The 25 Best Leprechaun Kids Books for All Ages
One of the most exciting parts of March is celebrating the historical (and oh so magical) Irish culture. From pots of gold, four-leaf clovers, and rainbows to Irish legends and folklore about the mischievous leprechauns, there is so much fun to be had!
Explore 25 of the most entertaining and engaging leprechaun kids books that are perfect for all ages. Trust me when I tell you these are MUST reads for you and your kids.
1. Ten Lucky Leprechauns
“Fiddle-de-fizz, ’tis magic, it is!” Come along on an adventure to find all of the leprechauns in the forest. In this delightful book, children get to meet one unique leprechaun after another as they count from one to ten!
This book is a great addition to your March read alouds and an excellent way to learn counting and addition with a fun Irish twist. Your kids will beg for you to read this one again and again.
2. The Leprechaun’s Gold
Old Pat and Young Tom are traveling to a contest where one person will be named the finest harpist in all of Ireland. During their journey, ill-spirited Young Tom discovers that merry-hearted Old Pat is the better musician and devises a plan for how he will win the honor instead of his companion.
Little does he know, the clever trickery of a mischievous little leprechaun is going to turn that plan upside down. With fantasy and magic, this story is sure to be one of your favorite leprechaun kids books.
3. The Secret Life of Leprechauns
If you are looking for children’s books that have vivid illustrations and simple text for young readers, then this is a must-have.
With the traditional leprechaun, pot of gold, four leaf clovers, and rainbow theme throughout, emerging readers will enjoy engaging with the story and reading to you! This easy-to-read tale will be one of your kids’ favorite St. Patrick’s Day books.
4. Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato
In this classic Irish Folktale by Tomie DePaola, we meet the laziest man in Ireland, Jamie O’Rourke. In fact he is so lazy he won’t even help his wife on the farm! But all of that changes when Jamie meets a leprechaun who gives him a seed to the biggest potato in the world.
After planting the seed, the potato grows so fast and so large that it quickly gets out of hand for both Jamie and the townspeople. Will they be able to come up with a plan to save everyone?
5. That’s What Leprechauns Do
Everyone knows that leprechauns always bury their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow…in order to protect it. But what do Miss Maude Murphy’s hen, Mrs. Bally Bunion’s ox, and Old Jamie have to do with leprechauns?
Find out in this hilarious, lively, and beautifully-illustrated tale designed to appeal to mischief-makers of all ages! Another delightful masterpiece by award-winning author Eve Bunting.
6. The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day
The night before St. Patrick’s Day, Tim and Maureen are wide awake setting traps to try and catch a leprechaun.
They’re awakened the next morning by the sound of their dad playing bagpipes and the smell of their mom cooking green eggs. When they get to the trap, they’re astonished to discover they’ve caught a leprechaun. But will the trapped leprechaun tell them where to find his pot of gold?
7. I’m a Leprechaun
Another vividly illustrated story in this list of leprechaun kids books with simple text and short sentences. The perfect addition to your young reader’s collection and a wonderful title to include in your preschool or kindergarten classroom read aloud time.
With lots of traditional Irish fun including a pot of gold, lots of green, and rainbows, the imagery will captivate the attention of your kids from the very first page.
8. How to Catch a Leprechaun
Meet the fastest, trickiest 200 year old leprechaun ever! No matter what types of traps the kids set, this leprechaun is too smart and too nimble to be caught. From cages, snacks, and tricks to elaborate engineer-designed traps, he evades them all.
But can the Leprechaun Be Gone 3000 change the outcome for this sneaky leprechaun or will he escape again? Find out in this fast-paced adventure.
9. Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk
Tim and his wife Kathleen are so poor that even their cats are too skinny to be chased by mice! One day, Tim runs into “the wee folk” who provide him with gifts to help him make money. Unfortunately, the evil McGoon family outsmart him. Follow along on this jaunty tale and discover whether or not Tim and Kathleen can ever get enough money for everything they need.
10. A Little Spot Interviews a Leprechaun
A Little SPOT of Learning is so excited to finally have the opportunity to interview a leprechaun, but he can’t do that until he finds one!
Join Little SPOT as he teaches how to do an interview and then goes on an adventure to find the right leprechaun. This great book is such an excellent learning tool because kids will be having so much fun along the way, they won’t even notice how much they’re learning.
11. Fiona’s Luck
The greedy Leprechaun King has taken all of the good luck and good fortune from the people of Ireland. Little Fiona Riley has determined that she will be the one to return all of the good fortune back to the deserving Irish people.
But to do that, she will have to use her cunning mind and some clever charades to outsmart the wicked Leprechaun King. Trust me when I tell you this beautifully illustrated story will quickly become one of your favorite St Patrick’s Day books.
12. How to Trap a Leprechaun
Ever wanted to create the perfect trap for catching a leprechaun? Well, this might just be the book for you!
With whimsical illustrations and a challenge to keep trying, this book is the perfect way to dive into Irish tradition while also having a little fun with the diverse characters in the story. Kids and adults alike will love the lovely rhymes and vivid colors as they celebrate the special Irish holiday.
13. How to Build a Leprechaun Trap
If you are looking for an interactive book that includes step-by step directions for how to catch a leprechaun, then this is the book you need.
With engaging STEAM activities, recipes, and instructions, this activity book is truly one of a kind! Discover one fun way after another to learn about the traditional St. Patrick’s Day themes while incorporating creative thinking. Perfect for kids ages 4-10 years old.
14. The Berenstain Bears’ St. Patrick’s Day
Join the Berenstain Bear crew including Mama, Papa, Sister and Brother as they learn about the Irish holiday.
They meet up with Gramps, who shares Irish folklore, before participating in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. With all of the typical Berenstain Bear hilarity, this book is sure to be a special addition to your collection of leprechaun kids books.
15. The Leprechaun’s Handbook & Stories
This book, designed for kids 7-12 years old, released in 2022. With many unique tales, this book expounds on the old Irish story about Toolis O’Shaughnessy; the most legendary leprechaun in Ireland.
It even includes some of O’Shaughnessy’s own writings as well as stories from relatives of characters from the stories! Kids will learn about Ireland’s rich history of fairy lore and discover how to turn themselves into leprechauns.
16. Thing One, Thing Two & the Leprechaun
If you want to share some of the St. Patrick’s Day traditions and fun with your smallest kiddos (while simultaneously introducing the mischievous Thing One and Thing Two), then this board book is a winner!
With bright, colorful illustrations and Dr. Seuss’ characteristic gift for captivating children of all ages through silly rhyme and verse, you will love this title. It will make an excellent addition to your collection of leprechaun kids books!
17. Happy Leprechaun
Join one less than lucky leprechaun as he encounters mishaps and chaos along the way to find the end of a rainbow.
With colorful images and an engaging finger puppet, this board book is perfect for your youngest (aka newborn or a few months old) children. Thick sturdy pages allow for engagement with the story and page turning by even the smallest, chubby hands!
18. Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase
Pete the Cat is launching his leprechaun catching business, and the grand opening is on St. Patrick’s Day. But catching a leprechaun isn’t easy…especially if that leprechaun happens to be Clover, the trickiest of all.
Will Pete be able to catch the sneaky leprechaun for his friends or will his new business venture be a complete flop? Find out if it is Pete’s lucky day in this silly story that is sure to delight!
19. The Itsy Bitsy Leprechaun
This delightful board book is a twist on the classic nursery rhyme “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.”
Discover a band of leprechauns who are ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and an itsy bitsy leprechaun who wants to find a four-leaf clover! You and your littlest kiddos will love the entertaining illustrations and the fun new verses to the well-known song.
20. Pout Pout Fish: Lucky Leprechaun
Come along on another fun adventure with the beloved Pout Pout Fish as he and his friends attempt to find a pot of gold!
Will they be able to find what they are looking for or will they all go home empty-handed without the missing treasure? Fans of the original Pout Pout Fish story will love this St. Patrick’s Day themed version. So much fun for the whole family!
21. You’re My Little Lucky Charm
This sweet board book is absolutely precious! Each and every touch-and-feel page is a gentle reminder of your child’s importance.
Boasting rainbows, pots of gold, four leaf clovers, and leprechauns galore, this darling book will be one you and your child reach for again and again to celebrate the magic of this special holiday.
22. This is the Way the Leprechauns Play: A St. Patrick’s Day Nursery Rhyme
Another fun twist on the traditional “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” nursery rhyme.
This board book showcases leprechauns of all kinds making shoes, dancing, singing, and hiding pots of gold! Guaranteed to bring a smile to the faces of kids of all ages, this fun book with lyrical text and bright pictures is a much have for leprechaun kids books library.
Books About Ireland and Irish History
While all of the books that I have shared thus far have been directly related to leprechauns, I wanted to share a few others that I think will more fully “round out” your library of St. Patrick’s Day titles. These books will add a bit more context to the leprechaun adventures in the stories already mentioned!
23. Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland
In this classic Irish legend, author Tomie dePaola retells the life of Saint Patrick.
From his noble birth in Great Britain, captivity and slavery in Ireland to his eventual return to Ireland to establish the first Christian church, the account of Patrick is absolutely astounding. All ages will enjoy learning about the fascinating history of St. Patrick and how he became associated with the shamrock or four-leaf clover.
24. O’Sullivan Stew
Someone has stolen the horse belonging to the Witch of Crookhaven, and there will be no peace in the kingdom until the missing horse is returned.
So brassy Kate O’Sullivan decides to something about it…but it doesn’t quite turn out like she planned. She (and the rest of her family) end up in trouble with the King, and the only thing that will save them is Kate’s wit and storytelling ability! Will Kate be able to save the day or will she only make things worse?
25. Fiona’s Lace
When difficult circumstances arise in Ireland, Fiona and her family secure safe passage to Chicago. To repay their debt, the members of the family find work. Fiona has a gift for turning thread into the most beautiful lace and when the family is separated, it is the lace that allows Fiona’s parents to find her and her sister and reunite the family once again.
Written and illustrated by award-winning author Patricia Polacco comes another heartwarming story destined to end up on your bookshelf!
If you’re looking for stories that include mythical creatures, a perfect rainbow (or two), pots of gold, lots and lots of green, magic, and four-leaf clovers, then this is one of the book lists you will want to keep handy.
Trust me when I tell you these picture books are a great way to wish those you love a Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Simply check your local library, eBay, or Amazon to find all of these leprechaun kids books and more.
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