Are you looking for a few good books to read to your preschoolers on St. Patrick’s Day? If so, I might be able to help. I happen to know of several that are a big hit with the kids in my life. The books on my list are also easy to incorporate into holiday themed activities and lesson plans. With that said, here’s a quick rundown on each one:
“Green Shamrocks”
One of my favorite St. Patrick’s Day books is Eve Bunting’s “Green Shamrocks.” The storyline focuses on a rabbit that is obsessed with growing shamrocks for the holiday. Unfortunately for him, someone steals his shamrocks. As a result, he sets out on a quest to find the perpetrator. Of course interesting events occur in the process. The book tends to retail for $7 through most major book sellers.
I would recommend pairing it with a gardening activity. If you do decide to go that route, there are companies that sell large packages of shamrock seeds for $6. One of them is Auld Sod Gifts. You’ll also need a plastic cauldron, a bag of emerald green vase gems, a can of gold spray paint and a bag of potting soil.
Once you have all of the supplies on hand, spray paint the cauldron gold. Then pour some of the emerald green gems into it. Next, top the gems off with the potting soil and add the shamrock seeds. Afterward, the kids can pretend to be rabbits waiting for the shamrocks to grow.
“There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover”
Lucille Colandro’s “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover” is another paperback book that your preschooler is likely to adore. The storyline focuses on an elderly woman who eats a whole list of items and has a run in with a leprechaun. The text has a rhythm to it that only adds to its appeal. The illustrations are also colorful and large. You can usually purchase it through select book sellers for less than $4 a copy. If you are looking for an activity to pair with the book, I would suggest handing out rainbow colored, edible snacks. Great snacks to consider using are Skittles and rainbow cookies. You can find a recipe for rainbow cookies on the Bon Appétit website.
In my opinion, Tomie dePaola’s “Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato” is a super St. Patrick’s Day book too. The storyline focuses on a lazy Irishman who has his own encounter with a leprechaun. That encounter leaves him in charge of growing the world’s largest potato. The book is generally available for purchase through major retailers for $6 a copy. Because the storyline contains references to growing and eating potatoes, you may want to consider letting the kids grow a potato in a jar. I thought that it was a fun activity and your kids might enjoy it as well. You can find instructions on how to grow one posted on the Right at Home website.
“King Puck”
If you want to read a children’s book that is partially rooted in reality, I’d suggest reading Michael Garland’s “King Puck.” It’s about a talking goat that loves to read. Even though the storyline is fanciful, the action does take place at the King Puck Festival, which is a well-known event in Ireland. Thus, the book could easily be incorporated into an activity or a lesson plan about Irish festivals and legends. You can find lesson plans that deal with those topics posted on the Scoilnet website. The book tends to retail for $7 through assorted book sellers.
“It’s St. Patrick’s Day”
Lastly, I’d recommend that you give Rebecca Gomez’s “It’s St. Patrick’s Day” a try. The storyline focuses on celebrations associated with the holiday. It also has nice illustrations and a rhyming text that most preschoolers seem to respond well to. It usually retails for $4 through major book stores. I’d recommend pairing it with a musical activity. For example, you could give the children toy instruments and let them make music or sing Irish songs. You could also serve green beverages and snacks.
