The Easter Story
Author: text is from the King James Bible
Illustrator: Gennady Spirin
Published: 1999
ISBN: 0805063331
Pages: 32
Illustrations: colored illustrations on every page spread
Text Density per page: approximately 5-10 scripture verses per page
Age: 3 and older
My Goodreads Rating: 3 stars (I liked it.)
Summary: The Easter Story
Matthew 21:1-9; Matthew 21:10-13; Matthew 21:14-16; Matthew 26:20-28; Luke 22:39-46; Luke 22:47-54; Matthew 26:57-66; John 19:1-6, 14-16; Luke 23:24-32; Matthew 27:33-54; Matthew 27:55-60; Matthew 28:1-8; John 20:19-29; John 20:30-31.
Illustrations: The Easter Story
Gennedy Spirin’s illustrations are breathtakingly beautiful and reverent. He represents Jesus Christ with bright hues in the midst of the dark backgrounds leading up to the Crucifixion. At that solemn moment in the Easter story, Spirin pauses the reader by alternating a full page spread of text, followed by a full page of illustration. The last page stands in marked contrast to the darkness of the previous pages with Christ standing surrounded by angels in a bright scene of joy.
Click here to see Spirin’s artwork.
My Opinion: The Easter Story
So many Christian picture books for children trade reverence for relevance, not so with this work of art by Spirin. This book shows a clear respect for the moral imagination.
My only criticism: The KJV, while complementing the classic-style illustrations, does diminish readability for a younger audience.
Gennedy Spirin has also illustrated numerous fairy tale and religious books!
For other reviews see:
Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly
