I have long loved St. Patrick’s Day because I love green and love an excuse to wear it (since oddly I don’t wear it much otherwise). I’m sure I learned about what the holiday is really about in elementary school, but I admit that I had long forgotten it when I started reading up on it.
My kids and I learned so much about St. Patrick through these books, and we loved reading about leprechauns’ tricks, too. Here are a few picture books to help you ring in St. Patrick’s Day with your family.
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie DePaola. Yes, he’s known for Strega Nona, but Tomie DePaola has also written several great bios and Irish picture books. If you’re looking for a book that tells all about St. Patrick and why we celebrate him, this is it. It also explains a few of the legends, like St. Patrick casting all the snakes out of Ireland. If only he could have done that in the United States (I’m a little scared of snakes).
How to Trap a Leprechaun by Sue Fliess. I’m not the mom who helps her kids build leprechaun traps or really encourages that, so I was hesitant about picking up this book. Fortunately, it’s got really cute illustrations and shows the kids building these cool traps with rainbow slides and glitter. It’s also more about creativity than the greed of stealing a leprechaun’s gold. Plus it rhymes, so it’s fun to read out loud. Of course, the leprechaun gets away, and the narrator tells you to try again next year.
St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting. The vintage-looking illustrations are what make this picture book shine. When parents tell a little boy he’s too young to participate in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, he sets out to prove them wrong and brings his dog with him. Along the way up the hill, he meets people from his village who keep an eye on him and even give him gifts (like an Irish flag) to prove he can go to the top on his own.
Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman. This story captures the magic of Irish folktales and also has stunning illustrations. The leprechaun king has stolen all the good luck from Ireland, and a girl named Fiona decides to outwit him and get it back. I just checked out the audiobook from my library, and the narrator reads it in an Irish brogue. That might be a fun way to introduce your kids to this book, too.
The Leprechaun’s Gold by Pamela Duncan Edwards. I really love folk stories (if they’re done well), and this one about two men competing to be the best harpist in Ireland is so good. When the young man tries to sabotage the old man by breaking his harp string, the old man is rewarded for helping a leprechaun and ends up with more than he ever dreamed. Yes, it’s predictable, but sometimes you want a story where good triumphs over evil.
St. Patrick’s Day Shamrocks by Mary Berendes. Normally I don’t like nonfiction children’s books about holidays because they’re often dry and instantly look dated. This one surprised me and was very engaging. There is one picture that looks straight out of the ’90s with a mom and her son dressed up for a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Other than that, though, it felt classic and was a great way to learn about St. Patrick’s Day traditions and shamrocks. Also? I am in my 30s and somehow never knew the shamrock was a symbol of the Trinity. I’m a little embarrassed (and glad I know now). I couldn’t find this on Amazon to link to it, but your library may have it.
Too Many Leprechauns: Or How that Pot o’ Gold Got to the End of the Rainbow by Stephen Krensky. Finn O’Finnegan comes home to find leprechauns have overrun his village and are making so much noise while making shoes that no one can hear themselves think. He decides to trick them into leaving his village. In the process, you also discover why leprechauns hide their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. This book was so fun!
Share your favorite St. Patrick’s Day books with me! I still have a few waiting for me at the library, and there’s plenty of time for us to check out more.
