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One of my kids’ favorite traditions — that I passed down to them from my own childhood — was the reading of our holiday books. It didn’t matter whether it was a major holiday like Christmas or a less widely-celebrated one; we had a small stack of books for each holiday, and only got them out once a year. There was just something so exciting about these “special occasion” books. It was something they (and I) always looked forward to, and it helped them get even more excited for whatever holiday was coming up. I remembered doing it as a child, and how much I’d loved it, so I was happy to share the tradition with them — and hopefully they will pass it on to their own children some day!
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— SheKnows (@SheKnows) March 17, 2022
Whether this is a tradition at your house, too (or you’re trying to make it one!), or you just want to bring a little bit of Irish charm to your kid’s bookshelves, you can’t go wrong with these St. Patrick’s Day books for kids. They’re chock full of Irish legend and lore … and, of course, leprechauns! Shenanigans abound as kids learn about St. Patrick’s Day traditions via colorful characters and fun, engaging stories.
From retellings of classic Irish folktales to new tales of St. Patrick’s Day festivities and celebrations, we’ve rounded up some of our all-time favorite St. Patrick’s Day books for kids. Say “top o’ the mornin'” to our top picks, and share the Irish magic with your wee ones this March. Erin go Bragh!
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day From the Crayons by Drew Daywalt & Oliver Jeffers
Image Credit: Philomel Books Drew Daywalt’s The Day the Crayons Quit became a New York Times #1 Bestseller — and now the crayon crew is ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! When Green Crayon needs to take a breather, his friends try to take his place … but can there even be a St. Patrick’s Day without the color green?!
Ages 4-8
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How to Trap a Leprechaun by Sue Fliess & Emma Randall
Image Credit: Sky Pony Legends say that whoever catches a leprechaun gets a wish granted. But catching them is the trickiest part! This adorable book tells kids all about the myths behind leprechauns … and provides instructions to create your very own (easy to make!) trap at home.
Ages 2-6
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St. Patrick’s Day by Anne Rockwell & Lizzy Rockwell
Image Credit: HarperCollins This engaging book teaches kids all about the history of St. Patrick’s Day and a few Irish traditions in a fun and easy-to-understand way. Booklist says, “Anne Rockwell’s text is light and appealingly conversational, while Lizzy Rockwell’s illustrations are cheerful and unobtrusive.”
Ages 4-8
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Ten Lucky Leprechauns by Kathryn Heling, Deborah Hembrook, & Jay Johnson
Image Credit: Scholastic In this bestselling book, one silly little leprechaun is on the hunt for a pot of gold. By the time he reaches the end, nine of his friends have joined him! Help promote counting skills through the lyrical rhyme of this fun St. Patrick’s Day story.
Ages 2-5
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You Shamrock My World by Rose Rossner & Ela Smietanka
Image Credit: Sourcebooks Wonderland Packed with sweet and funny rhyming puns and brightly-colored illustrations that little ones will love, this board book is a #1 Amazon bestseller with nearly-perfect ratings.
Ages 0-3
You Shamrock My World: A Sweet and Lucky St. Patrick's Day Board Book$7.19 $8.99 20% Offon Amazon.com -
Thing One, Thing Two and the Leprechaun by Dr. Seuss
Image Credit: Random House Books for Young Readers If you’re familiar with the iconic Dr. Seuss characters, you’ll know that no one gets up to more trouble than Thing One and Thing Two … unless it’s a leprechaun! Perfect for babies and toddlers, this bright and fun book is an introduction to not only St. Patrick’s Day traditions, but to the world of Dr. Seuss!
Ages 0-3
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How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace & Andy Elkerton
Image Credit: Sourcebooks Wonderland This New York Times and USA Today bestseller is also an Amazon Teacher’s Pick. A sneaky little leprechaun encounters several types of traps as people try to catch him. Will this be the year it finally happens? Catching a leprechaun is trickier than you think!
Ages 3-6
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Silly Mc Gilly
Accompanied by a plush doll, Silly McGilly is like Elf on the Shelf’s irish cousin! Leave Silly McGilly by the window overnight, but don’t be surprised if he plays tricks (or leaves treats!) for you while you’re sleeping soundly. It’s a fun way to count down to St. Patrick’s Day with your kiddos all month long!
Ages 3+
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The Berenstain Bears’ St. Patrick’s Day by Mike Berenstain
There’s a Berenstain Bears book for every occasion — including St. Patrick’s Day! Written by Mike Berenstain (the son of original series authors Stan & Jan Berenstain), this book chronicles Mama, Papa, and the cubs as Gramps introduces them to some very special St. Patrick’s Day traditions.
Ages 2-6
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Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase by James Dean
Image Credit: HarperCollins Pete the Cat wears many hats — and now he can add a leprechaun-catching business to his repertoire! As Pete gears up to catch clever Clover the Leprechaun, he learns that getting the job done might be harder than he expects … and a little about luck. (The book includes St. Patrick’s Day cards, a fold-out poster, and stickers too!)
Ages 3-6
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The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing & Amy Wummer
Image Credit: Grosset & Dunlap Part of the wildly popular “The Night Before” series written by Natasha Wing, this story is told in captivating verse. Maureen and Tim set a leprechaun trap the night before St. Patrick’s Day — and awaken to find that they have caught a leprechaun! Now to find his pot of gold …
Ages 3-6
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Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola
Image Credit: Holiday House Silly St. Patrick’s Day stories abound, but this book by iconic children’s author Tomie dePaola tells the biographical story of St. Patrick — including how he is associated with shamrocks.
Ages 5-9
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Pout-Pout Fish: Lucky Leprechaun by Deborah Diesen & Dan Hanna
Image Credit: Farrar, Straus and Giroux Fans of the New York Times-bestselling Pout-Pout Fish series will love to join in the St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans of the adorable main character Mr. Fish as he and his friends search for an elusive pot of gold.
Ages 2-5
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That’s What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting & Emily Arnold McCully
From Caldecott Medal-winning children’s author Eve Bunting comes this charming tale of lively leprechauns who can’t help making a little mischief … because, of course, that’s what leprechauns do!
Ages 3-6
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Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman & Kelly Murphy
In this Irish folktale told with luminous illustration, the greedy Leprechaun King has locked away all the good fortune in Ireland – and it’s up to a clever girl named Fiona to use her wit, outsmart the king, and bring the luck back to the Emerald Isle.
Ages 4-8
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St. Patrick’s Day, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg & Emanuel Wiemans
Image Credit: Grosset & Dunlap From the author of the bestselling “Here I Come” series comes this festive addition, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! Covering Irish traditions, legends, and food (with a diverse representation of characters!), the witty puns and fun stickers in this book will make adults and kids alike smile.
Ages 4-6
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There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover by Lucille Colandro & Jared Lee
From the bestselling “There Was An Old Lady” series by Lucille Colandro, everybody’s favorite old lady is back — and she’s swallowing enough items to make the perfect rainbow in order to hide the coveted pot of gold!
Ages 3-6
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Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie DePaola
Image Credit: Whitebird Another entry in the list for author Tomie DePaola, Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato is an Irish folktale about the laziest man in Ireland. But after a chance encounter with a leprechaun, he ends up growing a huge potato — the biggest in the world! What will he do when it gets too big for him and the villagers to handle?
Ages 2-7
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Ten Lucky Leprechauns by Kathryn Heling, Deborah Hembrook, & Jay Johnson
Image Credit: Scholastic In this adorable St. Patrick’s Day counting book, one little leprechaun goes out looking for a pot of gold … and ends up at the end of the rainbow with 10 friends!
Ages 2-5
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I’m a Leprechaun by Mallory Loehr & Brian Biggs
Who doesn’t love a classic Little Golden Book — especially when it’s about leprechauns?! Filled with colorful illustrations and plenty of leprechaun lore, this is the perfect St. Patrick’s Day book to share with your wee ones.
Ages 2-5
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