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Irish American Heritage Month for Kids & Teens

Celebrate Irish American Heritage Month with tales that sparkle with courage, cleverness, and a touch of enchantment! From ancient legends and folklore to inspiring biographies, heartfelt family stories, and page-turning adventures, this Kids & Teen book list shines a spotlight on the storytellers, dreamers, and heroes whose Irish roots have helped shape a rich cultural legacy across generations. 🍀

User from Chapel Hill Public Library

26 items

  • In Irish lore, banshees foretell doom—but Beanie the bansheenie chooses a different path. When she meets Rose, she defies fate to protect her, drawing on ancient secrets to create a sound that changes everything.
    Book, 2024Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press (MA), 2024 — PIC Colfer
  • From debut author-illustrator Paddy Donnelly comes a captivating tale celebrating a young girl’s determination, a granddad’s wisdom, and the fantastical wonders of the natural world.
    Book, 2021La Habra, CA : Yeehoo Press, [2021] — PIC Donnelly
  • An Irish storyteller revisits the little-known legend of the Mermaid Saint in a haunting, beautifully illustrated tale of kindness, music, and longing.
    Book, 2020Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2020 — PIC McShane
  • Polacco (Clara and Davie) adds to her library of autobiographical stories with this tale about her Irish forebear Fiona, who learns lace making when her mother's once-expert hands are stricken with arthritis.
    Book, 2014New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, [2014] — PIC Polacco
  • Brenda Bowen writes for adults under her own name but uses the pen name Margaret McNamara to honor her grandmother, who grew up in County Clare, Ireland, and was one of the few girls in her village who could read and write.
    Book, 2024New York : Simon Spotlight, 2024 — ER McNa
  • I Am the Wind

    Irish Poems for Children Everywhere

    A lyrical collection celebrating Ireland’s beauty, spirit, and stories, I Am the Wind brings Irish poems to life for children everywhere—inviting young readers to dream, imagine, and feel the magic of words.
    Book, 2024Dublin, Ireland : Little Island Books, 2024 — J 811.008 Jaco
  • Describes the history, geography, plant and animal life, economy, and culture of Ireland.
    Book, 2014New York : Children's Press, 2014 — J 914.15 Blas
  • Discover the legendary story of Granuaile, Ireland’s fearless Pirate Queen. From stormy seas to daring battles, this gripping tale brings to life a woman who defied kings and carved her own destiny on the waves.
    Book, 2018Dublin : Gill Books, 2018 — J 910.4 Burk
  • Explore Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway in this engaging nonfiction book, packed with fascinating facts about its unique geology, formation, and enduring legends.
    Book, 2025Minneapolis, MN : Jump!, Inc., 2025 — J 941.615 Chan
  • Retells the life of St. Patrick, including six of the legends about the Irish saint, and offers facts about how St. Patrick's Day is celebrated today
    Book, 2023New York : Holiday House, [2023] — J 394.26 Gibb
  • Tales for the Telling

    Irish Folk & Fairy Stories

    O'Brien, Edna
    An Irish classic! A collection of twelve folk and fairy tales from Ireland, including "The Magic Apples," "The Swan Bride," and "Paddy the Piper."
    Book, 1986New York : Atheneum, 1986 — J 398.2 O'Bri
  • While St. Patrick is more celebrated in the US, St. Brigid is more celebrated in Ireland. This read relates a legend about the Irish slave girl who became Saint Brigid, beginning with a celestial song, a mysterious gift, and a prophecy on the night…
    Book, 2002Grand Rapids, MI : Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2002 — J 398.2 Mil
  • Describes the many things that originally came from Ireland, such as holidays, food, sports, musical instruments, and fashion. Includes a recipe for Irish soda bread
    Book, 2002New York : Franklin Watts, [2002] — J 941.5 Har
  • The Faerie Isle

    Tales and Traditions of Ireland's Forgotten Folklore

    Quinn, Síne,
    Here's an accessible introductory guide to a bevy of myths, monsters, and mischief-makers from Irish folklore. Each entry succinctly announces its subject by providing historical and cultural context and explaining their role in the greater…
    Book, 2025Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2025 — J 398.2094 Quin
  • The Indestructible Tom Crean

    Heroic Explorer of the Antarctic

    Thermes, Jennifer,
    Read about the incredible true stories of Crean's adventures on the Discovery, Terra Nova, and Endurance expeditions. When the Endurance becomes trapped in the frozen sea and sinks, it is up to Crean and several others to go for help
    Book, 2023New York : Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2023 — JB Crean
  • Check out one of our St. Patrick's Day Book Kits!
    Kit, Kids BookKit Bag 102
  • It's spring 1912, and 14-year-old Mollie Carberry lives in Drumcondra with her loving but distracted parents, her older sister Phyllis, her spoiled older brother Harry and her saintly little sister Julia. Mollie's convinced that her life is boring…
    Book, 2017Dublin, Ireland : O'Brien Press, 2017 — JF Care (paper)
  • The Black Dog of depression has descended over Dublin, but siblings Rayzer and Gloria are determined to stop it, and soon they are joined by thousands of other children and some magical animals on a chase through the streets, parks, and beaches of…
    Book, 2015New York : Amulet Books, 2015 — JF Doyl
  • Inspired by her great-grandmother, Giff tells Anna Mallon’s story in verse—a patriotic Irish girl caught in the 1881 Land War as landlords evict tenants over soaring rents.
    Book, 2019New York : Holiday House, 2019 — JF Giff
  • Here's a collection of short stories complied by Eoin Colfer, the third Laureate na nÓg, Ireland's laureate for children's literature, from 2014 – 2016.
    Book, 2015Dublin, Ireland : Little Island, 2015 — JF Once