What do you think?
Rate this book
The Night Before St. Patrick's Day
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?
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Natasha Wing
75 books137 followersWhy am I a writer? When I was a young girl, I wanted to be a teacher. I’d line up my stuffed animals in front of a board and teach them the alphabet and how to count. In high school I wanted to be a tennis player. I was on the tennis team, and played at our neighborhood tennis club. Then in college I thought digging dinosaur bones would be a cool job. It wasn’t until I was working at my own public relations agency that I decided I really wanted to write children’s books. I was so inspired by the magic of reading a book that I wanted to see if my active imagination could create magical moments for kids all over the world. I started to write, then sent my stories to publishers, and sold my first manuscript in 1992. I’ve been writing ever since.
Why I write now.
I love the freedom of being my own boss, of coming up with ideas on my own and writing that first draft to see if my idea has any spark. I’m not so crazy about the revising process although there are thrilling moments when I figure out a better way to say something, or when I nail dialog, or work through a complicated plot line. The most exciting moment is when an editor says they want to publish my manuscript. Then I know all my hard work has paid off, and that soon, children will enter my imaginative world through a book.
Why I write now.
I love the freedom of being my own boss, of coming up with ideas on my own and writing that first draft to see if my idea has any spark. I’m not so crazy about the revising process although there are thrilling moments when I figure out a better way to say something, or when I nail dialog, or work through a complicated plot line. The most exciting moment is when an editor says they want to publish my manuscript. Then I know all my hard work has paid off, and that soon, children will enter my imaginative world through a book.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
March 17, 2018
I like these 'Night before Christmas' spin-off books. Natasha Wing does a fun job with them. In this story they are setting traps to catch a leprechaun. What a mess that causes. They are sly little creatures. He gets away. I like it that the kids do catch the Leprechaun.
Happy St. Patrick's Day. The kids had fun with these books. They know the rhyme scheme well enough to relate it to the source material.
Happy St. Patrick's Day. The kids had fun with these books. They know the rhyme scheme well enough to relate it to the source material.
March 17, 2016
My daughter read this in school, she said the leprechaun is sneaky.
January 21, 2018
My two daughters absolutely loved this book. There are not many books for St. Patrick's day and even less that are entertaining with a good story line. This was fantastic and has been read over and over. I have taken it out the last two years right after Valentine's Day and my girls and I look forward to taking out The Night Before St. Patrick's Day year after year!!!
March 12, 2017
Not all the lines scan correctly, which drives me wild. But it's fun to see the kids try to trap a leprechaun, resulting in their being tricked as well!
January 5, 2025
Mom did an awesome Irish accent!!!
March 5, 2012
I'm afraid I wasn't wowed by this one. It is a cute idea, a take on "The Night Before Christmas" and even borrows some of the original wording, but it feels rather forced in places and some of the scenes didn't fit with the original, making the occasional references to the original rather jarring. Most of all, I was troubled by the children wanting to catch a leprechaun and setting all sorts of traps for him so they could make him tell where his gold is hidden. At the end, they do catch a leprechaun but he tricks them and they don't get any gold--and the kids just look dumbfounded and disappointed. I know the story is just supposed to be fun (and that the capture-by-humans is a common thing in leprechaun stories) but I would have liked the children to have more of a "moral of the story" and realize that it isn't nice to trap living things. I would recommend instead The Leprechaun's Gold or The Story of the Leprechaun.
March 23, 2015
I like holidays, so I read The Night Before St. Patrick's Day by Natasha Wing, and St.Patrick's Day, by Gail Gibbons. The Night Before St. Patrick's Day is fiction, and St.Patrick's Day is nonfiction.
Some things in these books are alike. Both books are about St.Patrick's Day on March 17th. They both tell the reader about celebrating it by wearing green. Both books talk about leprechauns and pots of gold.
These books are different too. The Night Before St.Patrick's Day is about two made-up children named Tim and Maureen. St. Patrick's Day is about the real life of Saint Patrick. In The Night Before St. Patrick's Day, Tim and Maureen get fooled by a real leprechaun. In St. Patrick's Day, there are no real leprechauns, but the book explains how the Irish believed in them.
My favorite book is St. Patrick's Day. The Night Before St. Patrick's Day had some fun details, but St. Patrick's Day had more interesting facts.
Some things in these books are alike. Both books are about St.Patrick's Day on March 17th. They both tell the reader about celebrating it by wearing green. Both books talk about leprechauns and pots of gold.
These books are different too. The Night Before St.Patrick's Day is about two made-up children named Tim and Maureen. St. Patrick's Day is about the real life of Saint Patrick. In The Night Before St. Patrick's Day, Tim and Maureen get fooled by a real leprechaun. In St. Patrick's Day, there are no real leprechauns, but the book explains how the Irish believed in them.
My favorite book is St. Patrick's Day. The Night Before St. Patrick's Day had some fun details, but St. Patrick's Day had more interesting facts.
March 30, 2026
This is a cute rhyming rendition ... whimsical!
December 6, 2022
This is written in the style of The Night before Christmas but for St. Patrick's Day which doesn't make much sense to be honest. The writing doesn't rhyme and the drawings are childish but at least the Leprechaun is a nice detail. No mention of the real Christian Saint by the name of Patrick.
March 24, 2014
Cute St. Patty's Day take on the Night Before Christmas story where leprechauns are abundant and kids are trying to catch them. My elementary students really enjoyed this story!
March 14, 2020
I thought this was so cute and charming. I had added this years ago and didn't remember the synopsis, but when I found out the two kids were trying to trap a leprechaun I thought it was such a cute idea for a story and perfect for the holiday. I loved the cover page with all those little leprechauns, and the box that said enter with arrows pointing and a note that said shiny treasure here was so funny. That clued you in to the mood of the story and the shenanigans of the kids trying to trap this creature.
There was a leprechaun showing up in the house while they were decorating, holding a crayon, and hanging off of the decorations, hiding behind a ball of yarn. Meanwhile they were devising all these plans to trap him. They drew plans to put a ring on the floor tied to a ring and to pull the string. They made boxes and used containers and a tissue box to trap the little guy in with lures of coins and gold lockets and notes advertising shiny things. He would walk up and fall in and be trapped. So cute!
The visions dancing in their heads were of golden coins, and their dog dreamt of a bone at the end of the rainbow. An adorable touch. Their dad played the bagpipe that morning and their mom served green eggs.
The clatter was from their shared room and they all went to the door and discovered a colossal mess. The girl said they had to hold his stars, because if you look away even to blink they'll disappear. I had learned that in another St. Patrick's Day book I read recently. And then they heard him inside one of their traps. They stared at him and told him to tell them where the gold is. He told them he buried it under a rock marked X but when they went outside they discovered the entire yard was full of marked rocks and he had tricked them. He gloated that he had fooled them and wished them better luck next year.
I would have liked it better had he not fooled them or been trapped. I think I had a problem with leprechauns actually existing, and I can't remember if her other books contain the real holiday creatures. I always have a problem with these when the writing is too close to the original, like they were snug in their beds and visions dancing in their heads, and arose such a clatter, seeing what was the matter. They're at their best during the moments of originality when the words of Twas the Night Before Christmas aren't copied directly. But the illustrations are so cute and colorful and the idea is just adorable and so cute!
There was a leprechaun showing up in the house while they were decorating, holding a crayon, and hanging off of the decorations, hiding behind a ball of yarn. Meanwhile they were devising all these plans to trap him. They drew plans to put a ring on the floor tied to a ring and to pull the string. They made boxes and used containers and a tissue box to trap the little guy in with lures of coins and gold lockets and notes advertising shiny things. He would walk up and fall in and be trapped. So cute!
The visions dancing in their heads were of golden coins, and their dog dreamt of a bone at the end of the rainbow. An adorable touch. Their dad played the bagpipe that morning and their mom served green eggs.
The clatter was from their shared room and they all went to the door and discovered a colossal mess. The girl said they had to hold his stars, because if you look away even to blink they'll disappear. I had learned that in another St. Patrick's Day book I read recently. And then they heard him inside one of their traps. They stared at him and told him to tell them where the gold is. He told them he buried it under a rock marked X but when they went outside they discovered the entire yard was full of marked rocks and he had tricked them. He gloated that he had fooled them and wished them better luck next year.
I would have liked it better had he not fooled them or been trapped. I think I had a problem with leprechauns actually existing, and I can't remember if her other books contain the real holiday creatures. I always have a problem with these when the writing is too close to the original, like they were snug in their beds and visions dancing in their heads, and arose such a clatter, seeing what was the matter. They're at their best during the moments of originality when the words of Twas the Night Before Christmas aren't copied directly. But the illustrations are so cute and colorful and the idea is just adorable and so cute!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2020
This was just ok, not as cute as others in the series.
It was cute how the children made traps with shiny objects to lure the leprechaun.
I didn't know this would have leprechauns in here as if they were real, so that was a surprise.
Legend says if you find them they'll tell you where their gold is.
You have to hold their state, and not blink, because they can disappear that quickly if you look away.
I didn't like that it ended in a trick. It didn't feel like a happy ending. They go outside for the treasure to find they'd been duped. The leprechaun says he fooled them and better luck next year.
The illustrations are cute,& festive-looking. Some lines were too similar to The Night Before Christmas.
It was cute how the children made traps with shiny objects to lure the leprechaun.
I didn't know this would have leprechauns in here as if they were real, so that was a surprise.
Legend says if you find them they'll tell you where their gold is.
You have to hold their state, and not blink, because they can disappear that quickly if you look away.
I didn't like that it ended in a trick. It didn't feel like a happy ending. They go outside for the treasure to find they'd been duped. The leprechaun says he fooled them and better luck next year.
The illustrations are cute,& festive-looking. Some lines were too similar to The Night Before Christmas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2024
There’s not many books about St Patrick’s Day so thankful for this one!
March 15, 2018
Storytime Theme: St. Patrick's Day
March 16, 2018
Storytime
February 16, 2022
A delightful book just in time for St. Patrick's Day akin to "The Night Before Christmas". It will give your children magical dreams full of tricky leprechauns and pots of gold! I was lucky to have won this book for my Little Free Library - just follow the leprechaun tracks!
February 21, 2018
Here's a fun read for St. Patrick's Day! Children will enjoy this twist on the classic Christmas poem.
Ages: 4 - 8
#stpatricksday #stpattysday
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
Ages: 4 - 8
#stpatricksday #stpattysday
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
March 17, 2021
The Night Before St. Patrick's Day is a children's picture book written by Natasha Wing and illustrated by Amy Wummer. It is a book about a family getting ready for St. Patrick's Day. As today is the day before St. Patrick's Day (16 March), I thought reading this book would be apropos.
Wing's text is simplistic and lyrical. It is written in the style of "The Night Before Christmas". The poem was written especially well and follows the rhythm and style of the original poem extremely well. Wummer's illustrations are wonderfully depicted, albeit a tad cartoonish, but represented the text and tone rather well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It follows a family as they get ready for the St. Patrick's Day and the kids adorably set up leprechaun traps in the attempts to capture one. Fantastically, they managed to get one, but were tricked out of the pot of gold coins that was promised. However, before he disappeared, he wished them better luck next year.
All in all, The Night Before St. Patrick's Day is a wonderful children's book done in the style of "The Night Before Christmas". It is a story about a family with two young children celebrating the Irish holiday and trying to catch a leprechaun or two.
Wing's text is simplistic and lyrical. It is written in the style of "The Night Before Christmas". The poem was written especially well and follows the rhythm and style of the original poem extremely well. Wummer's illustrations are wonderfully depicted, albeit a tad cartoonish, but represented the text and tone rather well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It follows a family as they get ready for the St. Patrick's Day and the kids adorably set up leprechaun traps in the attempts to capture one. Fantastically, they managed to get one, but were tricked out of the pot of gold coins that was promised. However, before he disappeared, he wished them better luck next year.
All in all, The Night Before St. Patrick's Day is a wonderful children's book done in the style of "The Night Before Christmas". It is a story about a family with two young children celebrating the Irish holiday and trying to catch a leprechaun or two.
February 14, 2013
Natasha Wing’s book, “The Night Before St. Patrick's Day,” is a wonderful story that celebrates the magic of this Irish Holiday.
The story follows Tim and Maureen through the preparation, fun and excitement of this glorious day.
The two siblings ready themselves by hanging streamers and preparing homemade leprechaun traps.
My favorite part is when Wing writes, "They set all the traps 'round the room with great care, in hopes a wee Irishman soon would be theirs."
Mom prepares green eggs while Dad plays the bagpipes and the story culminates with a leprechaun search filled with adventure and mischief.
"The Night Before St. Patrick's Day" shows parents and children how they can make special moments from the most simple things. The story also illustrates the beauty and innocence of children and their ability to BELIEVE.
Make your St. Patrick's Day extra special this year and pick up a copy of Natasha Wing's book, "The Night Before St. Patrick's Day."
The story follows Tim and Maureen through the preparation, fun and excitement of this glorious day.
The two siblings ready themselves by hanging streamers and preparing homemade leprechaun traps.
My favorite part is when Wing writes, "They set all the traps 'round the room with great care, in hopes a wee Irishman soon would be theirs."
Mom prepares green eggs while Dad plays the bagpipes and the story culminates with a leprechaun search filled with adventure and mischief.
"The Night Before St. Patrick's Day" shows parents and children how they can make special moments from the most simple things. The story also illustrates the beauty and innocence of children and their ability to BELIEVE.
Make your St. Patrick's Day extra special this year and pick up a copy of Natasha Wing's book, "The Night Before St. Patrick's Day."
March 20, 2014
It's hard to find fun lively and entertaining books about St Patrick's Day that will appeal to a PreK Storytime audience! But this one hits the nail on the head! It is colorful, engaging and begs for extensions to be created! A brother and sister set traps to catch a leprechaun to find is pot of gold. He is clever and mischievous and ends up playing the tricks! Very cute and adds an often forgot element to the holiday besides wearing green! Extensions could include making an elf house/trap, drawing their version of a leprechaun, thinking map of features they might have, make a plan on how to catch one, something to do with hiding gold coins (plastic!) under rocks w x's! Fun fun book! Thank you to Natasha Wing and Amy Wummer for providing a great read aloud for the holiday!
March 19, 2017
I checked this one out per heavy student request this year. There are several of these, and although forced and predictable, all are a lot of fun for kids. I've had several students this week talking about their plans to trap a leprechaun, and there are scenes dealing with that notion in this book. Interesting take and concept for young kids to try to have some involvement with this holiday, and one I had never heard until this week. Regardless, this is a fun book to have in a library for a theme read or check-out in March.
August 20, 2017
"The Night Before St. Patrick's Day" by Natasha Wing is a fun little ditty which could be made famous by children and adults alike. The illustrations by Amy Wummer, are quite clever. (I hope to see characters, Tim and Maureen, sharing their story on the silver screen. ~Hey, that rhymes!) It was so much fun writing "Twas the Night Before New Year" and when I saw "The Night Before St. Patrick's Day" I knew I would love it. I am reading about St. Patrick's Day in August not March but that is another story.
February 4, 2014
Completely original and man oh man do I give the author props on the rhymes and flow of this piece. I would love to have her whole series because I think this series could be very helpful in teaching small children how to read. The familiar flow would encourage reading out loud to a youngster. Soon they would be joining in and gaining a very nice vocabulary in the process. The illustrations are cute and full of funnyaction that will have them laughing.
March 11, 2012
This book borrows wording from The Night Before Christmas and adapts it to St. Patrick's Day. A cute idea in theory, but the wording is clunky in some places and throws off the rhythm. Still though, my kids love the story and have asked to read it multiple times in the last few days, so I feel compelled to give it three stars.
February 21, 2014
This was a cute take on a familiar story, however, the prose was forced much of the time. Tim and Maureen cannot sleep the evening before St. Patrick's Day. They decorate the house and set leprechaun traps. The illustrations are vibrant and inviting and I really enjoyed the ingenious traps set by the kids.
March 3, 2014
I thought this book was so fun. I have never really celebrated St. Patrick's Day and this book was actually able to give me a few fun ideas of what I could do with my kids for this odd holiday. I think giving kids something else to believe in and be excited about (the leprechaun) was a great idea. I liked the excitement the kids had throughout this whole story. It was a fun read.
March 18, 2014
3.5 Stars This book is a fun play on the "Night Before Christmas" I was fun and the pictures are are nicely done. We all love the "Night before Christmas Story" and most of the time I hate it when people "reinvent the wheel" but this one didn't bother all that much. A fun on to read on St. Patrick's Day!
October 16, 2014
I thought this was a very clever and creative idea for a book. It was fun to see a new variation on the classic Christmas story of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. I also really liked that the author chose a more obscure holiday as the basis of her book. The illustrations were fun and entertaining and the text was entertaining and fun to read. Cute and creative book.
October 10, 2015
A St. Patrick's Day take on T'was the Night Before Christmas. A quick read for either a read aloud or for beginner readers to get a brief introduction to the magic of St. Patrick's Day and leprechauns. There is rhyme in this book which is great for preschoolers, some challenging words, however, make it a bit of a challenging read for true beginner readers.
February 9, 2010
This is a good book. It talks about traditional Irish events that happen on St. Patrick's Day. The kids in this book try to trap a leprechaun to find his gold. This would be fun to try to do with your students to see if you could catch a leprechaun. FUN!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews