A holiday is the perfect reason to celebrate with little ones, and Saint Patrick's Day is no exception! In this post, I'll be sharing our favourite books related to leprechauns, Ireland, and St. Paddy's Day!

St. Patrick's Day Books for Preschoolers:

1. Happy St. Patrick's Day From the Crayons by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers - Oliver Jeffers is by far one of my favourite children's book creators, and this holiday instalment from the crayon series is no different! Your little one will love the fun drawings and silly antics that the crayons get up to. If you haven't read any of the crayon series before, no worries - this book works just fine as a standalone story!

2. The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolan - Perfect if you're looking for a more serious tone, this sweet story with beautiful illustrations tells the story of an Irish family, generation through generation. It begins with Fergus, a young boy growing up in Ireland during the potato famine, who immigrates to America with his family. From there, he passes down his story of immigration and the shillelagh he brought with him to America. The book does briefly discuss famine and war, but in a very child-friendly way.

3. A Fine St. Patrick's Day by Susan Wojciechowski - Both entertaining and educational, this is a fun story about two rival towns who compete for a trophy each year on St. Patrick's Day. One year, a young girl has an idea - and the whole town agrees! During the middle of setting up, however, a little man shows up asking for help. When the little girl declares that helping is more important than the contest, the town again agrees, and working together, they are able to help the man and win the trophy.

Want to add some more St. Patrick's Day fun for your little one? Grab our free St. Patrick's Day activity pack!

4. Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman - A lengthy story, but if your little one can sit through a longer book, they'll surely enjoy the beautiful illustrations and fun tale including leprechauns and trickery!

5. The Night Before St. Patrick's Day by Natasha Wing - An easy but fun rhyming story about children who set up a leprechaun trap the night before St. Patrick's Day. This one is short and simple, but lots of fun for little ones!

6. The Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever by Teddy Slater - Another short but fun rhyming story, this one follows a leprechaun family as they celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

7. St. Patrick's Day by Anne Rockwell - A young Irish boy shares how his family and class celebrate St. Patrick's Day in this fictional story. Both slavery and church are mentioned, but can be easily skipped when reading if needed.

8. St. Patrick's Day by Gail Gibbons - Pick this one if you're looking for a simple and informative book on St. Patrick's Day! A part of the Explore the World with Gail Gibbons series, this non-fiction book introduces and explains St. Patrick's Day in an easy-to-understand way. It does discuss kidnapping, slavery, and God (as part of the history of St. Patrick), but these parts can be easily skipped when reading if needed.

9. Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaola - A funny story about a man who tries to get out of working by capturing a leprechaun and making a deal. He ends up with the biggest potato the villagers have ever seen! This one feels very much like a classic children's story. There are some small references to church and confession.

Do you have any St. Patrick's Day favourites that aren’t on this list? Let us know!

Looking for more March activities? Our March Morning Basket for preschoolers includes a variety of print-at-home activities to keep your little one engaged in learning all month long! Click below to get started.