Even as my children grow older, sharing books and stories together is one of the best ways we connect with one another. Sharing books that reflect our family values and priorities is so important to me! One of my very favorite Christmas traditions is to pull out our bin of Christmas picture books, but for whatever reason, it’s been more of a challenge to find books I love to celebrate Easter. Slowly but surely, I’ve been able to add some faith-based Easter books to our family’s library, and I’m excited to share them with you!
(A few of my personal rules for faith-based Easter books: no white Jesus, no developmentally inappropriate depictions of violence, and more emphasis on Jesus’ life and resurrection than on his death.)
Rise: A Children’s Guide to Eastertide by Laura Alary and illustrated by Giuliano Ferri: This book is beautifully illustrated and uses poems to draw connections between Easter traditions in church, springtime in nature, and Biblical stories. This is an especially good pick if you are part of a more liturgical church tradition that follows the Church calendar.
Jesus Loves the Little Children by Tara Hackney: (I’m sad to say this book doesn’t release until after Easter, but keep it on your radar for the future!) I was SO HAPPY to come across this book! It is the traditional “Jesus Loves the Little Children” song many of us know but with updated lyrics and no more problematic depictions of race! I wish I had this book when my children were younger! “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. That means you and that means me, made and loved so perfectly! Jesus loves the little children of the world.” This book is not specifically about the Easter holiday, but I think it’s perfect for this time of year. Rather than illustrations, it features photographs of children from all over the world.
Miracle Man by John Hendrix: This is one of my very favorite books about the life of Jesus, with amazing illustrations. It’s ideal for a family read-aloud or for older elementary and middle school readers. The illustrations (including hand lettering) are really amazing and will appeal to kids who love graphic novels. I think Hendrix’s depiction of Good Friday and the anticipation of Jesus’ resurrection makes this one of the best books out there to read on Holy Week with your family. (If you have an older kid who loves graphic novels, I also highly recommend Hendrix’s book about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien!)
Mary and the Gardener by Paul Kerensa and illustrated by Leanne Daphne: I love this book because it centers around one of my very favorite parts of the Easter story: Mary Magdalene mistaking Jesus for a gardener and becoming the first witness to the resurrection. That makes it a great choice for those of us who want to make sure we aren’t erasing women from the stories of Scripture. It’s beautifully illustrated and a short but meaningful book to read aloud.
Good News! It’s Easter! by Glenys Nellist and illustrated by Lizzie Walkley: This is another great pick for the toddlers and preschoolers in your life! Glenys Nellist is a prolific author of faith-based books for children, and her catalog always feels like a safe bet for me. It’s another great choice for an Easter basket, especially with the cute bunny and chick on the cover.
The Book of Belonging by Mariko Clark and illustrated by Rachel Eleanor: This is my absolute favorite children’s Bible! It emphasizes the idea that children are delightful, beloved, and always belong. This is a book I recommend for everyone in your family–children and adults alike. Some of the illustrations, in particular, have stuck in my head and become meaningful to my spirituality. I bought copies for all my nieces and nephews for Christmas, and it would be equally as great for Easter.
There you have it! Six Easter books that focus on the religious origins of the holiday and will be great additions to your Easter celebrations and your family’s bookshelves all year long!
