Set the stage for a March full of fun and adventure in your classroom with these St. Patrick’s Day Picture Books and resources.
St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday that can come and go without too much hoopla in the classroom, but it really has a lot to offer if you decide you want to celebrate this Irish holiday.
One of my favorite parts of studying and celebrating holidays is learning about different cultures and reading folktales from different parts of the world.
In our list today, we have a whole bunch of St. Patrick’s Day Picture Books that will give your students a well-rounded view of St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns, Irish folklore, and so much more!
Supplementing with St. Patrick’s Day Resources
If you choose to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in your class, you may want to supplement with these St. Patrick’s Day Close Reads or maybe even this St. Patrick’s Day-themed Game Show (focusing on ELA skills).
Since St. Patrick’s Day falls in the middle of test prep season, these activities will allow you to celebrate the holiday while still focusing on some key skills and standards you’re sure to see during state testing.
Now, let’s get into some picture books!
St. Patrick’s Day Picture Books for the Elementary Classroom
Fiona’s Luck
Written by Teresa Bateman and Illustrated by Kelly Murphy
The greedy Leprechaun King has stolen the good fortune and locked it away. It is up to Fiona, a cunning girl, to come up with a plan to get it back. Fiona’s clever plan and charades make for a delightful telling of this original folktale!
I love the illustrations and the fun Irish culture wrapped up in this retelling of an original folktale.
How to Catch a Leprechaun
Written by Adam Wallace and Illustrated by Andy Elkerton
Is this the year you’ll finally catch the leprechaun? Many teachers use this book to kick off a Leprechaun Trap activity in the classroom, where students design and create their own Leprechaun Traps.
This book is playful, cute, and a fun way to start a new tradition with your upper elementary students.
How to Trap a Leprechaun
Written by Sue Fliess and Illustrated by Emma Randall
Leprechauns are tricky little fellows, but he’ll grant you a wish if you catch one.
Be careful what you wish for, though, because sometimes you’ll get your wish, but it won’t be in the way you want.
I love the fun illustrated children in this book and the way they get creative trying to catch their leprechauns. If you decide to start a Leprechaun Trap tradition with your students, this is another great book to inspire your creations!
The Luckiest St. Patrick’s Day Ever
Written by Teddy Slater and Illustrated by Ethan Long
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day alongside a Leprechaun family as they dance, make music, and even attend a parade.
They say St. Patrick’s Day is all about the luck of the Irish, and your students will definitely feel lucky that they had a chance to enjoy this book.
Consider aligning your St. Patrick’s Day celebration with that of the Leprechauns in this book as a fun way to bring this rhyming book to life in your classroom!
Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk
Written and Illustrated by Gerald McDermott
Tim and Kathleen O’Toole are down on their luck and so poor that they can’t even afford a potato, so Tim decides to find a job, and boy, did he find a job! In fact, he finds “the week folk!” “The Wee Folk” are leprechauns who give Tim gifts to help him make his fortune, but he has to stay away from the evil McGoon family.
This story has a strong Irish feel and sound, and the pictures are a lot of fun to look at!
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato
Written by Tomie dePaola
After a random encounter with a leprechaun, Jamie, the laziest man in all of Ireland, starts growing the biggest potato in the world. But what happens when the potato gets too big to handle? You’ll have to see what happens in this silly story inspired by Irish folklore.
Leprechauns Never Lie
Written by Lorna Balian and Lecia Balian
Ninny Nanny is lazy, and rather than working to earn some money to care for themselves and her ailing grandmother, she decides the best way to cure all their ailments would be to catch a leprechaun and find his hidden gold. Will this plan work out in the end?
A Fine St. Patrick’s Day
Written by Susan Wojciechowski and Illustrated by Tom Curry
The towns of Tralee and Tralah are rivals, and every year on St. Patrick’s Day, they hold a decorating contest like no other. It seems that every year Tralah wins and Tralee loses, but this year, little Fiona Riley has an idea that may change Tralee’s fate…that is, until a strange little man with pointed ears and boots comes along to cause a raucous!
Use this book as a kickoff to your St. Patrick’s Celebration and maybe even as inspiration for some classroom or door decorating of your own!
The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day
Written by Natasha Wing and Illustrated by Amy Wummer
This is another cute St. Patrick’s Day picture book about catching leprechauns. You’ve gotta love a good story about catching these little creatures, and this silly read-aloud book doesn’t disappoint.
With details like a dad playing bagpipes and green eggs, the St. Patrick’s Day story has its own charm combined with the familiar verse of “A Night Before…” story.
Green Shamrocks
Written by Eve Bunting and Illustrated by Joelle Dreidemy
Rabbit’s pot has gone missing! But this wasn’t just any old pot. It is the pot where he’s been growing his shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day. Oh no! What is he going to do? How will he find them in time?
The illustrations in this St. Patrick’s Day picture book are much different from some of the others, and the fact that the rabbit is the main character provides a different perspective than other books on this list!
O’Sullivan Stew
Written and Illustrated by Hudson Talbott
There won’t be any peace in the village until the witch of Crookhaven’t horse is returned. It is creating quite a problem and challenge for the townspeople. However, this is just the kind of challenge Kate O’Sullivan believes she can conquer…that is, until she lands herself in trouble with the king.
This book’s storytelling and engaging, detailed illustrations make for a fun read during the spring.
Leprechaun Vs. Easter Bunny
Written by Todd Tarpley and Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis
What happens when the St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun and Easter Bunny go head-to-head? We’ll find out in this rhyming book celebrating both Easter and St. Patrick’s Day!
With two very clear, distinct characters and personalities, I think this St. Patrick’s Day picture book would make for an entertaining dramatic reading or as something to act out as a group!
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