Who doesn’t want a little candy at Easter? Just a chocolate egg? Or two? OK, maybe three. So, we’re doing the candy thing, right? Because Easter is a sweet time.

But there’s a sweeter gift—God gave us the gift of forgiveness and new life–enabling us to be members of His Kingdom and daughters and sons of His Heart. Children need books that help them know about this sweet gift for their souls. We can recommend some.

God Gave Us Easter is another book in the series written by Lisa Tawn Bergren and illustrated by Laura Bryant. It is published by Waterbrook Press (2013).

Papa Bear surprises Little Cub when he says that Easter is better than Christmas. “Why?” asks Little Cub. Papa Bear explains that because of Easter we can go to heaven and be with Jesus forever.

On a walk, Papa Bear and Little Cub discover all around them ways to better understand Easter. Papa Bear points out ordinary objects like a tree root or a pine cone, but then likens them to extraordinary things. When they come across an egg, Papa Bear explains that the chick cracking out of the egg is much like Jesus coming out of the grave and later rising again.

I really enjoyed these comparisons. Some of them, such as a tree root to the root of Jesse, deal with more advanced truths not usually mentioned in a children’s Easter book. Bergren tackles these difficult concepts but uses simple language in doing so. Older children can be led into some interesting discussions of Papa Bear’s teachings. Younger children will be satisfied to merely soak in the story. A possible drawback of the book is that the cross is not mentioned. Parents of older children will want to bring it up and discuss the importance of the cross.

Bryant’s watercolor and pencil illustrations display spring on each page.

Bergren shows that Easter is more than candy and Easter eggs. Easter is God’s forever love gift of His Son given to all who believe.

Carol Green, a graduate of Northwestern, is the mother of three adult children. Her five grandchildren affectionately call her “Grams cracker.” She is the published author of many poems for both adults and children; three coloring books: God Gave Me Five, ABC Fun Book, and Color God’s World Bright; and the picture book: My Mom Loves Me.

The Best Thing About Easter was written by Christine Harder Tangvald, illustrated by Kathy Couri and published by Standard Publishing, (first paperback printing, 1997). It will let your pre-schooler delight in the fun customs of Easter, but your child will also discover that there is more to Easter than dyeing eggs and eating candy. This little book is short and its words few, but the truth that it conveys is rich and deep and wide. Jesus and His love for us is the best thing about Easter. 

Speaking to the child at eye level, Christine romps through all the customs that many of us keep, helping the child to see the joy in them. With each custom, the author involves the child, asking the child questions about what they like. The story builds—she doesn’t give away the ending before it’s time—and we are in suspense as she tells us that there is something better than dyeing eggs, eating candy, enjoying Spring, and even being together in church. Jesus, she says finally, is the very best thing about Easter.

She tells the story of Easter, acknowledging that it started sad, but she moves quickly and emphatically (“Jesus Did Not Stay Dead! No, He Did Not!”) to the joy that his friends had and that we can have too. With gentleness and yet abundant enthusiasm, she lets the child know that Jesus’ death and resurrection was part of God’s amazing plan. God loves us. A child will hear that God loves them personally and that “Jesus died and lives again . . . for me.” 

I don’t think this book will impress adults. It’s not visually sophisticated and the questions the author asks will not intrigue adults. But I think small children will love this book. It is written at their level. And I think it does something else. It helps a child begin to see what is most important in life, what is best to seek after.

The Bright Light and the Super Scary Darkness written by Dan Dewitt, illustrated by Rea Zhai and published by B&H Kids (2020) uses a poetic approach, looking at darkness and light and echoing the words of John, Chapter 1. This picture book begins by talking to the child about the fear of darkness. Almost all children will relate. Then, as the Bible does, the author likens sin to a kind of darkness. The story says that this kind of darkness entered the world with Adam and Eve. In the next pages it explains that it grew. “It seemed like the darkness was definitely winning.”

The reader then turns the page and receives hope. “But God had not forgotten His people. When the time was right . . .” And then turning the next page . . . “God sent the child of light! . . .His name was Jesus.”

It seems again that darkness wins when Jesus is killed, but then we are told that the darkness is really a scaredy-cat. More than that the darkness has lost–Jesus is alive.

I think you and the kids are going to love this book. The illustrations are evocative, but kid-friendly. There is enough detail to ground the story in the actual events, but it moves beyond and gives us an overall picture of the battle between light and darkness. The book is comforting and reassuring– the light of Jesus wins for those of us who trust in Him. The book is appropriate for children, ages 4-8.

Nancy Ellen Hird is a mom, a writer and a credentialed teacher. (She taught seventh grade and preschool.)  Her latest works for children are I Get a Clue and We All Get a Clue, mystery novels for girls 10-13. For several years she was a freelance reviewer of children’s and teen’s literature for the Focus on the Family website.