The Night Before St. Patrick's Day by Natasha Wing Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: It’s the night before St. Patrick’s Day, and Tim and Maureen are wide awake setting traps to catch a leprechaun! When they wake the next morning to the sound of their dad playing the bagpipes and the smell of their mom cooking green eggs, they’re shocked to find that they’ve actually caught a leprechaun. But will they be able to find his pot of gold?

Flannel Board

Five Green Shamrocks

Five green shamrocks growing outdoors
[Child’s name] picked one, and that left four.

Four little shamrocks, green as they can be.
[Child’s name] picked one and that left three.

Three little shamrocks playing peek-a-boo
[Child’s name] picked one and that left two.

Two little shamrocks nodding in the sun,
[Child’s name] picked one, and that left one.

One little shamrock for St. Patrick's Day fun.
[Child’s name] picked it, and that left none.

The Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever by Teddy Slater Age Level: Toddler and up

Synopsis: The St. Patrick's Day parade is off to a very fine start. The Leprechaun family is marching with lots of heart! Share in their dancing, share in their fun. You'll have the luck of the Irish when this day is done! Top o' the morning! It's March 17th, and the Leprechauns are gathered for their favorite day of the year. Join them as they celebrate St. Patrick's Day with music, dancing, and a parade!

Song

I'm a Little Leprechaun

(Tune: "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little leprechaun
Dressed in green,
The tiniest man
That you ever seen.
If you ever catch me, it is told,
I'll give you my pot of gold!

Hooray for St. Patrick's Day! by Joan Holub Age Level: Toddler and up

Synopsis: It's Saint Patrick's Day, and time to join in the celebration. Children can lift the flaps for interactive fun as they see the children in this book make holiday crafts, taste traditional Irish food, perform a play about Saint Patrick, and even march in a Saint Patrick's Day parade. As an added bonus, they can search for the hidden leprechaun on each spread. A great way for young readers to learn about and enjoy the holiday.

	The Leprechaun's Gold by Pamela Duncan Edwards Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: In this classic Irish legend, two harpists -- merry-hearted Old Pat and ill-spirited Young Tom -- set off for a contest to name the finest harpist in all of Ireland. When Young Tom realizes that Old Pat is truly the better musician, he schemes to be the winner -- but he doesn't reckon with the clever trickery of a mischievous little leprechaun.

Song

This Little Leprechaun

This little leprechaun slid down the rainbow,
[Point to thumb.]
This little leprechaun stayed home.
[Point to index finger.]
This little leprechaun picked a shamrock,
[Point to middle finger.]
This little leprechaun found some gold.
[Point to ring finger.]
This little leprechaun cried, "See if you can catch me,"
[Point to little finger.]
As he ran home.
[Wiggle little finger.]

	St. Patrick's Day Countdown by Salina Yoon Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: Count along with the forest friends in this shimmery board book! Five bright green holographic shamrock tabs and fun rhyming text make this a St. Patrick’s Day treat!

Films

	Finn McCoull (DVD) Ages: 4-up Running Time: 30 Minutes (note that this is longer than usual)
Synopsis: Synopsis: Finn is the greatest champion of all Ireland, but when he discovers that the brutish giant Cucullin is after him, even the great Finn gets a wee bit nervous. But with some ingenious culinary magic on the part of his clever wife, manages to get out of the scrape with his dignity in tact.

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More Books to Read On Your Own

Green Wilma
by Tedd Arnold
Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Waking up with a frog-like appearance, Wilma proves disruptive at school as she searches for some tasty flies.

Go Away, Big Green Monster!
by Ed Emberley
Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Each page of this die-cut book features a new part of a big green monster--his nose, his teeth, his eyes--which soon disappear again as young readers continue to turn the pages.

Little Blue and Little Yellow: A Story For Pippo and Ann and Other Children
by Leo Lionni
Age Level: Toddler and up
Synopsis: Little Blue and Little Yellow get all mixed up and become Little Green, so their parents do not recognize them, until they manage to get separated into their original colors. Give children small pieces of yellow and blue celophane to act out this story while you read it.

Little Green
by Keith Baker
Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: A young boy paints the flight of a hummingbird as it zips, loops, and zigzags around his garden.
Note: Artfelt has a Green Hummingbird felt puppet that works well with this book. Artfelt also offers Hummingbird Rhymes.

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Green
by Keith Baker

Verdi
by Janell Cannon
Age Level: Kindergarten and up
Synopsis: A young python does not want to grow slow and boring like the older snakes he sees in the tropical jungle where he lives.
Note: A Verdi Plush Doll and a Verdi Finger Puppet are available through Amazon.com.

Green Eggs and Ham
by Dr. Seuss
Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Sam-I-Am mounts a determined campaign to convince another Seuss character to eat a plate of green eggs and ham.
Note: To make this more interesting for the younger set, you might consider props or pictures for each of the things in the story.

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More Songs for at Home

Michael Finnegan

There once was a man named Michael Finnegan
He had whiskers on his chinnegan
They fell out and then grew in again
Poor old Michael Finnegan
Begin again.

There once was a man named Michael Finnegan
He went fishing with a pinnegan
Caught a fish and dropped it in again
Poor old Michael Finnegan
Begin again.

There once was a man named Michael Finnegan
He grew fat and then grew thin again
Then he died and had to begin again
Poor old Michael Finnegan
Begin again.

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

There's a tear in your eye
And I'm wondering why
For it never should be there at all

With such pow'r in your smile
Sure a stone you'd beguile
So there's never a teardrop should fall

When your sweet lilting laughter's
Like some fairy song
And your eyes twinkle
Bright as can be
You should laugh all the while
And all other times smile
And now smile a smile for me

When Irish eyes are smiling
Sure it's like a morn in spring
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing

When Irish hearts are happy
All the world seems bright and gay
And when Irish eyes are smiling
Sure they steal your heart away

Shamrocks, Shamrocks

Shamrocks, shamrocks,
On Ireland's hills,
Greenest of green
Over rocks and rills
Good luck do they bring,
For one and all
On St. Patrick's Day
We can see them all.

Greensleeves

Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long,
Delighting in your company.

CHORUS
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.

Alas, my love, that you should own
A heart of wanton vanity,
So must I meditate alone
Upon your insincerity.

Your vows you've broken, like my heart,
Oh, why did you so enrapture me?
Now I remain in a world apart
But my heart remains in captivity.

If you intend thus to disdain,
It does the more enrapture me,
And even so, I still remain
A lover in captivity.

I have been ready at your hand,
To grant whatever thou wouldst crave;,
I have both wagered life and land,
Your love and good-will for to have.

Thou couldst desire no earthly thing,
But still thou hadst it readily.
Thy music still to play and sing;
And yet thou wouldst not love me.

I bought thee kerchiefs for thy head,
That were wrought fine and gallantly;
I kept thee at both board and bed,
Which cost my purse well-favoredly.

I bought thee petticoats of the best,
The cloth so fine as it might be;
I gave thee jewels for thy chest,
And all this cost I spent on thee.

Thy smock of silk, both fair and white,
With gold embroidered gorgeously;
Thy petticoat of sendal right,
And these I bought thee gladly.

My men were clothed all in green,
And they did ever wait on thee;
All this was gallant to be seen,
And yet thou wouldst not love me.

They set thee up, they took thee down,
They served thee with humility;
Thy foot might not once touch the ground,
And yet thou wouldst not love me.

'Tis I will pray to God on high,
That thou my constancy mayst see,
And that yet once before I die,
Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me.

Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu,
To God I pray to prosper thee,
For I am still thy lover true,
Come once again and love me.

Wee Little Patrick
(Tune: "Yankee Doodle")

Patrick is a leprechaun
He has a sack of gold
He hides it in a special place
Between two stumps, I'm told

I think I once saw Patrick
Out in the woods at play
He smiled and laughed and winked his eye
And then he ran away

Don't try to follow Patrick
To find his treasure sack
He'll twist and jump and run away
And he never will come back.

On St. Patrick's Day
(Tune: "The Mulberry Bush")

Let's wear green and dance a jig,
Dance a jig, dance a jig.
Let's wear green and dance a jig,
On St. Patrick's Day.

How Many Leprechauns?
(Tune: "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star")

How many Leprechauns do you see?
Can you count them, one, two, three?
How many skinny ones?
How many fat?
How many leprechauns with out a hat?

I'm a Little Shamrock
(Tune: "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little shamrock see my leaves.
Count my three petals if you please.
If you give me water and lots of sun,
I'll bring you good luck and lots of fun.

Leprechaun Fingerplay

Leprechaun, leprechaun,
Hiding in the hay.
[Hide pointer finger under opposite hand.]
Leprechaun, leprechaun,
Don't you run away.
[Hop pointer finger around.]
Leprechaun, leprechaun,
Let's go out and play.
[Hop both pointer fingers together.]
Leprechaun, leprechaun,
It's St. Patrick's Day!
[Dance pointer fingers up and down.]

Do Your Ears Point Up?

Do your ears point up?
[Pull on tops of ears.]
Do you have a lot of luck?
[Cross fingers.]
For gold do you dig?
[Pretend to dig.]
Can you dance an Irish jig?
[Dance a jig.]
If you answered, "Yes,"
[Nod head.]
You're a leprechaun, I'd guess!
[Wink eye.]

Five Wee Leprechauns

Five wee leprechauns scurrying by my door,
One jumped away, then there were 4.
Four wee leprechauns climbing in my tree,
One hid in the green leaves, then there were 3.
Three wee leprechauns, just a busy few,
One went for a pot of gold, then there were 2.
Two wee leprechauns, having lots of fun,
One hopped over the rainbow, then there was 1.
One wee leprechaun, with all his work done.
He slipped off for a nap, then there was 0.

Shawn, Shawn, the Leprechaun

Shawn, Shawn, the leprechaun
Danced through the forest with a green suit on.
You can chase him all day long
Come to close and poof he's gone.

Catch Him If You Can
(Tune: "The Muffin Man")

Oh! have you seen a leprechaun ,
a leprechaun, a leprechaun?
Oh! have you seen a leprechaun
who came from Ireland?

I'm a Little Leprechaun
(Tune: "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little leprechaun, can't you see?
I am as tiny as can be!
I only come around just once a year
That's when St. Patrick's Day is here!

Can't Catch Me
(Tune: "Skip to My Lou")

Can't, can't, can't Catch me!
Can't, can't, can't Catch me!
Can't, can't, can't Catch me!
For I'm wearing green, you see!

Going On a Leprechaun Hunt
(Adaptation of: "Going on a Bear Hunt")

[Ask the children to listen closely and follow the directions. Instruct
them to clap the rhythm or slap their knees as you tell the story.]

Going on a leprechaun hunt.
I'm not afraid.
Let's go!

Oh. look! I see a grassy field.
Can't go around it.
Can't go under it. Can't go over it.
Let's go through it.
Let's go! Swish, swish, swish, swish.

Oh, look! I see a giant tree.
Can't go over it.
Can't go under it.
Can't go through it.
Let's climb it.
Let's go! Climb, climb, climb.

Oh, look! I see a river.
Can't go over it.
Can't go around it.
Can't go under it.
Let's Swim it.
Let's go. Swim, swim, swim.

Oh, look! I see a dark cave.
Can't go around it.
Can't go under it.
Can't go over it.
Let's tiptoe into it.
Let's go. Tippy, tippy, toe.

It's really dark in here.
Better turn on my flashlight.
Oh, no. I see something!
It's mean!
It's green!
It's a leprechaun!
Let's go!
Run! Run! Swim! Swim! Climb! Climb! Swish! Swish!
Whew...safe at home again.

Shamrocks

5 Little Shamrocks lying in the grass
along came a leprechaun skipping down the path
he picked one up and put it on the door
that's for good luck now there are 4

4 little shamrocks lying in the grass
along came a leprechaun skipping down the path
he picked it up and and put it on a tree
that's for good luck now there are 3

3 little shamrocks lying in the grass
along came a leprechaun skipping down the path
he picked it up and put it on his shoe
that's for good luck now there are 2

2 little shamrocks lying in the grass
along came a leprechaun skipping down the path
he picked it up and held it toward the sun
that's for good luck now there is 1

1 little shamrock lying in the grass
along came a leprechaun skipping down the path
he left it there so there'd always be 1
that's for good luck and now my stories done!

The Shamrock is Green
(Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

The shamrock is green
The shamrock is green
Hi, Ho, St. Patrick's Day
The shamrock is green.

I'm a Little Leprechaun
(Tune: "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little Leprechaun, short and green.
Here is my shamrock but I can't be seen.
When you pull my feather, hear me scream
I'm a little Leprechaun, short and green.

Eensy Weensy Leprechaun
(Tune: "Eensy Weensy Spider")

An eensy, weensy leprechaun
came out St. Patrick's Day
to look for the gold
That was hidden far away.
Over the rainbow
was where he was told
so, with the wink of his green eye,
He ran for the gold.

I Caught a Leprechaun

Mother, mother,
What do you say
I caught a leprechaun
Out at Play

Mother, mother,
What do you say,
That little leprechaun
Ran away

Mother Mother
What do you think
He meant when he turned
and gave me a wink

This Little Leprechaun

This little leprechaun slid down the rainbow
(Point to thumb)
This little leprechaun stayed home
(Point to index finger)
This little leprechaun picked a shamrock,
(Point to middle finger)
This little leprechaun found some gold
(Point to ring finger)
And this little leprechaun cried,
See if you can catch me!
(Point to pinky finger)

Five Little Leprechauns

Five little leprechauns were dancing on the shore.
The king waved a magic wand, and then there were________.
Four little leprechauns were dancing merrily.
The king waved a magic wand, and then there were________.
Three little leprechauns danced a jig as they can do.
The king waved a magic wand, and then there were_________.
Two little leprechauns were dancing on the run.
The king waved a magic wand, and then there were _______.
One little leprechaun was lonely as could be.
The king called the leprechauns and gave them cakes and tea.

St. Patrick's Day Song
(Tune: "If You're Happy and You Know It")

If you're wearing green today, dance a jig,
If you're wearing green today, dance a jig,
If you're wearing green today,
Dance a jig, then smile and say,
"Have a very Happy St. Patrick's Day"

Additional verses:
"If you're wearing green today, clap your hands"
"If you're wearing green today, spin around"
"If you're wearing green today, shout "Hurray!""
"If you're wearing green today, stamp your feet"

Wee Little Patrick
(Tune: "Yankee Doodle")

Patrick is a leprechaun
He has a sack of gold
He hides it in a special place
Between to stumps, I'm told I
I think I saw Patrick Out in the woods at play
He smiled and laughed and winked his eye
And then he ran away

Don't try to follow Patrick
To find his treasure sack
He'll twist and jump and run away
And he never will come back.

The Leprechaun Song
(Tune: "If You're Happy and You Know It")

I saw a leprechaun all dressed in green.
It was the only leprechaun I've ever seen.
He has a pixie turned up nose
And pixie turned up toes.
Oh, I saw a leprechaun all dressed in green.

He was only about as big as my thumb,
He was only about as big as my thumb.
His beard was long & white
I marveled at his height.
He was only about as big as my thumb.

He had buried secret, hidden treasure,
He had buried, secret, hidden treasure.
I couldn't believe my eyes
You can imagine my surprise,
He had buried, secret, hidden treasure.

Five Little Leprechauns

Five little leprechauns dressed in green
They're the hapiest I've ever seen.
This leprechaun has a big gold ring.
This leprechaun has a song to sing.
This leprechaun wears a funny wig.
This leprechaun likes to dance the jig.
This leprechaun nods his head to say,
"We wish you a happy St. Patrick's Day!"

Five Little Leprechauns II

Five little leprechauns knocked at my door,
One chased a rainbow, then there were four.
Four little leprechauns oh so wee,
One picked a shamrock, then there were three.
Three little leprechauns hiding in my show,
One found a toadstool, then there were two.
Two little leprechauns dancing in the sun,
One went in seach of gold, then there was one.
One little leprechain on the run,
He shined his shoe buckles, then there was none.

What Color Are You Wearing?

Leader says:
Green, green, green
Who is wearing green today?
Green, green, green, green
Who is wearing green?

All children with green showing say:
I am wearing green today.
Look at me and you will say
Green, green, green, green
I am wearing green today.

If You're Wearing Green Today
(Tune: "Mary Had a Little Lamb")

If you're wearing green today,
Green today, green today,
If you're wearing green today,
Please stand up.

Elfman

I met a little elf-man
Down where the lilies blow,
[Use thumb and pointer finger to indicate size.]
I asked him why he was so small
And why he didn't grow.
[Shrug shoulders, hands out at sides, palms up.]
He slightly frowned and with his eyes
He looked me through and through
[Tilt head to side and look serious.]
"I'm just as big for me," said he,
"As you are big for you."
[Place hands on hips.]