There are many Easter books for children of all ages available at libraries and bookstores. I went looking for children's picture books about Holy Week, Easter customs, and the Easter Bunny suitable for a range of ages, from very young children to 10 year olds. In terms of both text and illustrations, I consider the following children's Easter picture books among the best. Several of these children's Easter books have become classics.
Christopher Doyle’s retelling of the Easter story is based on the biblical accounts in Matthew 21-26, Luke 22-23, John 13, 17-21, and Acts 2. Doyle effectively captures the drama and significance of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection in his narrative. I particularly like John Hayson’s delicate, yet dramatic, watercolor illustrations. I’d recommend this book for 8-12 year olds. It covers Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem through Pentecost. (Concordia Publishing House, 2005. ISBN: 9780758608376)
This classic by Du Bose Heyward is a heartwarming story of virtue rewarded. The book was originally published in 1939. This charming story tells how a rabbit was chosen to be an Easter Bunny despite (in fact, because of) being the mother of 21 bunnies. Teaching her bunnies to take care of themselves made Cottontail wise, kind, and swift, so she was selected. (Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0395159903)
Jan Pieñkowski’s “Easter” is a beautiful book. The dramatic illustrations, black silhouettes set against a muted landscape, are in stark contrast to the book’s striking ornamental gilding. The text consists of passages from the King James Version of the Bible. This book, a companion volume to Pieñkowski’s “Christmas,” is one that children eight and older, as well as adults, will appreciate. (Alfred A. Knopf, 1989. ISBN: 0394824555)
Aileen Fisher’s book, with folkart illustrations by Stefano Vitale, begins with the Christian Easter story. Fisher goes on to discuss the origins of such customs and symbols as Easter eggs and describes how people in different cultures celebrate Easter. The book includes directions for dyeing Easter eggs and a recipe for Hot Cross Buns. (HarperCollins Juvenile Books, 1997. ISBN: 0060272961)
This clever tale by Katherine Tegen tells the story of how a rabbit became the Easter Bunny. Whimsical watercolors by English artist Sally Anne Lambert add detail and warmth to the picture book. It all starts with “a round old couple and their little rabbit.” Every Easter the couple decorates Easter eggs and delivers them around the town. As they grow older, their rabbit does more and more of the work, until he becomes the Easter Bunny. (HarperCollins, 2005. ISBN: 006050711X)
Lauren Thompson’s retelling relies on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The simple, straightforward text is enhanced by the sensitive artwork of Elizabeth Uyehara, oil painting on canvas done in a primitive style. She effectively illustrates the story without using images that would frighten small children. This is a good book for all ages. (Scholastic, 2000. ISBN: 9780439283007)
This classic giant Golden Book was written by Margaret Wise Brown and originally published in 1947. The overall design of the book and Leonard Weisgard's lush and whimsical watercolors add greatly to the story of a lonely bunny, an unhatched egg, and a new friend. This is a charming story for very young children. (Random House Children's Books, 2000. ISBN: 0307135020)
Ann Estelle is at it again. The little girl wants a fancy Easter hat so she can be "Queen of Easter" in the neighborhood Easter parade. She is very disappointed when her mother buys her a plain hat. When Ann Estelle leaves her new hat on the porch, a robin buids a nest in it and lays eggs. What's Ann Estelle to do? There's lots of fun in this picture book written and illustrated by Mary Engelbreit. Her colorful borders and crisp illustrations are a joy. At the back of the book is a nice surprise: an Ann Estelle paperdoll, complete with an Easter dress and hat. (HarperCollins, 2006. ISBN: 9780060081843)
With rhyming text and simple illustrations, Miriam Nerlove tells the story of a brother and sister and their family’s Easter celebration. It includes decorating Easter eggs, finding Easter baskets full of candy, going to church and hearing the Easter story, enjoying a family dinner with their grandparents, going on an Easter egg hunt, and sharing candy eggs. This is a good book to use to introduce a child to the various aspects of Easter celebrations. (Albert Whitman, 1993. ISBN: 9780807518724)
The picture book Rechenka’s Eggs was written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco. Kindly old Babushka takes in an injured goose. She names the goose Rechenka and nurses it back to health. Unfortunately, Rechenka ruins all of the beautiful Easter eggs Babushka has so painstakingly painted. Miraculously, Rechenka replaces all the beautiful eggs by laying one intricately colored egg every day for 13 days, so that Babushka has enough to take to the Easter Festival. Rechenka also leaves a wonderful surprise for Babushka. (Penguin Putnam, 1996. ISBN: 9780698113855)
Are there other Easter books that you and your children have enjoyed? Was The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes one of your favorites when you were a child?
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