Inside: Book review of The Luckiest Leprechaun and lots of follow-up activities.
Hello! This is a repost and update from 7 years ago.
But The Luckiest Leprechaun is STILL my favourite St. Patrick’s Day book so I thought it was definitely worth featuring this post. I should say, though, that St. Patrick’s Day isn’t actually mentioned in the book, but it has a leprechaun and it’s VERY sweet and very Irish.
I read this book to my class today and they liked it so much they clapped at the end 🙂 Then, for the next hour, child after child quietly approached me and asked if I believed in leprechauns or was it only a myth. How sweet is that?
Title: The Luckiest Leprechaun: A Tail-Wagging Tale of Friendship
Author: Justine Korman
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Publishing: BridgeWater Paperback, 2000
Audience: Ages 4 to 7
Theme: Leprechaun Lore, Friendship
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Opening: “MacKenzie O’Shamrock, at your service. But you can call me Mac. I’m a leprechaun — and I don’t care if you believe in me or not. Get too close and I’ll show you who’s real with my hammer. I may be small, but we leprechauns are not to be trifled with! There, now that that’s settled, pull up a toadstool, or a chair if you’re too big, and I’ll tell you my story.”
Synopsis: Grumpy ol’ Mac, the leprechaun with attitude, begrudgingly befriends an adorable mutt. But not before a heart-thumping adventure or two, involving a gold-seeking human who actually believes in the little people!
Why I Like It: ‘Cause it co-stars a sweet doggie, I love all fantastical stories, and it’s so much fun to read with an Irish brogue (and the kids don’t even notice if you’re awful). And of course the very predictable, but satisfying ending.
Resources:
You can find lots of St. Patrick’s Day crafts at Kinder Art and Little Giraffes.
The story has many toadstool pictures in it (as you can see above) so it would be fun to have the kids paint their own.
The painting below looks like it was done with watercolor, crayon and black sharpie. I couldn’t find directions for it, but I imagine it’s a directed drawing since it was done by a child in Kindergarten. You can see the original post at Art Projects for Kids.
If you’re looking for more books, be sure to go to Amazon for a wonderful selection!
I have lots more St. Patrick Day ideas and resources here.
Be sure to check out these leprechaun calendar cards.
May the luck o’ the Irish be with you!
Thanks for stopping by, friends!
JOIN THE NEWSLETTER! NEVER MISS FREEBIES & UPDATES
Cute book and love the toad stools!JenniferFirst Grade Blue SKies
LOVE the illustrations in The Luckiest Leprechaun!❤ Dragonflies in First ❤
That's a cute story about the kids. I love that story and the toadstools painting is really neat. ChrissyFirst Grade Found Me
That is awesome that your kiddos clapped at the end of the book! I love that books can bring about such a response from kids. Enjoy your weekend.❁First Grade Delight❁imgoingfirst@gmail.com
I have to go find this book! I might need to start doing this book thing on Fridays too. I so look forward to it and I have good books to share too. Thank!
I'd get it just for the pictures! Great book and activities! I like the mushroom painting 🙂
So cute! I am going to have to find that book!Beth Ann
Barbara, I always love your resources. Very sweet the kids asked if you believed. The illustrations look like loads of fun too.
Glad to see a book with a Leprechaun, just perfect for St. Patrick's Day! Thanks, Barbara!
This book looks delightful, Barbara. I also always fall for the cute dog 🙂 Glad to have a St. Patrick's Day-related title for our list. And as always I love your activities! Thanks 🙂
You're so sweet Barbara! Thanks bunches and love books with doggies too!
Loving the leprechaun trap! What a fun idea:)
I love leprechaun books! I'm glad you reviewed this as it wounds like a lot of fun! And as always, great activities. Very cute book.
So great to have a book for St. Patrick's Day. My kids have been setting leprechaun traps for a couple of years and it's so cute when they are excited to see if they caught one. Great choice.A2ZMommy and What’s In Between
The illustrations and the line “and I don't care if you believe in me or not” had me. Sounds so fun!