These children's Easter board books will appeal to children as young as two and, in at least one case, as old as five-years-old. While most focus on Easter candy, Easter eggs, and the Easter bunny, one provides an age appropriate introduction to the biblical story of Easter.
1. Owen’s Marshmallow Chick
HarperCollins
Owen is a little mouse with a big appetite in this delightful Easter board book by Kevin Henkes. Owen says each kind of candy in his Easter basket is “my favorite” and promptly eats all of the jelly beans, gum drops, buttercream eggs and the big chocolate bunny, but he doesn’t eat the little yellow marshmallow chick that's the same color as his special blanket. Instead, Owen happily plays with the chick until bedtime, then goes to bed and dreams about it. (Greenwillow, 2002. ISBN: 0060010126)
2. The Story of Easter
This Easter board book provides a sensitive and age appropriate introduction to the biblical story of Easter for very young children. Lorraine Wells's simple and colorful illustrations provide a gentle accompaniment to the text. (Candy Cane Press, An Imprint of Ideals Publications, A Division of Guideposts, 1977. ISBN: 0824940903)3. Ready for Easter
Rosie the Rabbit has a lot to do to get ready for Easter and your child is invited to help. Using reusable stickers, young children can help decorate an Easter cake, put decorated eggs on Rosie’s egg tree, fill an Easter basket, and more. The straightforward text by Harriet Ziefert and the bright and cheerful illustrations by Laura Rader, which include 18 stickers, will make this book a favorite with active two- to five-year-olds. (Sterling Publishing Co., 2005. ISBN: 1402722966)4. Spot’s First Easter
Eric Hill’s books about Spot the dog are very popular with young children. In this lift-the-flap Easter board book, Spot and his friend Helen have fun counting and searching inside and outside the house for the six Easter eggs the Easter Bunny has hidden for them. The brief text and the uncluttered illustrations make this book especially good for children three and younger. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2002. ISBN: 0399242457)5. Little Bunny’s Easter Surprise
Little Bunny’s mother gives each of her five bunnies an egg to decorate for Easter. Although Little Bunny is very careful as he decorates the egg, his egg begins to crack. However, instead of being ruined, his egg turns out to be “the most special Easter egg of all.” Each page of this brief Easter board book by Tara Doyle is filled with detailed illustrations by Lucinda McQueen, providing lots of things for you and your child to discuss. (Scholastic, 1993. ISBN: 0439696828)6. The Easter Story
This board book for very young children provides a gentle introduction to the biblical story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. The brief and simple text is by Patricia A. Pingry and the colorful and child-friendly illustrations are by Mary Ann Utt. (Candy Cane Press, An Imprint of Ideals Publications, 2002. ISBN: 0824942310)