25 St. Patrick's Day Books for Kids

Just 1 month until St. Patrick’s Day! Whether you’re a teacher, a homeschooling parent, or a parent who loves to read your kids great books, this list of 25 St. Patrick’s Day books for kids will get your kids geared up for this luck o’ the Irish holiday.

Do you know why we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? St. Patrick, who’s birthname was Maewyn, was born in Roman Britain. As a youth he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland. He later escaped and fled to France where he converted to Christianity. He returned to Ireland in 432 A.D. as a missionary and made great efforts in converting the Druids at Tara. Patrick became a bishop, and after his death, was named Ireland’s patron saint.

It is said that Irish colonials who fought in America’s Revolutionary War were the first people to hold St. Patrick’s Day parades. St. Patrick’s Day became a way to connect Irish immigrants to their roots.

So last year we brought you 5 fun St. Patrick’s Day crafts for preschoolers. While we aren’t into coloring our milk green here at our house, we often love to gear up for holidays like St. Patrick’s Day with fun books. This fun list has a little bit of everything from history to fantasy, from the Patron Saint of Ireland to those lucky little leprechauns.

Click on any of the St. Patrick’s Day books for kids below to learn more about about it on Amazon.

25 St. Patrick’s Day Books for Kids

		Traveling Tom and the Leprechaun Tom, a traveling minstrel, has fallen in love at first sight with the beautiful princess Kathleen. But Kathleen has vowed only to marry the man who can win a leprechaun’s pot of gold. Tom sets out with a clever plan to fool a leprechaun into giving up his fortune. Ages 4+
		Too Many Fairies: A Celtic Tale An old woman grumbles, “Work! Work! Work! How I hate it! Hate it! Hate it!” Her complaining soon brings four fairies to her door to perform her chores—washing dishes, sweeping, making the bed, and knitting. But all of the help still can’t stop her from complaining about all the noise the fairies are making: “clankety, clankety,” “swishety, swishety,” “lumpety, flumpety,” and “clickety clickety.” “These fairies are driving me crazy!” she laments. This Scottish folktale is subtle but effective in its message of humility. Ages 5-9
		There Once Was a Man Named Michael Finnegan There Once Was a Man Named Michael Finnegan, adapted by Mary Ann Hoberman, illus. by Nadine Bernard Westcott, is a silly song that instructs young singers to “begin-igan” at the end of each verse. Ages 3-9
		The Luckiest Kid on the Planet Lucky feels that he is the luckiest child on planet Earth, and all his friends agree that he is special, but things start to go downhill after a fateful letter arrives that reveals that Lucky’s real name is Herbert. Ages 3-9
		The Leprechaun Under the Bed There is no peace at all for a poor leprechaun. Brian O’Shea summons banshees and ghosts to try and stop Sean McDonald from building a cottage right on top of his own home, but it’s no use. Brian still ends up with a front door right under Sean’s bed. The leprechaun has to make the best of the situation. Yet as time goes on, the two develop an unusual alliance–one that comes in handy when danger arises. Ages 3+
		The Leprechaun in the Basement It’s St. Patrick’s Day, but Michael doesn’t feel like celebrating. His dad is out of work and has no money for new baseball shoes. As Michael heads into the basement on an errand, he hears someone singing–it’s a leprechaun, conmplete with pot of gold! Ages 4-9
		The Last Snake in Ireland Long ago, troublesome snakes roamed the hills of Ireland, bringing evil and mischief everywhere they went. Before Patrick becomes a saint, he drives all the snakes out of Ireland with a ring of his magic bell–except one, which he throws into Scotland’s Loch Ness. Ages 4+
		Tales from Celtic Lands he joyous stories, songs and blessings of the Celtic peoples from Ireland, Scotland, Whales and Brittany create an irresistible magic both for descendants of the Celts and those from other traditions around the world. Ages 6+
		St. Patrick’s Day A basic introduction to the holiday-how it began, the life and works of St. Patrick, and the various ways in which the day is celebrated. The text is clear and concise, and the pages are full of information. Gibbons’s simple, clean, full-page watercolor-and-ink illustrations flow logically from one to the next. Ages 4+
		St. Patrick’s Day Touch and Feel This is an ideal first board book to share with your baby or toddler as a first step to discovering the fun and celebration of St Patrick’s Day. The pages feature traditional St Patrick’s Day images, such as shamrocks, harps and parades, and there are lots of different touch-and-feel textures which little fingers will love to explore. Ages 1-3
		St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning A warm and lively tale set in a village in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day. The main character, Jamie, is the youngest in his family, too small to participate in the annual special parade. Disappointed, Jamie awakens early and sets out to prove them wrong. The story that follows is his march through the village, making music and creating a parade on his own, proving to himself that he is truly big enough to participate. Ages 4-9
		St. Patrick’s Day Alphabet From jig to shamrock and from bodhran to Yeats, learn all about the stories and legends behind the annual celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. It’s all here, from A to Z. What does the shamrock represent, and why is it associated with St. Patrick? What great Irish poet featured St. Patrick in one of his most famous poems? What is one of the best-known legends about St. Patrick? These questions and many more are answered while exploring the magic of the Emerald Isle. Ages 4+
		Shamrocks, Harps, and Shillelaghs Beautifully illustrated and written, Shamrocks, Harps, and Shillelaghs tells the stories behind the St. Patrick’s Day Symbols. Ages 5+
		Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland The story of Patrick’s life, from his noble birth in Britain, to his being captured and taken to Ireland by a group of bandits, to the “dreams” that led him to convert the Irish people to the Christian faith. DePaola also retells several well-known legends, including the story of how Patrick got rid of all the snakes in Ireland. Ages 4+
		O’Sullivan Stew Feisty Kate O’Sullivan may daydream some of the time, but she knows when action is needed. When tax collectors visit her Irish village and steal the witch’s red stallion, the girl tries to enlist the help of the townsfolk, who shrug their shoulders and declare that their neighbor isn’t one of them. Full of broad and subtle humor, the story will be a read-aloud favorite. Ages 4-10
		Top o’ the Clubhouse It’s Saint Patrick’s Day at the Clubhouse, and Mickey and the gang are ready to celebrate with a party! But when Pete’s shenanigans threaten to ruin their celebration, it will take some help from a leprechaun and a little luck o’ the Irish to get the party back on track. Ages 3-5
		Magic Tree House Leprechauns and Irish Folklore When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House #43: Leprechaun in Late Winter, they had lots of questions. What are leprechauns? How do we know many of the old Irish stories? How do fairies spend their time? Who speaks the Irish language? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts. Ages 6-10
		Jack and the Leprechaun It’s St. Patrick’s Day, and Jack Mouse is visiting his cousin Sean in Ireland. Sean tells Jack about the myth of leprechauns, and Jack is determined to catch one for himself! Children will delight in learning about Irish folk tales and traditions and the customs of St. Patrick’s Day! Ages 3-8
		It’s St. Patrick’s Day! This Level 1 rhyming reader introduces young children to the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, from dressing in green outfits to marching in a musical parade! Ages 3-8
		Hooray for St. Patrick’s Day! It’s Saint Patrick’s Day, and time to join in the celebration. Children can lift the flaps for interactive fun as they see the children in this book make holiday crafts, taste traditional Irish food, perform a play about Saint Patrick, and even march in a Saint Patrick’s Day parade. As an added bonus, they can search for the hidden leprechaun on each page! Ages 3-5
		Clever Tom and the Leprechaun Clever Tom Fitzpatrick thinks his fortune is made when he captures a leprechaun and forces him to reveal the hiding place of his gold, but the leprechaun is clever too. Ages 5-9
		A Pot O’ Gold: A Treasury of Irish Stories, Poetry, Folklore, and (of course) Blarney Created for families, this anthology compiles classic and rare examples of Irish culture, including stories, poems, songs, recipes, and even a little blarney. From legends of leprechauns and fairies to the classic poetry of Yeats and Joyce, the treasures herein invite children and parents, brothers and sisters—even grandparents and grandchildren—to share the wonders of Ireland. Ages 6+
		A Fine St. Patrick’s Day Welcome to the rival towns of Tralee and Tralah, where the annual St. Patrick’s Day decorating contest is under way. Every year, Tralah defeats Tralee. This year, though, little Fiona Riley has a wonderful idea that will help Tralee win the contest for sure. But neither town has counted on a stranger arriving—a funny little man with pointed ears and boots trimmed with bells—who will turn the contest upside down! Ages 3-8
		The Leprechaun’s Gold In this classic Irish legend, two harpists — merry-hearted Old Pat and ill-spirited Young Tom — set off for a contest to name the finest harpist in all of Ireland. When Young Tom realizes that Old Pat is truly the better musician, he schemes to be the winner — but he doesn′t reckon with the clever trickery of a mischievous little leprechaun. Ages 4-10