Title: Journey with Jesus: an Easter Story

Author: Ann Ingalls

Illustrator: Steliyana Doneva

Publisher/Year: Paraclete Press/2024

Topic/Theme: Easter, the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christian holiday

Of Note: Meaningful, rhyming text and vivid illustrations

Favorite Line(s): And soon the ground began to shake. The skies grew dark, a huge earthquake! The guardians were terrified! “This was the son of God!” they cried.

Title: Bear Finds Eggs

Author: Karma Wilson

Illustrator: Jane Chapman

Publisher/Year: Margaret K. McElderry Books/2024

Topic/Theme: Friendship, eggs, helping others

Of Note: Sweet, rhyming text, vivid illustrations, and cute animals

Favorite Line(s): Bear leaves a present in the straw and the sticks. “Some sweet, dried berries for the soon-to-be chicks.”

It may be St. Patrick’s Day today, but did you know that Easter is just two weeks away? Easter is the most important holiday in the Christian faith because it celebrates the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from the dead. Interestingly, the date of Easter changes each year because it’s based on the lunar calendar. It generally falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox (first day of spring). That’s why Easter can occur anywhere between March 22 and April 25.

Many people, including non-Christians, celebrate Easter around the world. I grew up Catholic, and I have fond memories of attending a special Easter mass at church (usually sporting a new outfit), having a delicious dinner at home, and dying eggs in lots of fun, bright colors. We also enjoyed Easter baskets filled with chocolate bunnies and eggs, jelly beans, and various other candies. Mom hid our baskets somewhere in the house, and we had a lot of fun finding them.

Some people include other things besides candy in their kids’ Easter baskets, such as toys and books. Including books about Easter is a no-brainer, and I’ve got two lovely–and very different–Easter-themed children’s picture books to share with you today.

Journey with Jesus: an Easter Story is a good first introduction to the origins of the Christian celebration of Easter. Detailed illustrations and rhyming text will capture a young reader’s attention as they follow the path of Jesus from the day He enters the city of Jerusalem upon a humble donkey to the night He was betrayed to His heartbreaking crucifixion to His joyous Resurrection from the dead. This Bible-based story is moving and, at times, sad and, perhaps, a little heavy, as it depicts scenes of betrayal and injustice, as well as Jesus’s death upon the cross, but the ending brings joy and hope. When sharing Journey with Jesus: an Easter Story with children, be prepared to reassure them and possibly answer questions. Pairing this book with others about Jesus is recommended so that kids can learn more about His life and who He is.

Summary from the back cover: Walk with Jesus through the special days of Holy Week. From the joy of Palm Sunday to the love and mystery of the Last Supper, from the sorrow of the Garden of Gethsemane to the triumph of the empty Garden Tomb, young readers are invited to journey with Jesus all the way to Easter and experience His great love for each one of us.

Bear Finds Eggs is the latest book in Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman’s popular The Bear Books series. This super sweet, brightly illustrated (in acrylic paint) story follows all of the familiar and adorable animal friends on a mission to find Mama Meadowlark’s four lost eggs. As they discover each one, they decide to paint them so that they’ll be easier to spot if they ever go missing again. Told in fun-to-read rhyme, Bear Finds Eggs isn’t overtly Easter-themed, but, instead, the holiday is alluded to via the painted eggs, the egg hunt, the way the word Eggs is colorfully depicted on the cover, and the fact that it’s Hare who brings a basket to put the eggs into. This simple friendship story is actually perfect for spring because it’s brimming with cute, baby birds–robins, ducklings, and, of course, meadowlarks–who all hatch from pretty eggs discovered by Bear and his pals.

Summary from the jacket flap: In the forest, near the glen, on a wild, wooded trail, Bear and his friends spot eggs! Bear is leaving little presents for the soon-to-hatch chicks when he hears the call. Mama Meadowlark has lost her eggs! How will she find them all?

A hinny is the result of a cross between a female donkey and a male horse, while a mule is the result of a cross between a male donkey and a female horse.