The Children’s Book Review | March 26, 2010
The following books have been carefully selected to honor modern-day Easter celebrations—Easter eggs, Easter egg hunts, bunnies, and chocolate—and the fruitful season of spring. I’ve included a short description of each book and highlighted the “Easter-ish” themes you’ll discover. I am positive you’ll find a book to adore and place in your snuggle-bunny’s Easter basket!
by Caroline Jayne Church
Reading level: Ages 0-3
Board book: 14 pages
Publisher: Cartwheel Books; Brdbk edition (February 1, 2010)
Source of book: Publisher
Easter themes: Easter egg hunt, Bunny
A little bit of counting is mixed in with a fun hunt for some Easter eggs. The rhyming is sweet and makes for easy listening. The touch-and-feel illustrations and the surprise lift-the-flap at the end will certainly entertain baby!
Add this book to your collection: Here Comes Easter!
by Laura Numeroff (Author), Felicia Bond (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 1-4
Board book: 24 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray; Brdbk edition (January 26, 2010)
Source of book: Publisher
Easter themes: Bunny, Easter eggs
This is a board book for the youngest of the young. Mouse is on the hunt to find out who has left all of the Easter eggs in his house. Each page plays host to a set of different color eggs. A simple and sweet introduction to Easter egg hunts.
Add this book to your collection: Happy Easter, Mouse!
by Kevin Henkes
Reading level: Ages 2-7
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow Books; 1 edition (February 23, 2010)
Source of book: Publisher
Easter theme: Chocolate bunnies
Oh, how I love Kevin Henkes. He can take the most simplest plot and turn it into a dignified piece of art. As a girl becomes lost in her own imagination while gardening with her mother, she creates the most wondrous garden—chocolate bunnies and all. The illustrations create a marvelous spring atmosphere. Highly recommended!
Add this book to your collection: My Garden
by Lois G. Grambling (Author), Jack E. Davis (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 3-6
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books; 1 edition (January 26, 2010)
Source of book: Publisher
Easter themes: Easter egg hunt
Have you ever seen a T.Rex dressed as a bunny? It’s really quite funny—especially to a bunch of 4-year-olds. The Easter Bunny is sick and T.Rex steps-in to deliver the Easter Eggs. The text is engaging and wittingly complimented by playful illustrations.
Add this book to your collection: Here Comes T. Rex Cottontail
by Anne Mortimer
Reading level: Ages 4-7
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (January 26, 2010)
Source of book: Publisher
Easter theme: Bunny, Egg hunt
For those of you who love a good Easter egg hunt, you will most likely enjoy this endearing play by-play of how one adorably illustrated bunny finds a nice place to rest after hiding all of the eggs for a hunt. Bunny’s Easter Egg is full of wonderful sounds and repetitive verse, making it a lovely read-aloud that’s easy on the eyes.
Add this book to your collection: Bunny’s Easter Egg
by Kristina Evans Collier (Author), John Wallace (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Cartwheel Books (February 1, 2010)
Source of book: Publisher
Easter themes: Church (Easter service), Easter egg hunt
Okay, so this book is a little cheesy, but I happen to really like cheese. It’s a lovely story about patience and sharing and the ups-and-downs of an Easter egg hunt—a great message delivered clearly. Whether you are a church goer or not, this is a must for all kids that will be participating in an Easter egg hunt.
Add this book to your collection: The Best Easter Prize
by Marisabina Russo
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade; 1 edition (January 26, 2010)
Source of book: Publisher
Easter theme: Bunny
Nobody likes to feel different, but we all are. A big bunny and a small bunny find an unlikely friendship based on their differences—and it turns out that it may actually be quite fun to be individual. The illustrations are rendered in gouache and add a little extra zest to this well-written, sensitive topic.
Add this book to your collection: A Very Big Bunny
Calendar Mysteries #4: April Adventure
by Ron Roy
Reading level: Ages 6-9
Paperback: 80 pages
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (February 9, 2010)
Source of book: Publisher
Easter themes: Easter egg hunt
A mystery unravels as the children try to track down some golden eggs that missing have gone from their Easter egg hunt. This is such a fantastic series that can be enjoyed by the whole family or newly-independent readers.
Add this book to your collection: Calendar Mysteries #4: April Adventure