For kids who haven’t grown up with Easter (and even those who have) reading books about the traditions around the holiday can help young readers know what the holiday is about and what it means to people who observe it.
Easter by Nancy Dickmann, illustrated by Emma Randall, follows a boy named Sam as he and his family celebrate Easter.
It starts with Mardi Gras, which the family celebrates by eating their favorite foods. Their father goes to church on Ash Wednesday and the book talks about giving things up for lent and making sacrifices to honor the sacrifice of Jesus. Of course this is not part of all Christian faith traditions so this could be interesting to talk about with kids who are Christian but don’t do anything special for Lent.
Because Easter is in the spring, Same and his family notice signs of spring and visit with baby animals, then they go to church on Palm Sunday and clean the house in preparation for their Easter visitors. They make hot cross buns and talk about the cross being a reminder of Jesus, but they’re also excited about the Easter bunny and dyeing Easter eggs.
The adults go to church a lot more than the kids, and the older kids go to a nighttime service on the night before Easter where there are candles and a bonfire. The younger kids go to church in the morning with their grandparents, then there’s an egg hunt and an Easter feast.
The back of the book includes the Easter story and a timeline of the Easter season. There’s also a look at Easter symbols like eggs, lilies, lambs and Easter bread, as well as instructions for making a basket out of paper strips and a recipe for hot cross buns. The book ends with a quick look at Easter celebrations from around the world and a quiz.
The book is really cute and tells a nice story about one family’s Easter traditions. Readers who aren’t Christian will get a good overview of the Easter season and what it means, while those who celebrate differently can compare and contrast the story with how their own family and church recognize Easter.
About the book: 48 pages, hardcover, published 2025 by words & pictures. Suggested retail price $14.99.
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