Easter Books for Kids
Are you searching for the very best Easter books for kids?
Every year at Easter we seem to be inundated with cheap junk and candy. I don’t purchase it myself, but somehow, between Grandma and Sunday school teachers, my kiddos still haul it in.
I don’t know about you, but as a mom there are two things I like to avoid at all costs: too much sugar, with its inevitable high and crash, and plastic junk that will end up in the trash bin, or worse, cluttering up my house. Don’t you just dread those flimsy plastic toys from Easter egg hunts? Me, too!
And that’s exactly why books make the very best gifts! You can snuggle your child on your lap and enjoy them over and over, encouraging your little people to become lifelong readers and learners. Books are learning experiences and relationship builders all rolled into a few pieces of paper. If you choose your books carefully, you will change for the better for every time you read them.
I like to include one book and a small craft or experience in each of my kids’ baskets, to keep things simple and inexpensive, plus a few boiled eggs, which my kids enjoy decorating. It keeps Easter simple for me, and there’s no trash afterwards, or miniature pieces to step on, or candy wrappers strewn around the house.
My little people don’t object, either. They treasure their books and share them around so everyone can enjoy them.
So as Easter approaches, I’m always on the hunt for great books. I’m sure I’m not the only parent out there who has adopted the ‘no candy and no junk’ philosophy, so I thought I’d share with you our list of favorite Easter books.
We like to keep both Easter and Christmas Christ-centered at our house, so you’ll notice that many of our favorite Easter books are religious. We don’t outlaw the Easter Bunny, though, because so many Easter books have such great messages.
For example, The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes teaches us that often those who seem small and insignificant are actually the wisest and greatest among us. And Rachenka’s Eggs is a hearwarming tale of friendship and caring. Both of those lovely books will always be among our favorites!
That’s why you’ll find religious and secular books intermingled in our list of favorites. Without further ado, here are 20 of our favorite Easter books for kids:
Easter Books for Toddlers
My First Easter by Tomie dePaola
This sturdy, durable board book with lovely illustrations of spring: baby animals, Easter lilies and bonnets, the Easter Bunny bringing baskets, and the whole family coloring eggs together and an Easter egg hunt on the farm, is the perfect way to introduce your baby to Easter. I like that the illustrations tell the story, rather than text, encouraging conversation between you and your baby.
The Easter Egg by Jan Brett
If Hoppi can make the best Easter egg, he will get to help the Easter Rabbit with his deliveries on Easter morning. But it isn’t as easy as it sounds. Discouraged, he goes into the woods to think when a blue robin’s egg tumbles out of its nest. Hoppi keeps it safe and warm until the baby bird hatches, and when the Easter Rabbit arrives, he declares the empty blue eggshell the very best one to reward Hoppi for his kindness.
Spring is everywhere in gorgeous illustrations framed with pussy willows, flowering vines and flowers. The charming illustrations are exactly as wonderful as you’ve come to expect from all of Jan Brett’s books.
Marshmallow by Clare Turlay Newberry
Oliver is a tabby cat who is always the center of attention. Until Marshmallow, a baby rabbit, moves into Oliver’s home. At first Oliver does not welcome Marshmallow, but the little bunny’s charms are impossible to resist. This is the true story of how Oliver and Marshmallow become friends. Toddlers with a new, baby sibling will relate to this sweet Easter book!
Owen’s Marshmallow Chick by Kevin Henkes
Owen adores Easter. Life doesn’t get much better than a basket full of jelly beans, gumdrops, buttercream eggs, and chocolate bunnies, which all happen to be his very favorite. Unless… there’s also a little yellow marshmallow chick the same color as our his favorite, fuzzy blanket.
Decked out in his purple, plaid Easter finery, Owen spends a giddy day playing with his sugar-covered, new friend. And does he succumb to tasty temptation? Owen cannot resist any of the goodies in his Easter basket except for the yellow marshmallow chick, which happens to be the same color and texture as his cherished blanket. Instead of eating it, he plays with it, smiles at it, and finally puts it on his shelf and kisses it good night. This darling Easter book is every bit as delightful as the rest of Kevin Henkes books!
Happy Easter, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff
Mouse (from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie) is trying to figure out who’s leaving Easter eggs all over his house! This simple Easter book combines an Easter egg hunt with colors and counting for preschoolers. Each page has one or two sentences and points out a different color and number of eggs. And there is a nice surprise at the end when we discover just WHO has been hiding the eggs!
God Gave Us Easter by Lisa Tawn Bergren
A delightfully illustrated Easter book, God Gave Us Easter features an adorable polar bear cub, talking with her father and learning about God’s design for the Easter season and what it really means. As Papa walks with Little Cub through their stunning Arctic world, he lovingly explains God’s plans for his children, and he shares how Easter came about in clear, simple terms that even the littlest cubs can understand.
“God loved us so much he wanted us to always be with him too. That’s why God knew he’d need to give us Easter.”
Easter Books for Kids
The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by Dubose Heyward
The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes was my favorite of all of the Easter books. And it’s just as magical today as it was when I was a child. Beautiful, pastel pictures help tell the story of a mama bunny with 20 small children who does not let her difficult circumstances keep her from dreaming of being one of 5 esteemed Easter Bunnies.
While she dreams, she works hard to teach her children to work and serve and create. She is just a small country bunny, so everyone is surprised when the oldest and grandest Easter Bunny notices how wise and capable she is, because of her great work with her children. I love that kindness and cleverness rate more highly than size, brawn and appearance in this delightful gem of an Easter book.
The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Hunt
Three young trees each make a wish. When they are felled, it seems as if all their dreams are over. But each is destined to play an important part in the life of Jesus, and in this their dreams are more than fulfilled. This moving tale provides meaningful insight into the life of Jesus Christ. Of all the Easter books in this list, this one will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
He Is Risen: Rocks Tell the Story of Easter by Patti Rockus
He Is Risen, Rocks Tell the Story of Easter, is an unforgettable picture book that uses majestic rock photographs, scripture, and powerful text to inspire wonder and awe as the miracle of Easter unfolds across the pages. Readers will be absorbed in the nature-filled artwork that communicates God’s love for us in the death and resurrection of Jesus in a bold and unique way.
Jesus Is Risen: An Easter Pop-up Book by Agostino Traini
From the empty tomb to Jesus’ appearance to the disciples, the story of Jesus’ triumph over death is told with vibrant pop-ups by renowned paper artist Agostino Traini. This intricate and beautiful Easter book brings the Easter story to life in a whole new way for children.
The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story by Jan and Stan Berenstain
The Bear cubs are candy-crazy this Easter! But Missus Ursula and some Sunday school students tell the cubs about Jesus’s resurrection and show them that salvation is much sweeter than candy! I love that our good friends, the Berenstain Bears, share their Christian values in this lovely Easter book.
Rechenka’s Eggs by Patricia Polacco
Old Babushka, known throughout all of Moskva for her beautifully painted eggs, is preparing her eggs for the Easter Festival when she takes in an injured goose, who she names Rechenka. They live happily together until one day when Rechenka accidentally overturns a basket, breaking all of Babushka’s lovingly crafted eggs. Oh, no!
But the next morning Babushka has a surprise awaiting her in the basket. You’ll love the stunning illustrations in this heartwarming tale of friendship and caring.
Pete the Cat: The Big Easter Adventure by James and Kimberly Dean
When Pete wakes up Easter morning, ready to check out his basket of goodies, he discovers the Easter Bunny needs a little extra help. Our favorite, groovy, blue cat jumps into help out the Easter Bunny. He puts on his bunny ears and finds a way to collect, paint, and hide the eggs all in time for Easter!
The Story of the Easter Bunny by Katherine Tegen
Everyone knows who the Easter Bunny is. Each year, he comes with a basket of painted eggs and chocolates for children. But not everybody knows where he comes from. With sweet illustrations, this fresh, innovative story explains how an elderly couple would weave baskets, dye eggs, and make chocolate eggs all winter long, as their pet bunny watched.
As the years went by, the bunny became very involved in making everything, eventually taking over when the old couple was unable to continue. And so begins the true story of the Easter Bunny.
The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown
Once there was a little bunny who was all alone. One day he found an egg. He could hear something moving inside the egg. What was it? So begins the Golden Easter classic about a bunny–and a newly hatched, little duckling!
This Springtime classic is perfectly sized for Easter baskets! The colors are brilliant and the drawings and story are just as charming as I remember it being when I used to read this Easter book as a kid. I love the sweet message about friendship.
How to Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace
“I’ve been working long and hard with all my peeps and crew. We’ve made the eggs, and now I’m here to bring them all to you!” This silly story will engender giggles as your kiddos help to find bunnies and eggs the bunny was hiding. This is a fun Easter book for your little ones!
The Biggest Easter Basket Ever by Steven Kroll
As Mouseville prepares for a gala Easter celebration on the village green, complete with a contest for the biggest basket, two lovable mice learn a lesson in cooperation. Town mouse, Clayton, and country mouse, Desmond, teach the lesson that cooperation yields greater results than competition.
The Night Before Easter by Natasha Wing
“Twas the night before Easter, just before dawn, Not a creature was stirring out on the lawn.” Written in the same style as The Night Before Christmas, this book covers the fun part of Easter, and helps readers discover all that the Easter Bunny does when he pays them a visit at their house. The sweet illustrations and fast-paced read make this the perfect bedtime story for preschoolers to follow and understand.
A Bright Easter by Catherine Christensen
Celebrate the light and hope of the Easter season with this beautiful and interactive picture book. As you read about the Savior’s last week on earth–from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem to His appearance to Mary outside the tomb–have your children shine a light through the pages to discover the special significance of each event. Introduce your little ones to the joy of the Savior’s Atonement.
The Resurrection is for Me by Jessica Ellingson
When Jesus was upon the earth, He gave His life for all. He wants to live with us again and save us from the Fall. Told in rhyming verse, this reverent picture book tells the story of the Savior’s Atonement and why it makes all the difference for everyone who has ever lived. Truly, the joy of the Resurrection is the Savior’s Easter gift to each of us!
The Symbols of Easter by Rachelle Pace Castor
Teach your children the true meaning of Easter and show how their favorite Easter traditions tie back to the Savior. With colorful illustrations and rhyming text, this book explains how eggs, baskets, and bunnies can help us remember Christ’s Atonement and Resurrection. Help your children understand what the Savior’s sacrifice means for them, and how to celebrate Easter in a way that honors Him.
I hope you’ve found a couple of beautiful, new Easter books to enjoy with your kiddos! Happy Easter!
Need some fun, educational, inexpensive, NON-JUNK & non-candy ideas for Easter Basket fillers?
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