Put on your best Irish brogue and enjoy these fun Irish-themed books with your kids in advance of St. Patrick’s Day this month. Also, for a hands-on activity, make a “leprechaun trap” with your kids and see what the leprechaun leaves them (a few toy coins, perhaps, or a clover or two?). Have fun with this holiday. Be sure to email us your favorites so we can add them to our list!
- “St. Patrick’s Day” by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by her daughter Lizzy Rockwell. Harper Collins Publishers, 2010. This is a brightly colored book that tells the story of St. Patrick through a school assignment. The book includes references to traditions like making soda bread, dancing the Irish jig and planting shamrocks. Perfect for preschool through elementary ages.
- “Fin M’Coul: the Giant of Knockmany Hill” by Tomie De Paola. Scholastic, 1981. Fin is a giant married to a very smart giantess Oonagh. With Oonagh’s help, Fin outsmarts the bully giant Cucullin. Based on stories handed down generation to generation about the popular Irish giant Fin M’Coul. The pictures add interesting details to this fun book.
- “Jamie O’Rourke and the Pooka” by Tomie De Paola. Scholastic, 2000. Jame O’Rourke is the laziest man in all of Ireland. When his wife Eileen leaves to help her sister with a new baby, Jamie cuts a deal with a pooka to do all the house cleaning. A pooka is an animal spirit in Irish folktales who lives a solitary life. Pookas come in many forms, and this pooka helps Jamie out … for a time. It’s fun just to say the word “pooka!”
- “It’s St. Patrick’s Day, Dear Dragon” by Margaret Hillert, illustrated by David Schimmell. A Beginning-to-Read Book by Norwood House Press, 2008. Lots of green in this book where a boy and his pet dragon play and learn together. Perfect for kindergarteners.
- “Lucky Tucker” by Leslie McGuirk. Candlewick Press, 2008. Ages 2 – 5. Tucker, the dog, starts off Saint Patrick’s Day all wrong, but when he rolls in a bed of four-leaf clovers, his luck changes significantly. This is a fun book for dog lovers ages 2 – 5.
- “That’s What Leprechauns Do” by Eve Bunting. Clarion Books, 2005. Three leprechauns are responsible for putting pots of gold at the end of the rainbow but they quickly become distracted by opportunities for mischief that will have your kids giggling.
- “A Fine St. Patrick’s Day” by Susan Wojciechowski, illustrated by Tom Curry. DragonFly Books, 2004. Two towns compete year after year for the St. Patrick’s Day prize for best decorated town. Tralah wins year after year until Tralee figures out what’s really important, and they help a stranger in need. Fabulous illustrations, a wonderful story and an important lesson tucked in as well.
- “The St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh” by Janet Nolan, illustrated by Ben F. Stahl. Albert Whitman and Company 2002. This book, for kids in grade school, tells about the Great Potato Famine in Ireland that led to many families immigrating to America. Young Fergus is a boy who brings a branch from Ireland, whittling it into a “shillelagh” or a cane. The experiences his family goes through share history in an interesting way. The illustrations are excellent as well.
- “Tales from Old Ireland” by Malachy Doyle and Niamh Sharkey. Barefoot Books, 2000. This book, with seven stories, is perfect for older readers (8 – 12). Based on Irish oral tradition, there is a magic and simplicity to these tales that delight readers, especially when they are read aloud. Try it as a family activity and put on your best Irish accent!
- “St. Patrick’s Day” by Molly Aloian. Crabtree Publishing, 2010. This book shares all kinds of information about this celebration – everything from St. Patrick’s Day foods to Irish music to shamrocks, leprechauns and St. Patrick’s Day parades. A fun resource to explain the history behind this holiday with your kids.
Reader Annissa shared these two additions:
I love this list! You have to add “Strange Happenings: Leprechaun Tales.” It’s one of those read-aloud books and my family just LOVES IT. You should also add “Guleesh.” Great stories/books!
Submitted by Springfield Mom Julie Kaiser.
