St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) is fast approaching! And the holiday is more than just a celebration of Irish heritage—it’s also a fantastic opportunity to get kids excited about reading! With its playful themes of shamrocks, leprechauns, rainbows, and pots of gold, the holiday provides a perfect backdrop for engaging reading activities.

Books filled with mischievous leprechauns and magical adventures can capture young readers’ imaginations. Stories such as How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace or The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing are guaranteed to bring excitement to storytime. For older kids, books exploring Irish folklore and legends provide a deeper dive into the holiday’s origins and enduring traditions.

By pairing books with the fun and whimsy of St. Patrick’s Day, parents and educators can inspire a love of reading that lasts well beyond March 17th. So, grab a book, put on some green, and let the reading adventure begin! Here are 21 of our favorites:

• Clever Tom and the Leprechaun by Linda Shute
• Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman
• Green Shamrocks by Eve Bunting
• Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Clifford! by Quinlan B. Lee
• Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Curious George by H. A. Rey
• How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace
• Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie De Paola
• Leprechauns Don’t Play Basketball by Debbie Dadey
• Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase by James Dean and Kimberly Dean
• St. Patrick’s Day by Anne Rockwell
• St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting
• The Berenstain Bears’ St. Patrick’s Day by Mike Berenstain
• The Irish Cinderlad by Shirley Climo
• The Leprechaun Under the Bed by Tom Sullivan
• The Leprechaun’s Gold by Pamela Duncan Edwards
• The Littlest Leprechaun by Brandi Dougherty
• The Luckiest St. Patrick’s Day Ever! by Teddy Slater
• The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing
• The Story of the Leprechaun by Katherine Tegen
• There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover by Lucille Colandro
• Three Ways to Trap a Leprechaun by Tara Lazar

About Success Won’t Wait

Founded in 2002, Success Won’t Wait is a not-for-profit literacy organization based in Wilmington, Delaware. To learn more about Success Won’t Wait’s literacy projects, how to donate used children’s books in Delaware, or volunteer your time, please click on the About Us tab above.

And, if your program, school or center needs assistance with books, please Contact Us to learn more.

Read now, because success won’t wait!