfully fun holiday for your little one. Fortunately, there are plenty of great books to help your child both understand and enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. Whether it’s a book about the significance of the holiday, a classic folktale, or a romping adventure with a leprechaun, there’s something here for every child.
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Baby’s First St. Patrick’s Day
Available from:Even the littlest readers can get in on the St. Patrick's Day fun with this engaging, sturdy board book - part of the Baby’s First Holidays series. They'll pick up new words and take to turning pages themselves, all while learning about the holiday's traditions.
(Ages 0 – 3)Also available from: -
This Is the Way the Leprechauns Play
Available from:Dust off your vocal cords! Put your singing voice to good use with this adorable board book written to the tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush.” The cheerful illustrations and rhyming story will make it your new seasonal favorite.
(Ages 0 – 3)Also available from: -
I’m a Leprechaun
Available from:Simple text and colorful illustrations make this a perfect little primer for introducing toddlers and preschoolers to leprechauns. These magical, mythical creatures are best known for enjoying practical jokes and hiding pots of gold, but they’re also great shoemakers. Your wee one will love learning about these mischievous tricksters for St. Patrick’s Day.
(Ages 2 – 5)Also available from: -
Little Man of Disneyland: A Change of Luck (Disney Classic)
Available from:Take a trip through the park with Patrick the leprechaun! When his lucky hat blows away, Patrick and the rest of the Mickey Mouse crew chase it all over Disneyland. It’s the sequel to the book Little Man of Disneyland (Disney Classic), which tells the legend of the park’s creation and the leprechaun who lives there.
(Ages 2 – 5)Also available from: -
Lucky Tucker
Available from:Everyone can enjoy the holiday, even our four-legged friends. Tucker the terrier feels like nothing is going right on St. Patrick’s Day — at least until he rolls around in a bed of four-leaf clovers that just so happens to be home to a leprechaun. Now luck is on Tucker’s side, and he’s about to have the best day ever.
(Ages 2 – 5)Also available from: -
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Tiny!
Available from:Tiny, a giant dog, and his best friend Eliot are excited for the St. Patrick's Day festivities at the park. Racing to find the hidden pot of gold during a scavenger hunt, they notice a young girl who has lost her shoe. Can they help her and still win?
(Ages 3 – 5)Also available from: -
The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose at School
Available from:If you've missed the hilarious shenanigans of Laura Murray's Gingerbread Man, you're in for a treat. In this St. Paddy's Day edition, the tough cookie is on a mission to find the rabble-rousing leprechaun that's making a mess of the elementary school. Parents may recognize the leprechaun's work as holiday pranks, like green toilet water and shamrock footprints - you might even be inspired to try them at home!
(Ages 3 – 5)Also available from: -
Jack and the Leprechaun
What better way to introduce your little reader to St. Patrick’s Day than with a delightful picture book starring Ireland’s most famous mythical creature? While visiting his cousin in Ireland, Jack hears of leprechauns for the first time and sets off to find one for himself.
(Ages 3 – 7)Preorder from: -
The 12 Days of St. Patrick’s Day
Available from:“On the first day of St. Patrick’s, I was lucky to find…” In the same rhyming style as “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” this fun read-aloud counts one shamrock, two pots of gold, three top hats, and so on all the way up to the big celebration. Bonus: a full page of stickers will have little readers feeling extra lucky.
(Ages 3 – 7)Also available from: -
A Fine St. Patrick’s Day
Available from:In the rival towns of Tralee and Tralah, it’s time once again for the annual St. Patrick’s Day decorating contest. Tralah is the reigning champion, but this year, young Fiona Riley has a plan to help Tralee finally come out on top. When a funny, pointy-eared stranger shows up, neither town’s residents know what they’re in for.
(Ages 3 – 7)Also available from: -
St. Patrick's Day, Here I Come!
Available from:From the creators of Kindergarten, Here I Come! comes a festive collection of poems to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Short and snappy lyrics carry readers through every aspect of the day, from playing the bagpipes and wearing green clothing to looking for leprechauns and handing out kisses. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the luckiest day of the year!
(Ages 4 – 6)Also available from: -
Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Crayons
Available from:When Green Crayon goes on vacation, the other colors step up to cover St. Patrick's Day. But what's a leprechaun without green clothing? And a blue four-leaf clover just won't do! Kids will adore this humorous St. Patrick's Day story starring everyone's favorite art supplies.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
The Leprechaun Under the Bed
Available from:Leprechaun Brian O'Shea prefers solitude, thank you very much. But that solitude is spoiled when a bumbling human, Sean McDonald, builds his house atop Brian's underground home. Slowly but surely, a friendship blooms between the two in this big-hearted folktale topped off with whimsical illustrations. You'll enjoy this one year-round, but especially around St. Patrick's Day.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day
Available from:On the night before St. Patrick’s Day, Tim and Maureen are busy laying traps to capture a leprechaun. When they wake the next morning to bagpipes and green eggs, they’re astonished to learn that they managed to catch one after all. But what will they do now?
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
St. Patrick's Day (New & Updated)
Available from:Learn the history behind the traditions with this informative book from award-winning and beloved children’s author, Gail Gibbons. Readers will discover why we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and learn about the legends and customs associated with the day. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves the holiday!
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato
Available from:This classic Irish folktale not only teaches a valuable lesson but is also sure to bring a smile to your child’s face. Jamie O’Rourke is the laziest man in Ireland, and his farm is falling apart. When Jamie meets a leprechaun and starts growing an enormous potato, his luck seems to be changing — but could the world’s largest potato be more than Jamie bargained for?
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Fiona’s Luck
Available from:This beautifully illustrated picture book features an original folktale perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. The greedy Leprechaun King has locked away all the good fortune in Ireland. Now it’s up to a clever girl named Fiona to outsmart the Leprechaun King and bring that legendary luck back to the Emerald Isle.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland
Available from:This timeless book from bestselling author-illustrator Tomie dePaola recounts the storied life of Ireland’s patron saint. From his noble birth in Britain to his six-year captivity to the legend of how he banished snakes from Ireland, this board book is the perfect way to help your child understand the significance of Saint Patrick and this holiday.
(Ages 5 – 8)Also available from: -
Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk
Available from:An oldie but goodie, Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk has the rhythmic lilt of an old Irish tale. Tim O'Toole and his down-on-their-luck family are hoping to turn things around with the help of a band of leprechauns, but they'll have to steer clear of the no-good McGoons if they want to keep things on the up and up.
(Ages 5 – 8)Also available from:
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2024.