Children’s Library: Easter

April 22, 2011, Epoch Times

Book recommendations for Easter baskets

Mr. Easter Bunny, many little ones are awaiting your delicious, molded chocolate and colorfully painted eggs. Might I be so bold as to suggest a new addition to the contents of your beautiful baskets: a good book!

The Easter holiday brings with it many joyful traditions that delight young children. Whether it’s the simple pleasure of the spring season or the deeper meanings of the holiday that you’d like to explore with your young ones, the following selections offer something for everyone.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (Frederick Warne)
The quintessential rabbit story—The Tale of Peter Rabbit is not an Easter story, but a classic piece of children’s literature that melds well with the Easter holiday. The fine words and lovable woodland characters created by Beatrix Potter are a necessity in any children’s library. Should one wish to incorporate an Easter-specific book featuring Potter’s characters, rest assured—the brand has in recent times been extended to meet such needs. Peter Rabbit Easter Egg Hunt features pop-up and lift-the-flap fun, though it can’t compare to the quality of the original “tales.”

Who Hid the Easter Eggs? by Pirkko Vainio (NorthSouth)
This simple story of a squirrel named Harry, a bird named Jack, and their mistaken involvement in Grandmother’s backyard Easter egg hunt makes for happy read-aloud entertainment. The springtime rituals of backyard animals coupled with the Easter tradition of searching for hidden eggs hits just the right note this time of year.

The Easter Egg by Jan Brett (G. P. Putnam’s Sons)
Jan Brett’s recognizably detailed drawings depict adorable bunny, Hoppi, as he dreams of decorating the season’s winning Easter egg and enjoying the prize of helping the Easter Rabbit hide his eggs. Hoppi visits his bunny friends in search of inspiration. When he heads to the woods to think, his focus is shifted to an egg of another sort that is in need of his help. The Easter Egg is a tale of kindness that highlights the beauty of spring and the spirit of the holiday.

Where Are Baby’s Easter Eggs? by Karen Katz (Simon & Schuster)
The very youngest reader will delight in lifting the flaps of each page in their hunt for baby’s Easter eggs. Katz’s classic illustrations colorfully depict bunnies, chicks, a bonnet, jellybeans, and finally, the shiny Easter eggs. Where Are Baby’s Easter Eggs? would be an excellent choice for a baby’s first Easter.

Children’s Stories from the Bible retold by Saviour Protta, illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert and Jan Andrew (Templar Books)
Detailed illustrations and dramatic retellings bring selections of the Old and New Testaments to life, providing a captivating introduction to the Bible. This keepsake book also includes a “Map of the Bible Lands,” a timeline, a directory of biblical figures, a glossary of words, and a selection of verses. For those who want the focus of Easter to center less on chocolate bunnies and more on the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ,Children’s Stories from the Bible seems quite fitting.