St. Patrick's Day picture books that are suitable for storytimes are not so easy to find, much like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!
In this case, I will try to find related topics that fit under the umbrella of St. Patrick's Day, including snakes and the color green.
One of my favorite books that I read during St. Patrick's Day week is not about St. Patrick's Day, but is about the color green!
My Favorite St. Patrick's Day Books for Storytime
Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
Where is the Green Sheep? is my favorite St. Patrick's Day-related picture book that I read during outreaches or storytime.
Part mystery and part Where's Waldo?, children will enjoy searching each page for that elusive green sheep!
One of my favorite instruments is played by one of the sheep in the band, by the way!
This book is great for toddlers and preschoolers.
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Green is almost a pop-up book, but not quite. Cut outs on the right-hand page give you a clue as to what color and object will be the focus of the next page.
Because of the cut-outs that mimic pop-ups, I would identify this book as being for babies or toddlers. However, due to the sophisticated language of the various hues of green, I believe that preschoolers and older children will appreciate this book also.
Great for family storytime!
Laura Vaccaro Seeger is one of my favorite picture book authors because she is not afraid of innovation. Dog and Bear: Two Friends is in picture book format, but can easily turn into an easy reader because of the division of the story into chapters. I loved this idea, as it gives kids who might be afraid of moving to easy readers an opportunity to read a chapter book!
Good Luck, Bear by Greg E. Foley
If your goal in reading books about St. Patrick's Day is to teach children about the concept of luck, Good Luck Bear is a wonderful choice.
Also about friendship, Bear asks many of his animal friends for help in finding the elusive four-leafed clover. A clever twist at the end shows Bear who his real friend is!
Greg E. Foley has written a number of Bear books, which are all illustrated with child-friendly animals with gentle lessons about friendship.
The Bear books are for children who are toddlers or preschoolers.
How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace
How to Catch a Leprechaun is perfect for my preschool outreaches during the month of March.
Andy Elkerton's vivid illustrations are sure to catch the eye of distracted preschoolers!
Elementary schools often have a lesson plan involving leprechaun traps for younger elementary students. The idea is to teach a STEM subject to younger children in a fun way.
This book revolves around the idea of how to trap a leprechaun, like this lesson plan.
How to Catch a Leprechaun is perfect for kids who are learning this lesson: preschool through lower elementary.
Crictor by Tomi Ungerer
I like to read Crictor to a Family Storytime audience because it is a bit longer than a storytime book would be for younger children.
Late librarian Margaret Fitch recommended this book to me twenty years ago when I was trying to find a book to read at storytime for St. Patrick's Day. As you know, St. Patrick's Day revolves around a story about snakes, so she and I felt that it was appropriate!
Snakes are not so scary, you will learn as Crictor teaches children their alphabet and numbers. The same cannot be said for robbers, though!
This story is perfect for preschoolers to lower elementary children.
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