St. Patrick’s Day Books
These are my favorite St. Patrick’s Day picture books - there are ones about tricky leprechauns, and some about the life of St. Patrick!
You can purchase them from either Amazon or Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookstores!
Make sure to read my reviews to know the plot before you buy!
I do make a small commission from the books on this page, at no additional cost to you!
Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola
I find that many picture books about Saint Patrick only talk about a small portion of his life, and not how he came to be the man we know him as today. This one, however, covers his whole life.
This book wonderfully illustrates the life of Saint Patrick, from his childhood to when he founded the first Christian church in Ireland.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Curious George by H.A. Rey
It’s St. Patrick’s Day and Curious George is so excited! He’s ready for all the step-dancing and bagpipe playing with the Man in the Yellow Hat.
Join him as he celebrates St. Patrick’s Day and meets new friends in this fun story!
This is such a cute book for tiny tots - the tabs make it easy to flip the pages!
Three Ways to Trap a Leprechaun by Tara Lazar illustrated by Vivienne To
Claire, crafter-girl extraordinaire, is on a mission to prove that leprechauns are real! Her brother doesn’t think so, and that’s been driving Claire crazy. Join her on her escapades trying to catch Finn, the most mischievous leprechaun of all!
Vivienne To’s illustrations are so adorable! I usually pick up books just because she illustrates them <3
S is for Shamrock - An Ireland Alphabet by Eve Bunting illustrated by Matt Faulkner
This educational book is perfect for homeschooling, or just to read for fun! It’s not specifically about St. Patrick’s Day, but it’s a great book to get in the step-dancing spirit!
S is for Shamrock has information about all sorts of Irish traditions, landmarks, and more!
The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing illustrated by Amy Wummer
It’s the night before St. Patrick’s Day and Tim and Maureen aren’t letting that pesky leprechaun get away this year. They’ve taken all the necessary precautions - traps, lures, and treats that are sure to tickle the leprechaun’s fancy.
Join them as they try to trap the leprechaun and get his pot of gold in this fun rhyming story!
Leprechaun vs. Easter Bunny by Todd Tarpley illustrated by Stephanie Laberis
Now this really is a festive feud!
The Leprechaun and Easter Bunny are having a…disagreement about who gets that perfect hill.
Leprechaun wants the hill to hide his pot of gold and Easter Bunny wants the hill to hide his eggs.
But who will get the hill? Find out in this hilarious rhyming picture book with a funny twist at the end!
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How to Trap a Leprechaun by Sue Fliess illustrated by Emma Randall
It’s St. Patrick’s Day and these kids are NOT going to let the leprechaun give them the slip again.
But leprechauns are clever, so their traps have to be clever, too. Join them as they craft and glue and use sticky tape too so they can trap that leprechaun!
Emma Randall has to be one of my favorite illustrators ever - just look how cute this cover is!
O’Sullivan Stew by Hudson Talbott
(This one is not a St. Patrick’s Day book, but it has Irish culture in the story.)
When trouble arises in her village, Kate O’Sullivan is right there to help. Except, she doesn’t help. She lands herself and her whole family in deep trouble with the king.
Now this is a fix! She’s left to wheedle her family out of trouble the best way she can - with a story! If she can convince the king that each of her family members have been in worse jams than this one, he’ll let them go with no charges.
Can Kate concoct a story to save her family?
The Leprechaun’s Gold by Pamela Duncan Edwards illustrated by Henry Cole
Old Pat is truly the finest harpist in all of Ireland, but Young Tom doesn’t want to believe it. Tom thinks that HE is the finest harpist in all of Ireland.
The two start on a journey to a harp playing competition, when Young Tom finally realizes that his skills are no match for Old Pat’s.
Young Tom starts to plot a way so that Old Pat doesn’t make it to the competition, but he doesn’t account for a pesky leprechaun trying to thwart his plan…
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaola
Jamie O’Rourke is a very lazy man who leaves all the chores to his wife. But when his wife catches a cold and has to stay in bed, Jamie is forced to do the chores instead.
He, being the lazy man he is, is distraught by this depressing news. Then one night, he stumbles on a leprechaun and somehow becomes the owner of an insanely massive…potato.
Join him in this silly story with a really big problem!
The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose at School by Laura Murray illustrated by Mike Lowry
Ack! The leprechaun is creating chaos in school! He’s going from room to room and making messes EVERYWHERE!
Luckily, the Gingerbread Man is here to save the day! Help him trap the leprechaun before he wreaks any more havoc around the school!
Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman illustrated by Kelly Murphy
Oh no! All of the luck in Ireland has been stolen and locked away by the Leprechaun King!
Now it’s up to crafty Fiona to get the luck back for the Irish. She schemes and plans and finally goes to face the Leprechaun King.
Will she be able to return the luck to the Emerald Isles?
This is one of my favorite books on this page - it’s so creative and I love the illustrations!
