Are you planning your St. Patrick's Day read aloud books for March? The luck of the Irish will soon be upon us so be sure to include some of these stories on your list! You'll find so many great books that you'll want to include. From learning about St. Patrick's Day traditions to some funny leprechauns, these children's books will soon become your March favorites!
15 Best St. Patrick's Day Read Aloud Books
History Of St. Patrick's Day Books
1. St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day by Gail Gibbons is the perfect book to introduce students to this Irish holiday. The author, Gail Gibbons, is a master at writing books for children and this one gives a nice background on why the holiday is celebrated, along with all the St. Patrick's Day traditions that we've grown to love. This is a great book to use as an introduction to the St. Patrick's Day holiday each year. Your students can learn a little about the Irish culture and then write reports about the holiday.
2. Patrick, Patron Saint Of Ireland
If you're looking for a new St. Patrick's Day read aloud, Patrick, Patron Saint Of Ireland by Tomie dePaola, is a great book that teaches children all about the namesake behind the holiday. If you're looking for a simple text to help your students understand the meaning of the St. Patrick's Day celebration, this one fits the bill!
Leprechaun Books
3. How To Trap A Leprechaun
Do you know what happens on St. Parick's Day? A mischievous leprechaun comes out to play! Sometimes they visit classrooms and play tricks on students so you might need to make a leprechaun trap with your class! How To Trap A Leprechaun by Sue Fliess is the perfect introduction to making leprechaun traps with your students.
After reading you can have your student think about the engineering design process of creating a trap of their own. First, have them draw their trap on paper and then let them get to work building their traps! it's the perfect way to include some STEM activities into your March lesson plans. Written in rhyming text with colorful pictures, your students will love this book! Hop over here to see how I use this book when we make our leprechaun traps.
4. How To Catch A Leprechaun
Another one of our favorite St. Patrick’s Day read aloud books for building traps is How To Catch A Leprechaun by Adam Wallace. After reading the story, have your students build their traps. The way to build a perfect trap is to add some leprechaun's gold, four-leaf clovers and the perfect rainbow to your trap! This will lure those pesky little sprites into the trap. When you're finished, use this writing template for write how to catch a leprechaun. This simple prompt is perfect for practicing procedural writing in March and one your students will love to write about! how to catch a leprechaun!
5. That's What Leprechaun's Do
If you're just looking for a fun St. Patrick's Day read aloud, That's What Leprechaun's Do by Eve Bunting, has cute illustrations and a playful text that students will love. This cute story tells the tale of three little leprechauns who race to find their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow….while playing plenty of tricks along the way!
6. The Littlest Leprechaun
In the story of The Littlest Leprechaun by Brandi Dougherty, we meet Liam, the littlest leprechaun in his village who desperately wants to be a big important leprechaun like the others. He tried helping his mom and dad but he was just too little for the tasks at hand. When Liam goes for a walk he discovers a baby unicorn that is stuck in a hole and needs some help. Liam is just the guy for the job and learns that there are important jobs for little people too. This is a great book to discuss character traits and for teaching kids about perseverance, kindness, and the magic of St. Patrick's Day.
7. The Gingerbread Man And The Leprechaun Loose At School
What would you do if a leprechaun showed up at your school one day and created a mess? The Gingerbread Man And The Leprechaun Loose At School by Laura Murray will take your students on a great leprechaun chase all around the school! This St. Patrick's Day read aloud would be great to read before taking your students on a leprechaun hunt. It's also the perfect prequel to writing how to catch a leprechaun.
8. Three Ways To Trap A Leprechaun
Three Ways To Trap A Leprechaun by Tara Lazar is another great picture book to read if you're planning on trapping leprechauns in your classroom. In the story, a little girl tells her brother about leprechauns but he doesn't believe they are real, so she sets out to prove him wrong. They set trap after trap but never catch the leprechaun. Then one day, they finally catch him in their snare and her little bother becomes a true believer. At the end of the story, it gives a list of items you'll need to make your own leprechaun traps so it's a great story for St. Patrick's Day.
Legends And Folktales
9. St. Patrick's Day In The Morning
Do you do growth mindset activities in your classroom? St. Patrick's Day In The Morning by Eve Bunting is one of our class favorites. This story begins in a faraway village in Ireland and it tells the tale of little Jamie O'Rourke who decides to prove to everyone that he's big enough to walk in the big parade.
Jamie has to get up early in the morning and walk up a huge hill to prepare for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Can he do it? You'll have to read the book to find out! It's one of my favorite St. Patrick's Day read aloud books to teach children that they can do anything they set their minds to!
10. Jamie O'Rourke And The Big Potato
Kindergarten and first-grade students will love the story of Jamie O'Rourke And The Big Potato by Tomie dePaola. This is the story of old Jamie O'Rourke, the laziest man in town. Jamie lets his wife do all the work around their home including the gardening. When Jamie's wife, Eileen, gets sick he soon realizes he'll have to do something quick or they won't have any food for the winter.
When Jamie sets off to find help and can't believe his good fortune when he comes upon a leprechaun that offers him a magic seed to help him out. But of course the mischievous rascal tricks Jamie who plants the see and he ends up with the biggest Irish potato you've ever seen! What will Jamie do with this giant potato? Your students will laugh at the shenanigans while also learning valuable lessons about working hard and doing your share. After reading this story, we always make our own Irish potato craft!
11. Clever Tom And The Leprechaun
Clever Tom And The Leprechaun by Linda Shute is another cute Irish tale about those mythical creatures, the leprechauns! Your little readers will laugh when an Irishman named Tom catches a little leprechaun and forces him to tell the location of his pot of gold. But of course, in true leprechaun fashion, he outsmarts poor Tom in this classic Irish legend. It's the perfect St. Patrick's Day read aloud to enjoy before having your students write how they would catch a leprechaun!
12. Tim O'Toole And The Wee Folk
Tim O'Toole And The Wee Folk by Gerald McDermott is an original folktale about a husband and wife who 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. Young readers will love this adorable St. Patrick's Day read aloud book for kids.
13. O'Sullivan Stew
One of my new favorite St. Patrick's Day read aloud books is O'Sullivan Stew by Hudson Talbott. This one has everything you need to keep your students engaged and listening – a witch, sea serpent, giant fairies, and wild beasts! It's full of broad and subtle humor your students will enjoy. It's sure to become one of your favorites too!
14. Fiona's Luck
Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman tells the enchanting Irish folktale of Fiona, a clever young woman who lives in Ireland during a time when the luck of the Irish is running dry, causing hard times to befall the land. Determined to restore luck to her people, Fiona sets out on a journey to confront the leprechaun king, who has stolen all the luck, and negotiate a deal. By the end, Fiona outsmarts the king and restores luck and good times to her village. This is a cute St. Patrick's Day read aloud that your students will love.
15. The Night Before St. Patrick's Day
The Night Before St. Patrick's Day by Natasha Wing is the perfect book to read before you begin your celebrations! It reminds your students to wear green on St. Patrick's Day and how to prepare for the leprechaun's arrival. If you're planning your annual St. Patrick's Day party you'll definitely want to read this book. You can make green eggs, set your leprechaun traps, make tiny green footprints, and set up your classroom for a day full of fun. Maybe those lucky leprechauns will even leave you some pots of gold to find!
This list of St. Patrick's Day read aloud books is sure to get you inspired to have a little St. Patty's fun in your classroom! Are you ready to get started? You'll love these resources!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, I'm Molly, the creative mind behind Firstieland. With over 35 years of experience in early childhood education, I'm your primary support for resources that will save you time and make learning feel like play. Learn more about my mission for Firstieland here.
