Easter is a holiday filled with symbolism. It's the cornerstone of what Christians believe --- that Jesus was gloriously resurrected from the dead on Easter, three days after having been crucified.
Easter has also come to represent the celebration of spring and new life, which we see in the symbols of eggs and rabbits and flowers.
It's fun to enjoy all the celebrating that goes on at this joyous time of year. Many people dress up in their finest clothes for church and Easter parades. Some people decorate their homes and cook special family meals on Easter. And, of course, lots of people enjoy the tradition of dyeing eggs and receiving chocolate candy, jellybeans and other treats delivered by the Easter Bunny.
However your family celebrates this holiday, we're sure we've got a book that can add something wonderful to your festivities. So be sure to check out our collection.
THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES OF PETER RABBIT
by Beatrix Potter
Viking Press
ISBN: 0140504443
All ages
Peter Rabbit, the naughty bunny made famous by Potter’s wonderful stories and drawings, stars in these four books bound into one volume: THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT, THE TALE OF BENJAMIN BUNNY, THE TALE OF THE FLOPSY BUNNIES, THE TALE OF MR. TOD. The adventures of Peter and his woodland relatives, friends and enemies will keep readers thoroughly entertained and Potter’s cozy watercolors are still daisy fresh after first appearing in print nearly 100 years ago.
MICHAEL HAGUE'S FAMILY EASTER TREASURY
by Michael Hague
Henry Holt & Company
ISBN: 0805038191
All ages
144 pages
Colored eggs. Baskets. Jelly beans. Rabbits. Have you ever wondered where some of these Easter traditions came from? This book has all the answers and more. You'll also find stories, poems and Bible passages which focus on the religious significance of the holiday as well as spring and rebirth.
THE EASTER STORY: According to the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John
illustrated by Gennadii Spirin
Henry Holt & Company
ISBN: 0805063331
All ages
32 pages
Gorgeous paintings are paired with the Bible stories about the Last Supper, Jesus' death and Resurrection in this book which is sure to become a family treasure.
FOR THE CHILDREN: Words of Love and Inspiration from His Holiness Pope John Paul II
by Pope John Paul II
Scholastic
ISBN: 0439149029
Ages 9-12
32 pages
This is a collection of quotes from Pope John Paul II. Each page offers a stirring, inspirational message that speaks to important Catholic themes in childhood, such as "Family," "School," "Prayer," "Suffering," "Peace," and "My First Communion." Alongside each quote there is an exquisite color photograph of a child or group of children that embodies the theme.
THE STORY OF EASTER
by Aileen Fisher
illustrated by Stefano Vitale
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0064434907
Ages 7-10
32 pages
Fisher covers all the bases here, explaining how Christians remember Jesus’s suffering and resurrection at Easter, as well as exploring the traditional symbols of celebration during spring: fancy clothes and bonnets, colored eggs and baskets of candy. Vitale’s rich, grainy wood paintings are the perfect complement.
HE IS ALIVE!
by Helen Haidle
illustrated by Joel Spector
Zondervan Publishing House
ISBN: 0310700337
Ages 4-8
40 pages
Haidle begins her account with Jesus' raising of Lazarus, a foreshadowing of his own rise from the dead but also an act that ignites the ire and jealousy of other priests and teachers.
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE: Timeless Children's Stories
by Karyn Henley
illustrated by Dennas Davis
Zondervan Publishing House
ISBN: 0310926106
Ages 4-8
528 pages
Written for early readers, The Beginner's Bible includes 95 classic Bible stories, rewritten in a language children can understand.
THE LEGEND OF THE EASTER EGG
by Lori Walburg
illustrated by James Bernardin
Zondervan Publishing House
ISBN: 0310224470
Ages 4-8
32 pages
One April morning Thomas and his sister Lucy are gathering eggs from the hens and discussing Easter. But Lucy falls ill with scarlet fever before she gets a chance to tell him about Easter eggs.
THE EASTER STORY
by Brian Wildsmith
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 0802851894
Ages 4-8
32 pages
The story of Christ's entry in Jerusalem, his crucifixion and resurrection is touchingly and effectively told from the simple perspective of the donkey on which Jesus rides into Jerusalem.
CHICKEN SUNDAY
by Patricia Polacco
illustrated by Edward Miller
PaperStar
ISBN: 0698116151
Ages 4-9
32 pages
Friends, family and food are all part of this warm Easter story. Young Patricia has a plan to help her two best friends buy a new Easter hat for their gramma, Miss Eula. She shows Winston and Stewart how to make beautifully decorated Pysanky eggs, a special craft she learned from her own grandmother, her babushka. The kids bring the eggs to Mr. Kodinski's hat shop, where they sell them and make enough money for Miss Eula's gorgeous hat.
