Our house is full of Easter books right now, and our local library has probably already started emailing my husband politely asking for them back. I need to send them back before: we lose any, my children damage them (one actually has a STICKER page still attached . . . three year-old + stickers + brand new library book = trouble), or our library fines finance the next major project.
I will be tweaking my final list over the next few weeks as well as adding a couple books here and there that I still have not mentioned. I would also love to hear of any great Easter books that I have missed. With Easter still weeks away, I have time to track down more!
Easter: With Words from the King James Bible illustrated by Fiona French
Award-winning Fiona French’s illustrations mimic intricate stained glass art-work. She tells the Easter story using an abbreviated version of the KJV text. I thought that the smaller portions of Scripture than similar books (see the two below and The Easter Story by Spirin) made Easter easier to read aloud to small children. (You can also find a copy of Easter with text from the RSV. I have not personally read this version, although I would imagine that the use of a modern translation would only make this book even more accessible to children.)
For more information see: Kirkus Reviews
Two similar Easter picture books (artwork with Scripture):
He Is Risen: The Easter Story by Elizabeth Winthrop and illustrated by Charles Mikolaycak
The front page states, “He Is Risen: The Easter Story is adapted from the Book of St. Matthew, 26:1-5, 14-30, 34-45, 47-49, 55-67, 69-75, 27:1-8, 11-17, 21-42, 45-46, 48-60, 62-66; 28:1-3, 5-10, 16-20, and the Book of St. Luke, 22:48; 23:34, 39-40, 42-43, in the King James Version of the Bible. The author has remained faithful to the Biblical text, both in punctuation and in spelling. But with a young audience in mind, she has simplified some of the vocabulary and omitted certain passages.” The text in this book is rather long though for a young audience. The illustrations are poignant and somber.
Easter by Jan Pienkowski
The illustrations in this book are black cut-outs with colored backgrounds. Again, the text is taken from the KJV. I read some reviewers who praised this book because the cut-outs remove the blood and gore from the Easter story making this book less scary for young children. My personal opinion is that young children who read and hear lots of biblical narratives (or any type of older literature – Greek myths, original fairy tales, etc.) will already be exposed to violence. I addressed this type of thinking earlier in Frightening Fairy Tales: Why You Shouldn’t Be Scared of Them. Some parents who prefer books with no images of Christ may find the images in this book acceptable.
The Story of the Easter Bunny by Katherine Tegen and illustrated by Sally Anne Lambert
Starting with an elderly couple who decorate and give out eggs annually and their devoted pet rabbit, this book invents a new story to explain the Easter bunny tradition. In my opinion, the Easter Bunny plot books get old quick, but if you want to read one or two, this picture book would be an excellent book.
For more information see: Kirkus Reviews
The Easter Bunny That Overslept by Priscilla and Otto Friedrich illustrated by Adrienne Adams
What would happen if the Easter Bunny overslept and missed Easter? Find out in this sad little tale that follows a late Easter Bunny through the holidays and seasons of the year! Don’t worry . . . Santa will come to the rescue. I thought the plot of this book was a bit disturbing (would people really be rude to an Easter Bunny bringing eggs to a Mother’s Day celebration or Fourth of July parade?), but the illustrations are lovely and the thought of the Easter Bunny helping out Santa cute.
The Easter Bunny that Overslept also comes in a newer version. Read the Kirkus Review {ouch!}; I have to agree with Kirkus; save your money and time and read the original.
I almost didn’t read Humbug Rabbit, because of the title and the boring cover. However, I have a son who loves Scrooge and the word “humbug”, so I was forced to bring Humbug Rabbit home. (I wish I could credit this to excellent reading selections over Christmas, but no, he just loves a corny old cartoon version of The Christmas Carol.) Despite reservations, we ended up LOVING Humbug Rabbit.
The writing is simple and reminded me a bit of Beatrix Potter’s style where more complex illustrations and storyline accompany simple sentence structure. Each page shows Granny’s farm above ground and the rabbit hole below ground. Above ground Granny prepares for her grand-children’s annual egg hunt, which is threatened by Gracie the Hen’s sudden non-laying of eggs and the mischievous farm cat Barnaby. Below ground the rabbit family has different problems. A mouse has told the rabbit children that their father is the Easter Bunny even though their father insists that he is NOT the Easter Bunny. Both stories collide in a hilarious conclusion that leaves everyone (including Father Rabbit) wondering IS Father Rabbit really the Easter Bunny.
For more information see: Kirkus Reviews (negative review) – I don’t agree with them, but you will have to check it out for yourself!
The Easter Egg Farm by Mary Jane Auch
Don’t be fooled by the weird looking cover: The Easter Egg Farm will tickle children. Pauline has a problem, she can’t concentrate to lay eggs like the other hens on the farm. But, when she does start concentrating is when her real problems begin . . . her eggs look like whatever she has been thinking about! A crazy book that defies common sense but yet is executed successfully with a huge dose of artistic ability and imaginative wit.
For more information see: Kirkus Reviews (This picture book also has a sequel Eggs Mark the Spot)
Also just in case anyone knits: Children’s Lit ‘n Knit has hen patterns to accompany this book {what a cute Easter basket idea!}
Easter Parade by Mary Chalmers
The Easter animals gather together for their animal Easter parade that gives a special Easter basket to every child and animal. Filled with colorful, imagination-filled illustrations and a low text per page ratio, this picture book would be great for young children.
For more information see: Kirkus Reviews (another negative review, but I disagree on the grounds that this book is one of the only Easter storybooks I have found that would be a manageable amount of text to read aloud to a 2-3 year old. Maybe in my search I will eventually replace this book with something better, but for now I will leave it in my list.)
Miss Flora McFlimsey’s Easter Bonnet by Mariana
Charmingly vintage, this Easter story of a doll’s wish for a new Easter bonnet and how a local bunny provided one (with holes for her “ears” no less) will entertain both children and parents. I remember loving doll-comes-alive books when I was a child!
Some Other Great Children’s Easter Books:
An Easter Alphabet
Delightful Easter artwork from late 1800s and early 1900s postcards and magazines combined with the alphabet (example: “N is for Nest, filled with eggs the birds lay.”) Text may bore children, but the illustrations are pleasant to look at.
The Easter Egg Artists by Adrienne Adams
Rabbits Mother and Father Abbott wonder if their son Orson will help much with the Easter Egg painting this year. After all, he does still tend to get distracted easily from finishing his work projects. But, Orson proves them wrong on the Abbott vacation before the work season begins by showing increasing personal responsibility in the family’s painting tasks abroad. When the time comes to paint Easter Eggs, Orson not only works hard but shows unflagging motivation and work ethic even after the job is done.
We enjoyed The Easter Egg Artists, but I thought it was a little more “preachy” than a good story.
Cranberry Easter by Wende and Harry Devlin
In this celebration of friendship and small town life, Mr. Whiskers convinces grieving widower Seth not leave Cranberry Port and his friends right before the annual Easter Egg hunt.
What is your favorite Easter book?
Celebrating Easter with the Best Children’s Books:
part 1 part 2 part 3 and My Favorites (summary post)
Don’t miss any of my book reviews and creative ideas!
