Between the leprechauns and the elusive search for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, there’s no denying that kids get excited about St. Patrick’s Day! As teachers, it’s important to build upon that excitement and interest. I love to do that through literature. Here are some great books to read with your students near St. Patrick’s Day. Some of these have great tie-ins to other curricular areas, but some are just plain fun to read!
Click on any of the titles below to learn more about each book. You can also view all of these St. Patrick’s Day books on my Amazon page.
we are a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PICTURE BOOKS
The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day
This is a great book to read in the days leading up to the holiday. In this rhyming story, Tim and Maureen set traps all around their house hoping to catch a leprechaun. When they catch a real, live leprechaun, they learn just how tricky leprechauns can be!
Once your students have read the story, they might be interested in making a leprechaun trap of their own. 
Silly McGilly
This book by Michelle Dougherty, Eileen Cowley, and Victoria Coffey would be a great choice for fans of Elf on the Shelf. There is a plush that comes with the book. Kids are encouraged to place Silly McGilly by a window at night so he can play some mischievous pranks while they sleep.
The Luckiest St. Patrick’s Day Ever!
This is a rhyming story. It is a quick-read filled with many characters around town getting ready for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. After the parade, friends and family gather together for a big lunch.
Green Shamrocks
Rabbit has been growing shamrocks from seeds for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. But on the morning of the big day, his shamrocks are missing. Will he find them in time?
Ten Lucky Leprechauns
This rhyming book counts up from 1-10. Your kids will catch on quickly to the repeating phrase, “Fiddle-de-fizz, ’tis magic, it is!” as they discover each of the leprechauns in the story.
The Littlest Leprechaun
Liam is the littlest leprechaun in the Enchanted Forest. He is too little to measure, too little to run, and too little to lift and carry important treasure. But is he too little to make a new friend?
That’s What Leprechauns Do
This story by Eve Bunting follows three playful leprechauns who are trying to reach their pot of gold before the rainbow comes. Can they resist playing a few tricks along the way?
After reading a few of these books, your students might be ready to write their own stories. The book Lucky Tucker
The Leprechaun’s Gold
This classic Irish legend in which 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. This is another one that is longer in length.
Too Many Leprechauns
The leprechauns are noisy neighbors — and they’re turning the entire town of Dingle upside down! Fortunately, Finn O’Finnegan always has a clever plan brewing, and this time, with a little luck of the Irish, it’s a scheme that just might fool even the cleverest of creatures.
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato
In this story, Jamie O’Rourke is the laziest potato farmer in all of Ireland. One day he catches a leprechaun. Instead of giving away his gold, the leprechaun gives the farmer a seed to plant, which ends up feeding the entire village!
The Story of the Leprechaun
In the story, Katherine Tegen helps to explain why the leprechaun chose to hide his gold at the end of the rainbow. Your students can use this leprechaun craft to display the three wishes they would make if they caught a leprechaun. You can learn more about this story here.
O’Sullivan Stew
Someone has stolen the witch of Crookhaven’s horse, and there will be no peace in the village until it is returned. So bold, brassy Kate O’Sullivan takes matters into her own hands. But instead of saving the day, she manages to land herself–and her family–in trouble with the king. So Kate sets out to save their hides the only way she knows how–with a good story.
Fiona’s Luck
The luck of the Irish has waned after the greedy Leprechaun King has taken all the good fortune in Ireland and locked it away. It is up to one cunning girl, Fiona to come up with a plan to get the luck and good tidings back from the leprechauns to help the people of Ireland. Through clever charades, Fiona uses her wit to outsmart the powerful Leprechaun King and restore luck to the Emerald Isle.
The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose at School
After a mischievous leprechaun makes a mess of the band room, the Gingerbread Man vows to catch him. He follows the leprechaun’s clues all around the building finding chaos everywhere–even in the library! But then he finds the worst clue of all. It says the leprechaun’s next target might be a house made of gingerbread!
Luckily, the Gingerbread Man makes it to his classroom in time to set a trap for the leprechaun. He’ll show that mischief maker that he messed with the wrong cookie this time.
Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk
descripTim O’Toole and his wife, Kathleen, are so poor they have not a penny or a potato between them. Even their cats are too skinny for the mice to chase! When Tim goes out to find a job, he stumbles upon “the wee folk”—a band of leprechauns who give him gifts to make his fortune. That is, if Tim can keep clear of the evil McGoon family. . . .tion
The Great Leprechaun Chase
Kids who love Pete the Cat will enjoy this story, The Great Leprechaun Chase. In this book, Pete opens a leprechaun catching business, but it isn’t as easy as it seems!
Pout-Pout Fish: Lucky Leprechaun
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Pout-Pout Fish in The Pout-Pout Fish: Lucky Leprechaun! Will Mr. Fish and his friends find their pot of gold?
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!
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover!
There was an old lady who swallowed a clover.
I don’t know why she swallowed the clover,
But she didn’t roll over.
It’s spring and the Old Lady is swallowing a clover, a butterfly, a daisy, and more!
Shannon and the World’s Tallest Leprechaun
Shannon is a step dancer with a broken shoe. How can she ever win the Saint Patrick’s Day step dancing contest? Enter Liam, the world’s tallest leprechaun. A leprechaun grants wishes, right?
St. Patrick’s Day
If you’re looking for a great nonfiction choice, Gail Gibbons has you covered. You’ll learn the story of Patrick’s life, legends about the saint, and the history of the holiday.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY CHAPTER BOOKS
Leprechauns Don’t Play Basketball
Melody is certain that her new basketball coach, Mr. O’Grady, is a leprechaun, and soon she and the other children are keeping an eye on him and observing his growing relationship with third grade teacher Mrs. Jeepers. If you’re reading it with your small group, I have already created a book companion which has comprehension questions for each chapter along with several graphic organizers to help guide students through the text.
Leprechauns Don’t Play Fetch
There are some pretty weird grown-ups in Bailey City, but is the owner of the new pet store really a Leprechaun? And is he using the Blarney Stone to take over the town? The Bailey School Kids are going to find out! You can find a book companion for this chapter book here.
St. Patrick’s Day from the Black Lagoon
It’s St. Patrick’s Day and Hubie needs to find something green to wear for his class parade. Leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, pickles-how can he possibly make a decision with all these great options? He had better choose quickly, because there’s a rainbow out and everyone is looking for the pot of gold at the end of it. You can find a book companion for this chapter book here.
Leprechaun in Late Winter
Jack and Annie are on a mission to find (and inspire!) creative people. This time, Jack and Annie meet an Irish girl and go on a magical adventure that changes the girl’s life—she grows up to be Lady Gregory, who helped bring back the Irish legends, started a theater, and helped the Irish people regain both their heritage and their pride. You can find activities to pair with this book here.
Leprechauns and Irish Folklore
When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #15: 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. You can find a companion for this book here.
I hope you have found a few good books to share with your students. If you have any other book suggestions for St. Patrick’s Day, let me know so I can check them out!
Happy Reading!
Thanks for sharing your favorites!
My favorite is Clever Tom and the Leprechaun!