9 Best St Patrick’s Day Books for Kids: Read Aloud Booklist
St Patrick’s Day Books for Kids. This St. Patrick’s Day booklist focuses on the life of Saint Patrick and includes a few picture books just for fun. At 16, St. Patrick was kidnapped from his family’s estate in Great Britain and taken to Ireland. His life was full of hardships. I have placed an asterisk (*) by the book titles and resources that include sensitive content, and it may be best to wait until your child is closer to 8 years old.
My children are very young right now. This post is to get us started with our own St. Patrick’s Day Unit. Each year, I will expand our book recommendations and reviews. Hopefully, this will become a valuable resource page! Most of the books listed were found at our local library. I plan to purchase a few to keep on hand for annual reviews, allowing us to revisit familiar information and build upon our St. Patrick’s Day unit each year. This year I purchased Tomie dePaola’s picture book at a secondhand store for $1.75 (I thought it was rather a steal) and the 6 book set of the Courageous Series by Voice of the Martyrs (the frequently run a sale for the entire book set for $20)
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9 Picture Books about Saint Patrick
1. St. Patrick the Patron Saint by Tomie de Paola
This is a wonderful introduction to the life of Saint Patrick for young readers and possibly my favorite picture book about Saint Patrick on this Best St Patrick’s Day Books for Kids Book list.
“Beloved children’s book author-illustrator Tomie dePaola recounts the life of Saint Patrick—from his noble birth in Britain to his captivity in Ireland, to the visions which led him to return and found the first Christian church in Ireland.” – From the Publisher
2. Patrick: God’s Courageous Captive (Book 4) by Voice of the Martyrs
Amazon | Amazon Alternative
I finally purchased the Courageous Series by the Voice of the Martyrs for my girls. A friend shared about the deal on their website, the whole set is $20. (I’m not an affiliate.)
“Inspire your children with the true stories of biblical heroes and saints. VOM’s Courageous Series books highlight the lives of faithful Christians throughout history, showing how they boldly proclaimed Christ in the face of persecution. This set includes the stories of biblical heroes Stephen, Thomas and the Apostle Paul as well as three additional stories of well-known Christians Nicholas, Patrick and Valentine, whose faith informed their actions. Your children will be inspired to be just as bold for Jesus.” – From the Publisher
St. Patrick courage book – voice of the matyrs (link the whole set – no i’m not an affiliate)
3. St. Patrick’s Day by Gail Gibbons
This nonfiction book is told in the classic informative style of Gail Gibbons, featuring the brief biography of Saint Patrick and Irish traditions.
4. Patrick of Ireland by Simonetta Carr (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)*
I’m working to collect the entire series “Christian Biographies for Young Readers” by Simonetta Carr.
“The name St. Patrick is associated with Irish legend and modern holidays. But why is he really worth remembering? In this beautifully illustrated book, Simonetta Carr tells the inspiring story of how the wealthy, young Patrick was kidnapped from Britain, taken as a slave to the pagan island of Ireland, and found a way to escape. Yet, more importantly, we see how Patrick’s suffering as a slave opened his eyes to the mercy of God and prepared him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Getting to know the real Patrick of Ireland, young readers will learn that the joy of the Lord will sustain them through difficult times and strengthen them to share the gospel with others. ” – From the Publisher
Read Aloud Chapter Book for ages 8+
5. Patrick of Ireland: The Boy Who Forgave by KC Murdarasi*
I highly recommend the audiobook read by Joe Geoffrey for ages 8 years plus.
“Patrick of Ireland is known as all three but who is he really? Let K.C. Murdarasi bring to light the real life of this father of the Christian faith. Kidnapped from his home and family as a young boy you would think forgiveness would have been far from his mind. Yet with God’s grace Patrick returned to the land of his captivity where he preached the Good News of Jesus Christ to slaves and kings alike and left a legacy of faith that would last for centuries.” – From the Publisher
More Picture Books for St. Patrick’s Day
6. Fiona’s Lace by Patricia Polacco
‘Many years ago, times were hard in all of Ireland, so when passage to America becomes available, Fiona and her family travel to Chicago. They find work in domestic service to pay back their passage, and at night Fiona turns tangles of thread into a fine, glorious lace. Then when the family is separated, it is the lace that Fiona’s parents follow to find her and her sister and bring the family back together. And it is the lace that will always provide Fiona with memories of Ireland and of her mother’s words: “In your heart your true home resides, and it will always be with you as long as you remember those you love.”’ – From the Publisher
Content Warning: Please note that the author briefly references leprechauns, fairies, Irish traditions, and the Irish legend of the Pooka: “This about the Pooka, the ghostly black horse that is harnessed to the Costa Bower, the carriage of death. The Banshee screeches and pounds on the door to collect souls that have passed from this life.” Romance- the father tells the story about meeting their mother. There are hardships, poverty, and a house fire.
7. The St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolan
“In the time of the Irish potato famine, Fergus and his family left for America. But first Fergus cut a branch from a blackthorn tree so that he could take a piece of Ireland with him. On the journey, he whittled the branch into a shillelagh. Each St. Patrick’s Day, Fergus told his story of coming to America and of the shillelagh that he brought with him. Throughout the years, one generation after another passed the shillelagh on along with Fergus’s story, adding their own life experiences. On this St. Patrick’s Day, Kayleigh finds the shillelagh and listens to her grandfather share their history. He then places the shillelagh in Kayleigh’s hands, making her the keeper of the family story.” – From the Publisher
8. St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting
Jamie is a young boy, too young to make the march in the big St. Patrick’s Day parade, but he wakes up early one morning to prove that he is strong enough to make the trip.
9. This is Ireland by Miroslav Sasek*
First published in 1964, this book is filled with fascinating information about Ireland.
Content Warning: Please note the text mentions whiskey, pubs, famine, hanging, teetotallers pin, and smoking. Illustrations include smoking cigarettes/pipes and pubs.
“This is Ireland, first published in 1964, brings the Emerald Isle to life, where the shamrock grows and a leprechaun stands at the end of every rainbow, guarding a crock of gold. There’s Dublin with its bustling crowds, tall steeples, and Trinity College; there’s Clonmacnois, the burial place of kings; there’s the Blarney Stone to kiss for eloquence, and much, much more in this verdant, friendly land filled with enchanted lakes and mountains that fall steep to the sea.” – From the Publisher
Activities and Resources for St. Patrick’s Day
The Torchlighters: The Saint Patrick’s Story Episode 19* – Recommended for ages 8+ due to content.
The Torchlighters: Saint Patrick Coloring Pages (FREE)
Featured Craft: Puffy Paint Shamrock
Interested in More Booklists for Kids: Check These Out!
Free Monthly Booklists: A Picture Book Collection for Every Month
Get all monthly booklists for free {HERE}.
Best Picture Books for March
Get the monthly booklist {HERE}.
Favorite Christ-Centered Easter Books
Get the complete list of favorite Easter picture books {HERE}.
More Booklists Coming Soon!
Thanks for Stopping By!
Lastly, thank you for stopping by! Please say hi in the comment section and share your favorite book from the Best St Patrick’s Day Books for Kids Booklist. Let me know if I missed your favorite new release. Be sure to subscribe to my mailing list for monthly picture book lists delivered right to your inbox.
HAPPY ST. PADDY’S DAY!
– With Great Joy, Katie
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